Students prepare for their six-day paddling journey on the Rappahannock. Credit: Brett Stonecipher

Early one morning last week, 10 local high school students arrived at an office in Church Hill and launched into a flurry of activity: They crammed old pickle buckets full of food and gear; they loaded dry-bags with clothing and sleeping bags and double-checked the buckles; they cut para-cord into sections and turned into leashes for sunglasses; they ate doughnuts. Excitement filled the room as the youths circled up one final time. With a spirited “Let’s do it!” from one, they began carrying the fruits of their labor to the brightly painted mini-bus at the curb.

These students are alumni of Blue Sky Fund’s Outdoor Leadership Institute (OLI), a leadership development program which cultivates character and teamwork through a five-day backpacking trip to Mount Rogers in the summer and monthly community service throughout the following year. Blue Sky Fund began running alumni trips last summer at the request of some OLI graduates who desired greater physical challenges and more training in hard skills. Some of the current alumni trip participants graduated from the program earlier this June; some are now returning for their second year as alumni. All of them are now nearing completion of a six-day, 58-mile canoeing trip on the Rapidan and Rappahannock rivers.

These alumni have been preparing for this trip for quite some time. They decided on their route and made most of the planning decisions on their own. They spent the days leading up to the trip planning their meals, purchasing and re-packing their food, checking and distributing their gear, hunting down rope-swings, and practicing their paddling skills on the James. They’ve also been working on their communication skills, and will be following an intensive curriculum oriented towards leadership and character building while they paddle. This summer, they will delve into four traits of good leadership: humility, empathy, resilience, and diligence. 

Character development like this is at the heart of Blue Sky Fund’s mission: to provide transformational experiences for urban youth through outdoor education. The organization is based in and focused on the East End, but runs educational field trips for the 3rd and 5th grades all around the city. The organization also runs after-school Adventure clubs during the year to promote the same skill development and character building as the OLI program.

A pre-trip pic of the students at Blue Sky Fund HQ. Credit: Brett Stonecipher

We will be hearing from the students themselves upon their return, and will have many pictures and stories to share. Stay tuned for more!

Blue Sky Fund will be running first-year OLI crews later in the summer. If you are interested in hearing more about OLI, head over to blueskyfund.org, or e-mail brett@blueskyfund.org for more information. The first year boys crew is full for the summer, but they are still recruiting girls for the program. 

Putting into the Kanawha Canal at Pumphouse Park. Credit: Elli Morris

Boats forging upstream past the rapids of Richmond’s Fall Line, on their way to the Ohio River so the United States could be economically independent — such was George Washington’s motivation for creating the Kanawha Canal. It’s a bit of a stretch to say that’s whappened two weekends ago, but the first-ever kayak trip through a section of the Kanawha Canal system in Richmond did take place — and it was an eye-opening experience.

Greg Velzy, head of Chesterfield County’s Outdoor Adventure Programs, secured special permission from the Richmond Dept. of Public Utilities and the James River Park System to take a group of kayakers from the Richmond’s Pumphouse Park down to Texas Beach via the ancient canal. The trip included a nature walk, history lessons, and looking for bears while kayaking the narrow strip of water.

Bears? In the city of Richmond? The section of the canal traveled runs along the backside of Maymont, where the bears live. None were spotted, but the tables were turned when the kayakers became the center of attention for curious hikers, bikers, and runners.

Heading downstream from Pumphouse Park on the canal. Credit: Elli Morris

“How’d you get out there?” “I want to do that!” “Can we paddle in the canal?” “That looks like fun!”

But not all were convinced. One bystander suggested, “Unless you are running from the police, I don’t see any reason to be in that water.”

Turns out, the canal is quite clear, rather litter-free, and home to great blue herons and baby turtles. Using the canal, however, is rather tricky. Because the upper canal is under repair, Sunday’s kayakers used the lower canal, which has no easy access point.

Velzy stated, “The canal isn’t open to public paddling yet, as put-in and take-out points still need to be worked out. There needs to be a system for public information for the water levels in the canal. Signage for boundary lines needs to be placed because the canal abuts primarily against private property or CSX property. But this trip was the first step in that direction!” He also noted that as a national historic landmark, appropriate education and care needs to be taken with the canal.

On the canal below Maymont (obscured, to left). Credit: Elli Morris

Phil Riggan, river advocate and writer, photographer, and editor for the Richmond Times-Dispatch and ‪Richmond.com, recently received his master’s degree in Urban Planning from VCU. His final project focused on the canal: “Recreational Plan: James River & Kanawha Canal Blueway,” it was called. It’s Riggan’s goal to open up the canal from downtown Richmond all the way up to Bosher’s Dam to recreation and tourism. Riggan participated in the inaugural paddle, happy to see his concepts coming to life. Recreational tourism isn’t necessarily economic independence from Britain, but surely President Washington would be pleased that commerce has returned to his canal system.

If you’d like to experience first-hand the dream of our first president, contact Greg Velzy at (804)-748-1124 to sign up for the next the kayak canal trip on July 9 from 6-9 p.m.

Competitors in last year’s James River Rundown. Credit: Angie Williams

Earlier this season the James River Association announced details for our 2nd Annual James River Rundown, a series of paddle races that take place June 27-28, 2015 in the heart of central Virginia on the mighty James. With its ala carte menu of race options, both seasoned paddlers and lollygaggers alike will be pleased to hit incredible stretches along this historic river. A grueling 100-mile endurance race begins the morning of June 27 at James River State Park in Gladstone and is touted as one of the longest races of its kind on the East Coast, testing even the most seasoned paddlers.

But wait, there’s more! This year the JRA has added two shorter races to the event in the hopes of enticing paddlers of all skill levels to register. On June 28, a 40-mile race starts in Cartersville, and later that morning a 20-mile race starts at Powhatan State Park. All of the races will culminate just past Robious Landing in Richmond at American Legion Post 354 for a post-race celebration complete with local bluegrass faves 14 ½ Strings, barbecue, and beverages from Hardywood Park Craft Brewery. Boom.

Competitors will traverse the river in kayaks, canoes, rafts and paddleboards, either as solo paddlers or in teams. There are no restrictions on what they paddle, just as long as there is no motor, sail, or anchored oar configuration and participants reach the finish line within the 40 hour cutoff. Designated safety checkpoints will be set up along the way, offering paddlers a chance to rest or camp.

I caught up with a few of the adventurous early adopters of the paddle in hopes they would pass along some wisdom to anyone caught up in the idea of running any one of these amazing paddles. Rusty and Leza McClain dominated last year’s run with a searing 17 hour win. Saw no one for hours. Epic. Kevin Odberg founded the race after paddling a 340 mile stretch of the Missouri. Raced with his brother Mike. They still like one another. And John Nestler was first place solo, second overall. Tremendous effort.

RO: Before the James River Rundown, what was the longest distance you paddled?

R&L: We paddled the 120 mile Ausable River Canoe Marathon in Michigan

KO: I paddled the 340-mile Missouri River 340. That was my first big race and it took my brother and I 62 hours to finish. Prior to taking the leap and signing up for that race, however, my longest paddle had been about 10 miles but I got in some good training runs prior to that race.

Ready for action before last year’s Rundown.

RO: How did you prepare for the Rundown?

R&L: We paddle/race all year round. For example did the General Clinton 70-miler on Memorial Day several weeks before the JRR-100. Ran several sections of the race course in the weeks between the 70-miler and JRR-100.

KO: I paddled most sections of the course and got in a few longer paddles of 4-6 hours to make sure I was comfortable in the boat, which I was, for a short time. But if you paddle for 18 + hours in a padded lounge chair eventually you will not be comfortable so you just need to prepare to hurt.

RO: Looking back, what would you do differently to prepare? Punching slabs of beef? Lifting logs? P90X?

KO: Any cardio is great, however, paddling 100 miles is more about enduring than it is about fitness. If you are willing to paddle through the exhaustion and pain you are more prepared than someone in great shape prone to giving up. One of the best things you can do is learn good paddling technique so you use big core muscles more than smaller arm muscles. That will help with muscle fatigue.

JN: I brought plenty of water and food which kept me comfortable, but totally neglected the wear and tear that would happen on my hands. I was using a whitewater paddle in a sea kayak, so the water dripping down the shaft and constant friction gave me pretty bad blisters by mile 30. I started wrapping my hands in duct tape, but it wasn’t that effective. So a couple pairs of dry gloves could be really good – and a longer paddle to prevent a wet shaft. I also peed in my kayak since I thought taking my skirt off took too much time – worked well while I was racing, but smelled pretty foul after. So maybe that wasn’t necessary….

RO: Was there a section of the James you found most challenging? Most awe inspiring?

R&L: Some of the ledges in the first half of the race and after dark seeing large numbers of lightening bugs twinkling like Christmas lights in the trees along the shore.

JN: None of the course was all that technical for a plastic sea kayak, but people definitely had trouble in composite boats. I saw one canoe flip in a rapid, which really slowed them down, and a couple boats had issues with the rocks. I’d say that was my biggest advantage – I really paddled fast through the rock gardens since I didn’t have anything to worry about with a durable, fast boat. Those sections were the most fun too as I could play around with my whitewater skills, whereas the flat water gets pretty monotonous sometimes.I also passed the annual Batteau Festival (http://www.vacanals.org/batteau/) during the race, and it was quite a sight to see those boats being poled down the river!

All human-powered vessels are fair game at the JR Rundown. Credit: Angie Williams

RO: Give me an “oh $h*@” moment during the race.

R&L: We were told at the last check-point at 900 pm that there were no more rapids to contend with in the dark, however there were at least two ledges that caught us by surprise, and were a little un-nerving in the dark.

KO: My brother and I were paddling an 18.5-foot canoe which is not easy to maneuver. We found a chute in a rapids section only to find out there was a very large rock straight ahead of the chute we were running. We were already committed and just had to accept the fact we were about to crash into it. We did and slowly tipped sideways and got to cool off for a second before continuing.

RO:   Was there any point in the race where you thought “What the hell am I doing ? “

R&L: Of course, luckily not to both of us at the same time, so we kept each other going.

KO: Multiple points. You tend to go through energy cycles. One minute you feel great and you’re loving life and paddling is easy and enjoyable. Ten minutes later and you feel exhausted and want to hit someone with a paddle. It’s usually happens around the 60-80 mile mark. You’ve paddled longer than ever before, most of your body hurts, especially your butt, you are exhausted, possibly nauseous, and realize you still have 20-40 miles left to paddle. Once you get closer to the finish, the end is in sight and you get re-energized by the fact you know you’ll make it.

RO: What’s one piece of wisdom, advice you would pass on to this year’s Rundowners?

R&L: Keep paddling and pre-paddle as many sections beforehand as possible.

KO:  Don’t show up to the race already dehydrated. Hydrate for 4-7 days prior to the race, bring plenty of water and eat a little something every hour to keep energy levels steady. Also, just stay in the boat and keep going.

JN: Don’t stop until you finish – the hurt really comes on when your body realizes that it’s done racing and it can shut down. Also take it easy at the beginning – people really blasted off the starting line, but it’s a long race.

RO:   Besides pulling into Robious Landing, any moments of Zen you’d care to share?

KO: There was one moment when a bald eagle holding a bass flew over our heads and we got to watch it cross the river. We both saw it so it wasn’t a hallucination.

JN: You get in the zone. God knows how many strokes it takes to go 100 miles, but there’s definitely a zen associated with it. It’s a cool feeling that’s hard to get in shorter events.

Think you have what it takes? The James River Rundown is still accepting registrations until June 24. RichmondOutside.com is a proud sponsor of this year’s Rundown. Get out in a boat, and maybe we’ll be interviewing you this time next season.

In 2011, I spent over three months in Nepal traveling and kayaking in various remote areas.  During that time I developed a strong connection and marvel for a country of humble and compassionate people.  This wonder brought me back again in 2014, though with different goals.  There were still rivers and places I wanted to see, though I always found myself wanting to spend more time staying put in the villages than my paddling partners.  From my kayaking experience in the remote district of Dolpa & Humla I knew that I wanted to spend time in area where there were no cars or buses, only walking trails.  I wanted to frequent the same houses and get to know the locals and how they got on in their daily lives.  I had met so many Nepalis who lived the agrarian lifestyle and radiated some of the warmest smiles I had encountered, it was addicting.

Humla

Late November as I wandered the maze of cobbled streets in Kathmandu I found myself in a volunteer office inquiring about teaching opportunities.  I had done some shorter stints of teaching in Upper Dolpa & Mysore, India and knew how energetic the young population could be.  When the coordinator suggested a working with Sherpas on their English in Kathmandu, I stopped her and explained I wanted to be far from these crowded and polluted streets.  So I was place in the town of Surkhe of the Ramechapp District.  To get there I would take a 9 hour bus ride, 3 of which were on mountainous roads and then still have to walk about an hour to get to my host family.  Having just got off a 24-hour bus from Western Nepal, this commute was quite inviting.  The village even overlooked one of my favorite paddling destinations, the Tamba Kosi River.

Surkhe

For the next month I lived with a host family and their 4 adorable children.  Every morning I woke up at 6:00 am had a cup of tea, some corn nuts, and walked about half an hour to the school while the sun rose and caste its first light on the Himalayas across the valley.  I taught English and Literature in the mornings to the upper level (class 11 & 12) before walking home again for lunch.  After lunch, I again took the walk through mustard fields, past chickens & marigolds back to school by 11:00 am for my other classes.  The afternoons was filled with English and some Math for the 8th, 9th, & 10th classes.  Over 80 students were packed into my 10th class geometry course!  In the evenings I returned to my host family for dinner and early to bed.  Six days a week the process repeated.

12th Class Literature

On my days off I was able to explore the incredible landscape that surrounded me.  A 7-hour hike brought me to the top of Sailung (3200 meters) and views of the entire Rolwaling Himal Range.  A morning sunrise atop the meadows of Sailung with prayer flags snapping all around was a rare special moment in life where time seems to stop.  On another weekend I was able to link up with paddlers and run the continuous big water class IV Tamba Kosi River.  The endless single track, hospitable guesthouses, & rich culture create a unique area to explore Nepal and yourself.

About a month ago, two very powerful earthquakes and countless aftershocks struck this area and many other parts of central Nepal.  My host family was forced to sleep underneath their plastic greenhouse because damage to their home made it too dangerous to inhabit.  Since the earthquake, the country I love has been turned upside down with its citizens questioning even the ground they walk on.  Even weeks later the entire country slept outside in the rain as aftershocks continued to rattle the fragile infrastructure and their lives. The stream of social media of friends in the country who have shared first person accounts of the disaster has been humbling.

Many friends locally set up grass roots efforts to respond to the some of the most remote and hard hit areas outside of the major centers.  First response efforts were led by fellow rafting & kayaking guides who used their knowledge of the area, local connections, & money raised from social media campaigns to save lives and assess the situation.  Quickly it became apparent that more long-term projects were needed.  Improvised housings would need to be replaced by more permanent structures, & quickly due to the impending monsoon.

Nepal will take many years to rebuild, though one of the constant messages I see from friends is they want to build a better Nepal by the hands of the Nepalis locals.  These dark haired short statured Mongols have adapted to live EVERYWHERE in their country.  Their resourcefulness and ingenuity of making do with what the land provides is something to marvel at.  Their bonds of social security are held together through families and villages.

Earthquake Resistant House

Temporary School

For a better Nepal to endure they will still need help from the outside.  Programs like Medical Trek Nepal & Mandala Organization continue to take in funds and turn donors money into houses.  Houses for a better Nepal, more resistant to earthquakes, yet extremely cost efficient.  Just $200 is enough to change a family’s life.

Local efforts and outside donations will make an amazing contribution, but Nepal will also need its biggest resource to return, tourist.  Tourism accounts for nearly 10% of Nepal’s GDP and has been growing over the past decade.  Out of 75 districts in Nepal less than 10 were severely affected by the earthquake.  The airport is totally operational and buses in Kathmandu are waiting.  If you have a love of the outdoors and mountains, there is no better destination on earth.  Nepal has it all and can be done on a shoestring budget, just make sure you like rice & lentils.  I can’t wait to get back!

Elevate Nepal

Come climb and Elevate Nepal on Friday, June 19th from 6pm-9pm at Peak Experiences Climbing Center. Enjoy climbing and Nepali snacks while learning more about Nepal’s needs and people.  Entrance cost to the event will be a donation to support Nepali earthquake disaster relief. 100% of the money donated will be sent directly to a remote village through Medical Trek Nepal for housing during the upcoming monsoon season.

The epic mud battle. Credit: Scott Turner

Naturally, I was interested when I got the news that my daughter’s 7th grade class was going on a field trip. Not to a museum, this time. Or to a national monument, or a place where nature’s creatures are partitioned into cages and fed by humans. This was to be a true field trip into the the wild nature surrounding Richmond where creatures only eat if they feed themselves. I imagine the original “field trips” were of this ilk. They were trips away from the schoolhouses and the population centers and into places where children observe the land or refresh themselves in places where water gathers after pouring from the sky. Places where we remember our deepest roots as living organisms, and we read from the green and wet pages of the original text.

Kyle Burnette and Georgia Busch, educators for the James River Association, met our group of teenagers and chaperones at the Deep Bottom Boat Landing 28 or so river miles east of Richmond on the northern bank of the James.  They were to be our guides for a canoe paddle through the mouth and into the throat of Four-Mile creek.

Launching canoes. Credit: Scott Turner

Before launching, Kyle gathered us into a circle to make sure we were all facing each other. He had us each introduce ourselves and mention one original expectation for today’s adventure. I might have been mentally prepared at this point to criticize the pre-packaged learning experience. I was mildly skeptical.  But then it was Kyle’s turn to speak. He said that he was especially interested in this day because most of the educational trips he runs launch in the morning.  He was interested because today’s afternoon paddle offered him the chance of a fresh perspective.  Anyway, he reminded us, it is commonly said that a person can never step into the same river twice.

It was in this manner that Kyle first found my ear. I can only respect a man who recognizes and appreciates the subtle but significant differences that are often the only distinctions between today’s experience and the experience of the day before.

The beginning of an intimate relationship. Credit: Scott Turner

Georgia paddled the lead boat, but I had not learned to appreciate her yet. She hadn’t spoken much, and when she had it was mostly with the intent of young person crowd control. The kids had just finished their last exam, and the intoxicating brightness of summer vacation shined full in their faces. Georgia seemed to recognize that for this trip to become a positive learning experience law and order must be maintained. Using her experience and training, she kept us in ranks and on task as we offloaded the canoes from the trailer and launched ourselves onto the glimmering surface of the James. I would have never guessed at this point that just beneath the outer shell of educator and tactician was poised an unruly and playful child just waiting her turn.

A few hundred yards into the creek Georgia instructed us to “gunnel up,” which is the boater’s equivalent of “huddle up” or “cuddle up.” Our canoes were gathered to become a strange floating barge fastened together by human hands.  Kyle stood up to speak.  He taught us wonderful facts about the river, its history, and its connection to our lives.  There were mumbles and giggles at times from the young floating congregation, but after telling us about the small, yellow Caribbean migrant known as the Yellow Warbler, Kyle called for a 15 second moment of silence that was properly honored. While the dense noise of 7th grade socialization has its own experiential merit, this here was an old-fashioned field trip, and Kyle silenced us to hear the healthy sounds of feathered life. He knew the sound of the Yellow Warbler by its four high-pitched chirps. “There! That’s the warbler!” he exclaimed, teaching our ears to recognize the shrill signature of this migratory bird’s existence. This Kyle was really growing on me.

Kyle looks on as the face painting begins. Credit: Scott Turner

He sat meekly in the “Princess” seat of a 3 person canoe, and I saw little of him except when he stood up in his canoe like a preacher to share with his small flock the facts of the creation. Kyle is a “fact-preacher” to be sure. I heard little of politics or religion in his voice. Only “creation-lover,” “Yellow Warbler-lover,” etc.

The tide was dropping steadily, and we followed the creek to where it narrowed to allow only single file canoe passage, and the boats floated inches from the bottom. We gunneled up, and Kyle stood one more time to caution us that the river and its tributaries are not as healthy as they might be, but since people began taking an active interest in their welfare in the 70’s, they are much healthier than they were and otherwise might still be.

Some of the boys were still goofing off a bit, but I could tell they were more engaged than they probably are on field trips to indoor spaces. They were enjoying what all the children would later acknowledge as their “best field trip ever!” Even the class clowns answered questions and helped to hypothesize the future of the river. This natural museum captured their interest in a way that a Van Gogh or a Matise never will.

My daughter brooke taking off her shoes for the mud battle. Credit: Scott Turner

Georgia watched silently as Kyle showed us how to sample the oxygen content of the water. He made a strong argument for the importance of oxygenated water for subsurface life of many varieties. After displaying the respectable oxygen-content result presently obtained, he shared his optimism that people who care for the river really can make a difference. Even little people like us, if we care, can nurture a healthy river. He encouraged us to dip our heads in the water, and showed us how to do it, and how good the water felt on a hot day under the sun.  The lesson had become interactive, and our relationship with the river and its tributary more intimate.

Georgia led us back down the Four-Mile creek towards its meeting with James, but before we reached the end of our field trip she called us to gunnel up one more time against the bank of a wetland.  For the first time, at least in any measurable or preacher-like fashion, Georgia took to the pulpit.  She explained how this mushy place can absorb the energy of hurricanes, how it provides abundant habitat and relatively safe harbor for the small producers of the food chain, and how it filters the water flowing into the James.  Thick, nutrient rich muck.  “Pick some up,” she said.  The boys had only been waiting for an excuse to dig in, but the young ladies were more hesitant.

Georgia said the marsh mud was a great skin rejuvenator.  “Here,” she said, pointing to a place on her chin.  “I have a blemish right here.”  She picked up a handful of brown slime from the base of the creek and rubbed it first on the blemish, and then smeared it over the rest of her face.  Now she had the attention of the young girls, and the entire group of children squeezed the mush through their fingers and smeared it on their faces.  “Go ahead!  Play in it!” said mud-faced Georgia, and the children did.  They bailed out of the canoes and an epic mud fight ensued, where one might only recognize his own child if he has a good knowledge of the structure and appearance of her teeth.  All of the rest was muddied out. All blemishes, all fashion, all reservations, all muddied out. Then, especially then, the beginning of a healthy, intimate relationship with earth. The greatest reason of all to protect the wetlands, culminated the sermon on the creek — “fun!”

Paddling Four-Mile Creek. Credit: Scott Turner

Kyle and Georgia gathered us into a circle when our feet were set firmly again on the solid bank of Deep Bottom Boat Landing. We were told to each sum up our experience in one word, and everyone must use a new word.  “Awesome!” “So Cool!” “Amazing” from the kids.  “Blessed,” “Peaceful,” “Grateful,” from the adults.

Though nobody signed anything or made public professions of faith, I am sure that converts were quietly enlisted. Small, deeply-centered professions of faith were being made in the 7th grade hearts. Not faith in religion, or faith in government, but a simple faith in the pure goodness of the creation. A faith that can save mountains if not move them. A faith that can save rivers.

Melanie Seiler runs Pipeline rapid in downtown Richmond. Credit: Elli Morris

“Who wants to run down the river with Hala team rider Melanie Seiler?!”

The call went out via Facebook, as all the RVA Swim Team requests do. Seiler was in Richmond racing — and coming in second — at the SUP cross event at Dominion Riverrock.

SUP, or stand up paddleboarding, is not a new sport, but riding a boards through whitewater rapids is still a bit of an anomaly. However, Richmond has a growing whitewater SUP community thanks to our world-class urban whitewater and Bic pro rider Ben Moore, who has helped fostered the sport here in town. (Click here to see his involvement with Richmond’s – and the world’s – only high school whitewater SUP team anywhere.) The local community of whitewater SUPers, who playfully call themselves the RVA Swim Team, eagerly joined in to ride the rapids with Seiler recently.

Seiler hails from West Virginia, where she recently began working for a new nonprofit, Active Southern West Virginia, modeled after Active RVA. She represents Hala Gear, maker of inflatable SUP boards. Seiler also hosts a SUP race in September on the Gauley River in West Virginia, featuring an attainment section and a downriver race through three rapids.

The “RVA Swim Team” during a recent paddle with SUP pro Melanie Seiler. Credit: Elli Morris

Seiler has been active in the whitewater SUP community for a number of years. “I love to encourage as many women to get out as possible. It’s a small crowd but it’s growing. It takes a lot of support and pulling friends in and saying you can do it.”

She says that women often want more instruction. They aren’t necessarily going to just jump in and do it. For her, it’s about “getting friends to help friends to get more women into the sport.”

She wanted to stay after the Riverrock races to meet with anyone who could get out on the river while she was in town. “It was wonderful!” she said of the day out with the Richmond locals.

This Saturday, our friends at Riverside Outfitters will open their Brown’s Island Outpost for the fourth straight year. Last year was a kind of watershed for the location: Rentals of mountain bikes, kayaks and standup paddleboards jumped from 900 the year before to 2,300 between roughly Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends.

“Ducky” trips from Brown’s Island to the 14th St. Takeout are now one of the offerings at Riverside Outfitters’ Outpost. Credit: Rich Young

RO owner Matt Perry attributes some of that to being open seven days a week (as opposed to four in 2013) but even more to the word of mouth the location has built in three years. Now, he said, people know that Brown’s Island is a place they can go for an hour to paddle around in the flatwater below Belle Isle. Tourists are discovering it, as well, and taking bikes along the canal and over to Belle Isle and beyond.

Perry added that all the equipment is new this year and that rental options and rates will remain the same this year — mountain bikes are $10 per hour, SUPs and sit-on-top kayaks are $15.

But there is one cool addition to the Outpost’s offerings. Starting on June 15, RO will offer what they call “Walkup Whitewater.” At 11:30, 1:30 and 3:30 — for $25 per person — they’ll be running guided trips in inflatable kayaks, a.k.a. “Duckies,” from Brown’s to the 14th St. Takeout, taking on the famous Pipeline Rapids along the way.

Connor O’Donnell, a Monacan High and William and Mary grad who’ll be in charge of the Outpost this summer, said they even hope to have remote control boats for kids too small to rent kayaks to play with in the canal.

For more information, check out the Riverside Outfitter’s website.

Competitors in last year’s James River Rundown. Credit: Angie Williams

The James is a river of varied vistas — rolling mountains in the upper reaches, Class IV rapids amidst urban wildnerness in Richmond, and miles wide as it nears the Chesapeake Bay. When avid paddler Kevin Odberg approached the James River Association with the idea to create a long-distance paddle race last year, we jumped at the chance to organize such a unique event. And so, the James River Rundown was born.

Last year’s Rundown marked the first of its kind for the JRA, an organization known first and foremost for its protection of the river that runs through the heart of Virginia. But we felt the Rundown meshed well with our mission because it showcases the beauty of the James and promotes river recreation. It gives us an opportunity to connect folks with the river.

Thirty paddlers started the race at James River State Park last June. By the next day a handful had pulled-out but most were able to complete the grueling challenge. Last year’s winners, Rusty and Leza McLain, finished the 100-miles in under 17 hours, an amazing display of tenacity and skill.

All human-powered vessels are fair game at the JR Rundown. Credit: Angie Williams

This year the JRA has made some changes for the 2^nd iteration of the James River Rundown. In addition to the original 100-mile race, 40-mile and 20-mile races are being offered to make the event more accessible to paddlers of all skill levels. The 100-mile race begins at James River State Park the morning of June 27, the 40-mile race begins at Cartersville the morning of June 28, and the 20-mile race begins at Powhatan State Park the morning of June 28. The finish line and after party, including food, beer provided by Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, and live music, are just downriver of Robious Landing at American Legion Post 354 in Chesterfield Co.

With six weeks left before the big races, we’re already well on our way to crossing the 100-participant mark — a huge jump from last year.

If you think you have what it takes, visit www.JamesRiverRundown.org to register! Proceeds from the event benefit the James River Association.

Richmond is making waves in the whitewater stand up paddleboard community with the world’s first — and so far, only — high school team!

This spring, Trinity Episcopal School outdoor program, in conjunction with Ben Moore of Riverside Outfitters, began training students on the upper James River from Pony Pasture to Reedy Creek. This video captures the team on their first run through the downtown rapids. Catch ’em in action on Mondays and Wednesdays. And, if it looks like fun to you, then head over to our friends at Riverside Outfitters and learn how to ride the rapids yourself!

The icy James. Credit: Hunter Davis

Editor’s note: Thanks to Hunter Davis for sharing these words, pics and video with us. For more from Davis, check out HomeontheJames.com

I’ve always enjoyed a good snow day.  Whether it’s outside sledding with your buddies or huddled inside, warming up with a hot meal.  Snow can give a whole new outlook to everyday life.  When I initially saw the snow forecast, excitement started to build with thoughts on how to celebrate the white stuff we rarely see here in Richmond.

My buddy Joey just got done riding the JayP’s Backyard Fat Pursuit in Idaho about a month ago.  The Backyard Pursuit is a fat bike race that covers about 120 miles in the snow around Yellowstone National Park and is incredibly challenging.  Joey completed the race on a CHUMBA Cycles URSA 29er+, in which he said performed fantastic in the snow.  Needless to say, I was curious to see Joey and the URSA take on the terrain here in RVA.  Check out SNOW DAY part 1 as Joey grabs the first tracks in Forest Hill Park after receiving six inches of snow.

After parting ways with Joey, I headed to the 14th Street Takeout to meet up with a crew of whitewater boaters.  It was time to see the city from river level – arctic style.

This is not something you see every winter in Richmond. Credit: Hunter Davis

We decided to hike out to 42nd Street Rocks to begin our descent.  Although it wasn’t easy to reach the main flow of the river due to ice, the scenery is breathtaking.  SNOW DAY part 2 documents the majority of the our trip as we navigate the falls on the James River.

I think what I enjoy most about the winter and snow is the silence that accompanies it.  A blanket of snow seems to trap the normal sounds of the city, making the park more intimate.  I hope everybody had a chance to get out and have a SNOW DAY of their own.