March 2026 HCKC Newsletter

FROM THE SKIPPER

We are looking for a few Tech-Savvy HCKC Members to work with a small group on our Social Media Development Team!

Both new and experienced paddlers look to social media for information about paddle sports, training opportunities and places to paddle.

HCKC needs to enhance our presence and content.

This team may work on…..

• · Recommendations on how to use social media effectively for our club

• · Creating new content

• · Developing guidelines for how HCKC uses social media platforms

• · Monitoring sites for appropriate content that best represents HCKC

For more information or if you are interested in being on the team, please contact:

Linda Decker HCKC Skipper

Lsdecker2018@gmail.com

UPCOMING TRIPS & TRAINING

MANY TRIPS ARE NOW ON OUR CALENDAR.

KEEP AN EYE ON OUR CALENDAR FOR UPCOMING EVENTS THAT MAY BE ADDED AT SHORT NOTICE.  THERE WILL GENERALLY ALSO BE AN EMAIL ANNOUNCEMENT

WHITEWATER TRIPS

Elkhorn Creek - Saturday/Easter Weekend - Apr. 4 Class 2

Trip Sponsor: Andrew Bredemeyer 812-322-7670. ic00k@yahoo.com

Nantahala River - Land of the Noonday Sun! Apr. 24-26 Class II

Trip Leaders:

Connie Boogaard - boogaard.connie@gmail.com

Dave Jacobs - davejacobs@gmail.com

North Carolina in spring, inside a resplendent gorge with a mountain river, is a sumptuous location whether you're a vet or a rookie paddler. Whether you’re there to refresh your skills, learn new ones or just chill for a paddle among the flowering trees and rhododendrons.

Cuyahoga Falls Fest -- Class 3,4,5 - Apr. 25-26

Trip Sponsor — Bob Heckler 1-219-878-6941 Rheckler@att.net

Cuyahoga Falls Fest - Gorge section of Cuyahoga River. Other nearby paddling options exist, see trip description.  There will be river related vendors, and the downtown restaurants are walking distance from the falls.

Swiftwater Rescue Course L2 - L4 May 1-3 South Bend, IN

Sponsor John Gates papergear317@gmail.com

Richard and I will be guiding you on your path to become a better rescuer. Our weekend together, you will learn several new techniques so you can have a toolbox full of “tools” that you can use to rescue a fellow boater and their gear. We only ask you to come rested and with an open mind because we are here to guide you on your journey.

This course is for anyone that paddles moving water to whitewater. If you paddle any streams here in the Midwest, you NEED this course! This course gives you the skills to know how to rescue others and be rescued by your fellow paddlers!

CANOE & KAYAK TRIPS

NON-HCKC April Fool's (Big Pine Creek) Apr. 11

Trip sponsor Garry Hill GarryHill@aol.com 765-432-6782

Also of interest to whitewater paddlers, depending on conditions.    

"Muskrat's 49th Annual April Fools On Big Pine Creek Cruise"

Near Pine Village, IN

Sand Creek - Apr. 18

Trip Sponsor Richard Tekulve canoeindiana@yahoo.com or (812)767-1317

Near North Vernon.  One of the clubs longest-continuous scheduled events for the last 40? years or longer.  The stream offers numerous, scenic limestone ledges and two old mill races dating back to the early 1800's. Streams can be quite moody in this part of the state and are very water dependent, so watch for last minute updates.

Muscatatuck - Apr. 19

Trip Sponsor Sara Hare sarahare2013@gmail.com 812-599-3671

This is scheduled so that people that wish to weekend camp can do Sand Creek Saturday, and Muscatatuck Sunday. It is a standalone trip - camping or paddling Sand Creek not required.  Vernon,  IN

Driftwood River - May 2

Trip Sponsor: Sue Foxx, sue.ann.foxx@gmail.com

This is a fun trip for all skill levels but is long so you need to have the stamina for a distance paddle.

SEAKAYAK TRIPS

Sea Kayak - Kiptopeke Scouting Trip II

Sponsors & Trip Leaders: Tony Pascuzzi

Assistant Leaders: Dave Nord, Jim Heichelbech, Linda Decker

REGISTRATION IS CLOSED. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BEING ADDED TO THE WAITING LIST, PLEASE CONTACT TRIP SPONSOR/LEAD: TONY PASCUZZI izzucsap@yahoo.com

SK: Lake Monroe Overnight April 25-26

Trip Sponsor/Leader: Jeff Stejskal

Co-Leader: Kim Rogers

THIS is a LEVEL 2 HCKC Sea Kayaking Trip (with possible Level 3 conditions).

Join us for an overnight paddling trip on Lake Monroe.   Lake Monroe lets us camp from our boats along the shore in Deem Wilderness. This is our annual spring pilgrimage and we will camp out on the peninsula across from Cutright Public Access Site.   

Michigan Tip of the Thumb/Turnip Rock Spring paddle Apr. 30-May 3

Sponsors and Trip Leads: David & Susan Nord

Assistant Leads: Jim Heichelbech, Linda Decker

TRIP IS FULL, CONTACT TRIP LEAD nordfamily@hotmail.com

IF YOU WANT TO BE PLACED ON A WAITING LIST 

PAST TRIPS & EVENT

Indianapolis Boat, Sport & Travel Show Feb. 20-22 and Feb. 25–Mar. 1

Things went well with the HCKC booth at the show.  Thanks to everyone involved with set up, tear down, coordination, manning the booth, and all other tasks involved with making this a success.

CK: Sugar Creek Ice Falls March 14

The trip had a chilly start but did warm a little by the end of the trip.  No Ice Falls, unfortunately, it had been too warm prior to the trip.  The area in the preceding week received a lot of rain, but the level fell to right around 5 ft. by launch time.  This left a nice flow which kept many rocks and shallow areas sufficiently covered to pass over them.  The ground at the launch was rather soft due to being underwater just a day or two before, but only required a little extra caution.  Ten solo kayakers and one solo canoeist attended.

WW - St. Francis March 21-22

Trip report for the St. Francis river in Fredericktown, MO

Weather was great sunny highs in upper 80's both days. Water level was low runnable. Stating at 4 inches on bridge gauge Friday down to 2 inches by Sunday morning.

We had 8 paddlers make two laps on the Saint Saturday. On Sunday 4 paddlers made one lap before heading home.

HELPFUL TIP

In Jeff Stejskal’s search for weather buoys data for an Upper Peninsula trip, he came across this website that can really make data easy to find and use.  

https://seagull.glos.org/

Part of the  Great Lakes Observing system ( GLOS )

NEW MEMBERS

We welcome our new HCKC members. We hope you will take advantage of the many opportunities you have as a member!

New Members since 2/10

Thomas B.

Mike J.

Robin S.

James L.

Bryan H.

Doug S.

Danny H.

Kaelin H.

Craig B.

Jeffrey H.

Get the Wild Apricot App

If you want to quickly look at HCKC Events that are scheduled, trip details, who is registered for the trip, find HCKC members or update your profile, this App is a handy tool to add to your mobile device.

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