For information about Waterways activities, contact Charlie Helman, 585-266-0424, chelman@rochester.rr.com.

To join the Waterways Email List, go the Waterways Google Group page.

Paddlers List

Published each Spring, the GVC-ADK Waterways Paddlers List contains the names and contact information (phone and/or email) of those members wishing to be listed. When the list is complete it is mailed to each participant. Please contact Luann Mongelli at 585-621-3321 or email her luannM@rochester.rr.com

Trips are suitable for canoes and kayaks unless otherwise noted.

• If in doubt, ask the trip leader.

Trips may be canceled by the trip leader if the weather is too unfavorable.

• If the weather looks marginal check with the trip leader in advance. 
• It is always a good idea to let the trip leader know that you are planning on going on a paddle. 
• We will try to post cancellations here on the web site.

Safety

• Remember that trip leaders are "Hosts" and not professional guides. Leaders may or may not be skilled in First Aid or CPR.
• Due to New York State Law, individual safety, and insurance concerns,

• Each paddler must have an approved PFD which must be worn whenever the paddler is on the water.
• Each boat must have a signaling device (whistle or horn).
• For any trips scheduled after sunset, each boat should have a white signal light that can be viewed from 360 degrees.

• The water on the big lakes stays bitterly cold for a long time. Dress for (immersion) Success! by Jennifer Pivovar.

Co-leading a trip with a more experienced leader is a good way to get started.

• Contact Charlie Helman, 585-266-0424, chelman@rochester.rr.com

• Each trip leader should carry safety gear for your outing. You should have as a minimum a first aid kit, flares, spare paddle, spare PFD, duct tape, and throw rope.
• If you do not have the necessary safety gear yourself, you may pick up a leader pack from the Waterways chair with the basic equipment.

• The Waterways Committee expects trip leaders to provide an itinerary or basic description of their trip to be published, and that no unannounced changes will be made to that description once published.
• Leaders still must use the Liability Waiver Form, are encouraged to complete a Trip Evaluation Form, and must complete an Accident Report Form in the event of injury to any trip participant. 
• Liability release forms are available here. Return the completed forms to Charlie. You can file your trip report on-line here for the Geneseean and the web. Thanks.

Monday morning Daytrippers

Rebecca Ledwin started this group a few years ago. The group gets together for a leasurely paddle on Monday morning usually starting in June and going into October with a group of trip leaders such as Rebecca, Peg Jacobs, Pat Powers and a few others. They have a grand time and keep the webmaster well supplied with photographs.

Tuesdays At The Beach

The Paddling season has arrived and it is time to start the tuesday night paddles. We are going to change things a little this year. Due to the popularity and the amount of people joining us with different levels of ability we are going to offer two distinct levels of paddling. Mark Rakestraw will join Charlie as co-trip leaders. Mark will lead the more experienced paddlers and Charlie will stay back with the less experienced paddlers. By doing this we hope to please more of you and still be able to experience the social time with the entire group before and afterwards that we have become accustomed to. (Translation: more people to eat ice cream with!)

The water temperatures on the lake stay quite cold well into the warmer weather. It is imperative you are dressed for the water conditions and you should bring a dry bag with a change in clothes for safety reasons. Coast Guard approved lighting must be used in case we paddle after dark.

Thursday Evenings

We have Thursday evening paddles and Friday moonlight paddles from May through mid-September. These paddles are more relaxed paddling for canoes or kayaks with the locations and trip leaders varying. Beginning paddlers are welcome. Coast Guard approved lighting must be used in case we paddle after dark.

Trip Classification and Participant Qualifications. Trip leaders should screen participants for appropriate skill, equipment and fitness for the proposed outing. Leaders have the responsibility to decline participation in a trip by any individual who, in their judgment, may impair the safety of participants or the objectives of the trip. All trip participants are expected to sign the ADK Release of Liability form before the outing begins. The trip leader shall prohibit participation in the outing by any person who refuses to sign the release.

Participant Conduct. Participants are expected to have a realistic knowledge of their own ability, to select activities within their capabilities and to carry clothing, food, water, and equipment appropriate to the trip.

Participants must be willing to accept the authority of the trip leader and to cooperate with him or her and other party members to make the trip safe and enjoyable.

Participants should inform the leader if they feel unduly tired or if the trip is exceeding their capability. Concealing such information to avoid embarrassment or other reasons endangers the safety of all participants.

A leader may curtail further participation by an individual and amend trip objectives if, in the leader's judgment, the safety of the individual or group requires it. If a trip participant is unable to continue with the trip and must turn back, he or she should be accompanied by at least one other person.

Minors are welcome to participate in ADK-GVC activities; however the minor (any person under 18 years of age) must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. If that is not the case, the minor must be accompanied by a responsible adult who must provide both a for  for Release of Liability Minor form and an Emergency Medical Care form signed by a parent or legal guardian. These forms are available on our web site for downloading under the heading Forms.

Here are sites that our paddling members have found.
We do not endorse or rate any of the services listed.

• Adventurous Traveler Bookstore
• Algonquin Park
• American Whitewater
• Bed and Breakfast Online Canada
• Canadian Canoe Routes
• Franklin County Canoe Guide
• Freestylers
  
• Great Outdoor Recreation Pages (GORP)
• Gulf Area Sea Paddlers
• Icelandic Tourist Board
• Ka-Na-Wa-Ke Canoe Club
• The Kayak Academy
• Maine Sport Outfitters of Rockport
• Mike Cockburn's Sport Page
• Mohawk Canoes
• The National Outdoor Leadership School
• The National Park Service
• New York State Canal System
• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
• New York State River Otter Project
• New York State Surface Water Conditions
• Ocean Kayaking and Whale-watching
• Outside Online
• Outward Bound
• Piragis Northwoods Company - Boundary Waters Catalog
• Rotary Guide to Adirondack Canoe Routes
• Saskatchewan Canada
• Seakayak
• The Sierra Club
• St. Regis Canoe Outfitters
• Sunrise, Sunset, Moonrise, Moonset, and Twilight
• White Squall Sea Kayaking