A Smart Start for Safe Paddling on Pennsylvania's Water Trails
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SPECIAL: PULL-OUT POSTER >>>>>>> A SmartStart for Safe Paddling on Pennsylvania’s Water Trails Long before airports, highways or even trains, water trails. As you paddle or row, always remember to Pennsylvania’s streams, rivers and lakes provided a “Wear It!” Your life jacket is the most important piece of means of transportation for native inhabitants. gear you have while paddling. In addition, knowledge is Today, you can travel these same routes, enjoying critical for boating safely. The statewide network of water the state’s natural resources while getting glimpses of trails shown below provide the recreational opportunity rich history and tradition on an official Pennsylvania for enjoyment and discovery, and this special “pull-out water trail. Water trails are recreational waterways on a poster” provides much of the core knowledge to help lake, river or ocean between specific points, containing you have a safe day on the water. Keep it handy, as a access points and day-use and camping sites for the reference on what to know before you go! To view more boating public. Water trails emphasize low-impact use detailed water trail maps, visit the Fish & and promote resource stewardship. The Pennsylvania Boat Commission’s website at Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC) and its water trail www.fishandboat.com. partners invite you to explore these unique Pennsylvania ERIE EK PENNSYLVANIA! RE 21 C H C N E R BRADFORD F WARREN SUSQUEHANNA R E TIOGA IV R 17 Y N MCKEAN E CRAWFORD H EG SUSQ LL UEH WAYNE A AN NA R D IV E POTTER E L R LACKAWAXEN RIVER A 18 W A R FOREST E LACKAWANNA R VENANGO 1 SULLIVAN IV ER CAMERON PINE CREEK WYOMING K LYCOMING EE CR CLINTON K OC CLARION RIVER LS YA 5 ELK O LUZERNE L PIKE A MERCER LL EG JEFFERSON H E R ANNA RIVER N IVE SQUEH COLUMBIA Y CLEARFIELD R SU NA CH MONROE R EHAN RAN I QU T B V SUS ES R R E CLARION H W IVE E R R C A LAWRENCE EK N CENTRE NN IV RE RA HA 14 R BUTLER RE ANK C B UE E D B T SQ AR . 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Swatara Creek Water Trail (with a QR code app) and 2. Three Rivers Water Trail 13. Conestoga River Water Trail this QR code to access the 14. North Branch Susquehanna River Water Trail 3. Youghiogheny River Water Trail PFBC Water Trails web page. 4. Upper Monongahela Water Trail 15. Lehigh River Water Trail (http://fishandboat.com/watertrails/trailindex.htm) 5. Clarion River Water Trail 16. Schuylkill River Water Trail 6. Kiski-Conemaugh River Water Trail 17a. Delaware River Water Trail 7. West Branch Susquehanna River Water Trail 17. Tidal Delaware River Water Trail 8. Middle Susquehanna River Water Trail 18. Pine Creek Water Trail 9. Lower Susquehanna River Water Trail 19. Juniata River Water Trail 10. Raystown Branch Juniata River Water Trail 20. Yellow Breeches Creek Water Trail 11. Conodoguinet Creek Water Trail 21. Conewango Creek Water Trail www.fishandboat.com Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • May/June 2011 31 Let others know about Be safe and keep your your float trip by leaving a life jacket snug. FLOAT Know the float plan. A for waters you plan PLAN Safe Paddling Zip to float. SmartStart up! Officers can provide regulatory information, reports on current water Buckle Changes in Remember HAT weather conditions, and other useful can be a KILLER! 1 up! MAPS can affect information. It is your these safe Loss of body heat, & SWEATER your trip. GUIDES WEATHER responsibility to know the the possibility of REPORT paddling tips, AND regulations. hypothermia, WET and you’ll have and at the very SUIT 3 a smart start to least, the end SHARE THE WATER: of your float 2 great paddling! trip can be a result. Keep at least three DRY points of contact and Give others the BAG room they need HAT stay low for balance. to enjoy the WITH BRIM WATERPROOF waters. SUNGLASSES HELMET CONTAINER Be a steadying influence on POCKET your partner! LIFE JACKET Use the H.E.L.P.or HUDDLE positions KNIFE along with wearing a life jacket to conserve body heat and improve your chances of Keep the scene clean and pick-up litter. survival in cold water. 3 1 2 WHITEWATER STAY ALERT and TYPE 1: be ready to move Intended for out of danger. Leaning offshore use. shoulders Because of their Be prepared LIFE JACKET outside the Although you may bulk, they are not HORN recommended for for your type edge of the intend to be IN your paddlers. of paddling by WHISTLE boat can lead canoe or kayak... to a capsize. TYPE 2: being dressed Keep your Near-shore It’s and weight low and buoyancy vests. important balanced over They are not outfitted recommended to be aware of the centerline STAY VISIBLE, TOURING properly. for paddlers. your surroundings, WHISTLE of the boat. Expect the especially if you because others may not see you. FLASHLIGHT unexpected TYPE 3: encounter and know Flotation Aid. powerboats. They are DRY BAG Paddling hazards include what to recommended rocks, strainers, low-head do if for paddlers. RESCUE dams, heavy current, you find While paddling THROW lightning and other yourself TYPE 4: can be easy, it’s BAG bad weather. IN the Throwable devices. no excuse to Stay away from strainers! Strainers can water. These are not be anything required on canoes or paddle under the kayaks and are influence. Paddling a WATER BOTTLE that blocks not to be used as kayak or canoe requires passage but substitutes for a responsible, safe and lets the If you fall out in current, life jackets. aware operator. Don’t blur water filter keep your feet on the that operation with through. surface and swim to shore. TYPE 5: alcohol and These are special drugs. In most cases, getting wet use life jackets. A group PROPER or swamping your boat is They may be SHOES no reason to end your trip. appropriate and of paddlers recommended for is safer, Just dump the water certain uses by but this SUNSCREEN out, re-enter and paddlers. should not you’re on Low-head Read the life jacket’s label. The right fit become a If waves do kick up, your way. provides the right flotation. ReRemember, it drinking party! dams are doesn’t work if you don’t wear it! take them at an tough to see Stay away from low-head dams! angle to stay dry. from upstream and very difficult to escape. Both strainers and low-head dams are regarded as “drowning machines.” These hazards are dangerous—avoid them, portage around them, and ALWAYS SCOUT AHEAD! illustration: Ted Walke W ITHIN REACH 32 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • May/June 2011 www.fishandboat.com Use a smartphone and the www.FishandBndBoat.com QR code at right to visit the Fish & Boat Commission’s website. Let others know about Be safe and keep your your float trip by leaving a life jacket snug. FLOAT Know the float plan. A for waters you plan PLAN Safe Paddling Zip to float. SmartStart up! Officers can provide regulatory information, reports on current water Buckle Changes in Remember HAT weather conditions, and other useful can be a KILLER! 1 up! MAPS can affect information. It is your these safe Loss of body heat, & SWEATER your trip. GUIDES WEATHER responsibility to know the the possibility of REPORT paddling tips, AND regulations. hypothermia, WET and you’ll have and at the very SUIT 3 a smart start to least, the end SHARE THE WATER: of your float 2 great paddling! trip can be a result. Keep at least three DRY points of contact and Give others the BAG room they need HAT stay low for balance. to enjoy the WITH BRIM WATERPROOF waters. SUNGLASSES HELMET CONTAINER Be a steadying influence on POCKET your partner! LIFE JACKET Use the H.E.L.P.or HUDDLE positions KNIFE along with wearing a life jacket to conserve body heat and improve your chances of Keep the scene clean and pick-up litter.