GatorTales

Wednesday, February 24: Executive Committee Meeting, 7:00 PM 118 N. Cypress, Hammond, LA, Click here for map and directions.

Sunday, February 28: Colyell Bay. Easy. Colyell Bay is just east of Port Vincent, LA. in Livingston Parish. We will probably paddle about a mile down to the Amite river & then back up Colyell Bay & go as far up as we wish before returning to the put in. It's a leisurely bayou paddle. There are some gnarled old cypress trees on the way to the Amite R. It'll be a 2-4 hour paddle. It's not a place that's easy to get out of your boat but it is an enjoyable winter paddle. Motor boat traffic possible. Depending on time/desire we will get something to eat afterward in Port Vincent at Berthalots.Contact Martina at martinaellis@yahoo.com

March 5 - 7: Louisiana Hiking Club's Campfest. Chicot State Park – East Landing Meeting Lodge
Outdoor Seminars, Hiking, Paddling, Orienteering, Music, and LOTS of Door Prizes! Contact lbourgault@yahoo.com for more information. Click here for flier. (Not an BHPC sponsored trip. Fee charged.)

Saturday, March 6: Bayou Bonfouca and Potluck Get Together. Easy. Contact Darlene at bgbayou@yahoo.com

Saturday, March 6: Battle On The Bayou. A 12 mile kayak and canoe race on Old Ft. Bayou in Ocean Springs, MS. Proceeds will go towards helping The Land Trust The Mississippi Coastal Plain.For more information go to http://www.battleonthebayou.com (Not an BHPC sponsored trip. Fee charged.)

Sunday, March 13: Devil’s Swamp. Easy - intermediate. Contact Leonard at leonardnaquin@yahoo.com

March 18-25: Spring Paddle Florida on the Withlacoochee and Suwannee Rivers. 115 miles in all. Deadline for registration is March 5th. You can paddle less than the entire trip but you have to make your own shuttle arrangements. For more information go to paddleflorida.com (Not an BHPC sponsored trip. Fee charged.)

April 1- April 5: Florida Spring Fling: Paddle Econfina Creek, Holmes Creek, and Chipola River and play in the icy springs located along these waterways! Camp at Falling Waters State Park - Contact Dottie at butterfliesrbeautiful@cox.net

April 8 - 11: Paddle Bayou Lafourche. This 52-mile, 4-day adventure winds its way through a number of rural communities and several small cities. Paddlers will be treated to scenic natural vistas and to a fascinating "backyard view" of this historic bayou. For more information, go to http://paddling.btnep.org/ (Not an BHPC sponsored event. Fee charged.)

Saturday, April 17: Two O’Clock Bayou. Contact Bill Hager at hagmyster@aol.com

Apr 16-18-- Bayou Teche Bear Festival Paddling Trips. 3 days of paddling along Bayou Teche and through the Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge. Paddlers can choose the days they would like to join the group or paddle for all three days. On Friday, paddle from Baldwin down Bayou Teche to the site of the Black Bear Festival in Franklin.On Saturday, paddle about 10 miles through the Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge. On Sunday, paddle the Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge to explore its bayous, canals and wildlife. The trips are free of charge. You MUST have your own boat. For more information, contact Donovan Garcia (337) 923-9718; or send e-mail to needtopaddle@yahoo.com; or go to http://www.bayoutechebearfest.org/ (Not a BHPC sponsored event.)

Saturday, April 17: Bluz Cruz Marathon. A 22-mile charity race for competitive and recreational canoeists and kayakers along the Mississippi River. The Marathon will have multiple canoe and kayak classes for competitive and recreational paddlers and is aimed at families and friends wanting to enjoy a safe paddling experience, as well as camaraderie with others who enjoy the great sport of paddling. For more information go to http://www.bluzcruz.com/ (Not an BHPC sponsored event. Fee charged.)

May 21-23: Self Rescue Clinic (SRC). Intermediate. Contact Bill Hager at hagmyster@aol.com

June 11-13: Eglin Air Force Base Paddle (Turkey Creek, Boiling Creek) Intermediate. Contact Hoyt at treasurer@bayouhaystackers.com

July 23-26: Hiwassee Tennessee Whitewater Paddle. Contact Bill Hager at hagmyster@aol.com

July 31 - August 1: Weekend of Rivers in Mississippi - Wolf River and Big Biloxi. Paddle one day or both. Camping at the Big Biloxi Campground (fee is $13/site). Contact Leonard at leonardnaquin@yahoo.com

September 3-5 (Labor Day Weekend): Blackwater River Canoe Campout. Intermediate. Contact Hoyt at treasurer@bayouhaystackers.com

Saturday, September 18: Topisaw Creek Paddle. Easy. Contact Martina at martinaellis@yahoo.com

Saturday, October 9: 9th Annual Phatwater Challenge. A 42.5 mile Kayak and Canoe race on the Mississippi River.; open to all classes: Unlimited Kayaks, K-1s, K-2s, K-4s, C-1s, C-2s, Surfskis, Outrigger Canoes, all recreational paddle craft, inflatable, strip-built and kit-boats. Hobie ‘Mirage Drive’ kayaks are permitted. For more information go to http://www.kayakmississippi.com or find them on Facebook (Not an BHPC sponsored event. Fee charged.)

October 15-17: Port Barre to Berwick "Tour du Teche." About 130 miles with a finish at the city park on the Atchafalaya, 60 hour deadline. The purpose of it is to focus attention on recreational and cultural value of the Teche. The race will be sanctioned by USCA and sponsored by a non-profit, The TECHE Project, which also does cleanups and water quality education. We're hoping for as much local participation as possible, if not racing then maybe as volunteers to man checkpoints or serve as bank runners for those out-of-state paddlers who can't bring their own. For more information go to http://www.tourduteche.com/ (Not an BHPC sponsored event. Fee charged.)

Trip Ratings
Easy	distances less than 6 mi/day; little or no current; minimum maneuvering skills required.
Intermediate	distances 6 to 12 mi/day and/or current greater than 1 mph with some maneuvering required.
Strenuous	distances over 12 mi/day with currents in excess of 3 mph and/or maneuvering and/or some upstream paddling required.
Exploratory	distances, current and/or conditions may not be known. Contact the trip leader for an idea of the expected difficulty.
Trip submissions Contact Robb Wiltse, our Outings Chair, at (985) 892-3436 or leadscout@bayouhaystackers.com, to register your event or for more information on leading a trip.

MEETING LOCATION

Take I-12 to Exit 40. Go north on US 51-Business (SW Railroad Ave.) into Hammond. Turn east (right) on US 190 (E. Morris Ave.). Go one full block past the railroad track and turn left on Cypress Street. The meeting place is at the end of the second block on the right.
(Click on map for a detail map)