Upper Youghiogheny River, Ohiopyle, PA

Slippery Rock Creek, PA

Kayaking and skiing on the same day - how could it not be epic?! Lets just say that everybody returned with all fingers and toes intact, and leave it at that.

- L. Lindzey

Allegheny River, Pittsburgh, PA

Light-up night! You will almost never find me on flatwater, but I make an exception for the chance to see fireworks explode directly above my head =)

I wound up leading this trip accidentally (I skipped the general body meeting, and it was announced that I was leading a light-up night trip ... I discovered this on the minutes). The group was a mix of Explorer's club members and grad students from my lab, and we all had a blast. We made it onto the water just in time to see the first fireworks show from the point. 30 minutes later, the *big* show began, from the 7th street bridge. Best effect of the night was a curtain/waterfall of white fire from the bridge.

In the general chaos, our group got split up, and Eli, Christine, Kent (and others?) missed the first show but managed to watch the 2nd from close enough to touch the barge! I'm jealous - the coast guard kept herding us downstream, but we still had a great view. Best fireworks show I've ever been to, and the night was perfectly capped by discovering that Sharpedge currently has Mad Elf available.

-L. Lindzey

Youghiogheny River, Ohiopyle, PA

This morning started out with me and Andy working on basic skills in class II water. I always love watching a beginner gain confidence - by the end of the morning, Andy was comfortably ferrying, had a good run down Zee, and even tried surfing. I can't wait to introduce him to the Loop! In the afternoon, I did a few loop runs, the first w/ Christine & Glenn, the 2nd with Glenn. I had a great day - this was the first time I really felt like I had smooth flat spins in Donut Hole, and I'm (slowly) getting better at chasing down errant boats in my AllStar (and I got lots of practice today!)

-L. Lindzey

Cheat Canyon, Albright, WV

I'd been wanting to kayak the Cheat Canyon since I first saw it in a raft this spring. It was finally at a (barely) runable level - low, but still fun - this Saturday, so I dragged Nik, Cornell and Matt down to Albright. Only Matt had kayaked this section before, and this was the hardest river Cornell had attempted. It was an absolutely gorgeous day: clear blue sky, sun soaking into red cliffs contrasting nicely with clear blue-green, FRIGID water. A splash to the face gave me an instant ice-cream headache, and rolling made my teeth hurt from the cold. I don't usually get to see the rocks underwater that create the river features I so enjoy kayaking ... and I'm not sure that I like to =)

Quote of the trip: Cornell, at lunch "I am NOT a flower"

-L. Lindzey