Newsletter
Three Rivers Chapter Wooden Canoe Heritage Association Issue #39 March, 2010
February 27, 2010 History of the WCHA with Bill Conrad by Fred Capenos "On Saturday Feb 27th, 16 of us met at Max Woodworking to listen to Bill Conrad talk about his experience with, and the history of the WCHA. Never mind that we were in the midst of the worst winter in recorded history, they came. Before Andy introduced Bill, we took a few minutes to recognize two of the founding members of the Three Rivers Chapter. Andy presented Max Peterson with a gorgeous coffee mug. and a neat book entitled, "Canoe Country� was presented to Bruce Kerman. Without a doubt, the Three Rivers Chapter would not exist without these two people Once again, we thank both of you for all you have done, and are still doing. At this point, Bill Conrad gave a truly informative talk about our organization. He showed slides from the early 1980's, talked about the past board members, past Assemblies and his involvement with the assembly auction, Bill's stories were laced with lots of humor, praise, and appreciation towards the many people that he has met and worked with over the years.
Even though Bill is a member of several WCHA chapters, we claim him as our own. Also, we welcomed new member Frank Romeo to our chapter. Frank operates a canoe rental operation (Tupperware), but he does have an Old Town guide that he is restoring".
From Our Chapter Head
Judy Martin, our on the water event chair person has a full summer of paddling events lined up starting in April. Mark your calendars – the ice will be out soon!
By Andy Hutyera
We had a great meeting in February with 16 hardy souls coming out to brave the weather. We were well rewarded for our efforts as Bill Conrad, past president of the WCHA, did a wonderful presentation on the history of the WCHA and the many folks who have contributed so much to that great organization. Max has another interesting program in store for March with Ann Mertz and Tony Stanton doing a presentation on their many trips to Algonquin Park. Come join us on March 27 at Max’s workshop. We have had good news from Becky Mason and Reid McLachlan. Our chapter is bringing them to the Mini Assembly on Oct 8-10. Reid and Becky will be doing multiple teaching session on Canadian style solo canoeing. We are offering this opportunity to our members on a first com first served basis. We will split the cost among all those who participate. Classes will be about two hours each with up to seven participants in each class. We hope to have enough folks interested to have four or five sessions over the weekend. The more folks who participate, the lower the cost. We’re hoping to keep the cost in the $100 to $150 range. This could go lower if we fill the classes. Becky and Reid will also be doing a slide presentation, most likely on Saturday evening. Please contact me by email at chips@ohio.net to reserve a spot. If you’d like more information about Becky and her classes, please visit her website at: http://www.redcanoes.ca/becky/canoe/to urlesson.html
Next Meeting: March 27, 2010 9:30 AM Max Woodworking
Slides and Narrative of 2009 Algonquin Park Trip Three Rivers Chapter members Ann Mertz and Tony Stanton will show many photos and share a narrative of the latest of about twenty annual canoe trips they have done together in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario. Last August they started out on Canoe Lake, then on to McIntosh, Shippangew, la Muir, Happy Isle, Little Otterslide, and back to Canoe in eight days and seven nights. This sounds like a most interesting trip, and I'm sure Ann and Tony's account will be entertaining as well. If you have one, you are encouraged to bring along your map of Algonquin Park so that you can follow the route with the presentation. Max Woodworking is located at 1000 Transit Blvd., Bethel Park, PA 15102. Coffee will be on by 9:00 AM.
Paddling the Web By Bruce Kerman
February – Paddling the Web – Canoerootsmag.com
The current issue of Family Camping & Caneroots magazine has Becky Mason paddling a wood and canvas canoe on the
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cover and contains their buyers guide to the “best canoes” of 2010. But this article will not focus on the magazine: It will take a look at Canoeroots excellent web site – canoerootsmag.com.
The canoerootsmag.com website offers a wide variety of information on various subjects of interest to canoeists throughout North American. While the primary audience is Canadian, there’s plenty for use south of the Great Lakes to appreciate as well. Lets take a look at some of the more interesting features, which include articles and some amazing videos, such as the following:
The Olympic torch relay travels by canoe.
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Paddling the Northern Forest Canoe Trail from northern New York to Maine. A wood canoe built entirely from chopsticks.
A short documentary film on the invasive Asian carp and their approach toward the Great Lakes. A video about college engineering students concrete canoe competition. Video of a group of modern-day Canadian voyageurs re-enacting an upstream paddle in a freighter canoe filled with supplies and trade goods. (Click on “blogs” and then look for Northern Wilderness.) A 58-minute documentary about birch bark canoe construction (click on “blogs” and then “skills”. This documentary shows how a canoe is built using traditional construction techniques. César Newashish, a 67-year-old Attikamek of the Manawan Reserve north of Montreal, uses only birch bark, cedar splints, spruce roots and
gum. If you follow the link to the National Film Board of Canada, you can see this film in full screen.
payable to: WCHA Three Rivers Chapter . The balance as of February 28, 2010 is $ 954. 13 with 25 members paid.
Other parts of the web site show canoeing photos, videos, tips and advice, including instructional videos. If I don’t stop looking at the interesting and amusing parts of the web site, I’ll never get this article finished in time for our newsletter deadline! So, make sure that you have some extra time available before you log on to this site.
Allegheny Canoe Club Schedule of Events Burt Martin is the Vice President of the Allegheny Canoe Club. He has year of experience with moving water trips. Burt has shared some of his trips with us. Anyone who is interested in any of these trips should call him. This also includes the hiking trips. When paddling streams and creeks always call ahead for it has to do with water level. You can call Burt Martin at 724-475-2302 for all of these trips. March 27-28 “Snowball Run” Slippery Rock Creek. For more details contact Paul Egbert at 724-679-4345 or our Cruise Chairman at 724-475-2302 (cold water precautions advised) April 3rd Tionesta Creek, Lynch to Kellettville Meet at the bridge at Kellettville at 10:00 am Cold Water Precautions advised. Call first Burt Martin at 724-475-2302. April 24 Upper French Creek, near Waterford , Saturday. Meet at 11:00 am at the takeout at the intersection of Route 6 & 19, about 5 miles south of Waterford/ 6 miles east of Edinboro. Those of you who know the put-in location, we’ll meet at 10:15 am there for gear drop-off and setup. This section is 9.5 miles and our favorite with an eagle’s nest, ducks and mergansers, early spring wildflowers, nicely running water with several fun riffles and
Treasurer’s Report Don Bottman If you have not paid you chapter dues, please support our Three Rivers Chapter of the WCHA with your dues payment of $20.00 per household for 2010. Get involved and send your dues to : Don Bottman., Treasurer, 336 Nicholls Hill, Belle Vernon, Pa. 15012. Make checks 4
very houses or cottages along the way. We will avoid the clay shooting by doing this on Saturday instead of Sunday! (last year the shooters rained shot pellets down on us with some of their clays, in spite of my blowing my whistle to warn them of people on the creek. They shoot on Sundays) Cold water precautions advised. Contact Lee Ann Reiners at 814-484-3059 or an email: Tidhouse@zoominternet.net …….to be continued
For Sale Canoe Cradles For Sale I have 6 cradles made by a friend of mine. They all have a cedar finish. Some are made of ash, some oak. They vary in size from 30X28 (HxW) to 36x36. $60 each. All proceeds will go into the Gene Biles Scholarship Fund. I will bring them to our March meeting. Rick Braun at : rbraun84@verizon.net
Editor’s Note: We know this newsletter isn’t perfect, but it’s the best that we can do at this time. Hope to do a better job next time….
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