This brochure is provided by Green River Canoes Ltd and details some of the Inn-to-Inn Guided Canoe Trips described on the website at www.greenrivercanoes.com . You can also reach us at: https://www.facebook.com/greenrivercanoes https://twitter.com/canoegreenriver For any questions please email us at info@greenrivercanoes.com or use the form at http://greenrivercanoes.com/contact-us You can subscribe to our infrequent newsletter to receive news of new trips, schedules and offers. Steven House
“Contents Green River Canoes
4
Introduction
6
6 Day Vermont Tour
9
Where We Stay
19
Canoeing
23
Hiking
25
Wildlife
26
Maps and Books
29
Green River Canoes We provide Inn-to-Inn Guided Canoeing Trips on beautiful calm green rivers in various regions of France, the Ardennes in Belgium and the rivers of Kent in England. This brochure describes our 6 Day Tour in the state of Vermont, USA. On this tour we explore and canoe the Winooski, the Lamoille, the Missisquoi, the Black River and the White Rivers as we travel and enjoy the beautiful countryside and small towns and villages of Northern Vermont. In the Fall (Autumn) we will of course witness the splendour of colours for which this region is famous. All our trips are guided. Our guests will be accompanied on the river and trail by an experienced guide who knows the area and rivers well. Our other guide will accompany us in the background by driving our vehicle between lodgings. When necessary this
vehicle will be transferring our luggage, meeting us for lunch and generally being available as and when needed. All the accommodation on our trips is in small local Hotels, Chambre D'Hotes or B&Bs: All our trip prices include transfers, canoe hire, accommodation (with breakfasts) all lunches and all evening meals. Trips come in two sizes: with up to 7 guests we will have 2 guides and with between 8 and 14 guests we will have 3 guides (2 on the river & trail). Larger groups can be accommodated by request.
Introduction Take your time in examining the summary page for each trip and then look at the day-to-day schedule and the description of the hotels we use. This should give you a good idea of what to expect from each trip. The Prices and Dates page is self explanatory and the Details and Queries page may also answer some of the more technical questions you might have. If you have further questions then please do not hesitate to contact us, we are only to happy to help. In particular if the dates we've scheduled don't fit your requirements or you would like to change the schedule in some way then we will do our best to help you.
If you are a group of 4 or more then we are also happy to arrange a private trip for you. Just provide us with the dates you would like, the trip your are interested in (with any schedule changes you require) and we will do our utmost to provide it. Although our regular and scheduled trips have a maximum of 14 guests and 3 guides, larger groups can be accommodated with private and custom trips.
6 Day Vermont Tour This is a 5 Night, 6 Day tour which we spend canoeing the rivers of northern Vermont in New England, USA. We will explore and canoe the Winooski, the Lamoille, the Missisquoi, the Black River and the White Rivers as we travel and enjoy the beautiful countryside and small towns and villages as we go. In the Fall (Autumn) we will of course witness the splendour of colours for which this region is famous. Vermont is a beautiful State of mountains, valleys and rolling hills best observed from a river. Our Inn-to-Inn Vermont Trip is a classic adventure. Canoe the best of Vermont as we move from river to river and inn to inn. Our days are simple and loosely structured, and our evenings at the inns are relaxed and laidback. We met first at the Three Stallions Inn, in a country setting near the quiet village of Randolph. After travelling the north of the state we end our journey where we began at the Three Stallion Inn. We will have time to relax on the lawn, go for a walk, or enjoy the hot tub before we gather for our final dinner together. Of course throughout we shall stay at remote and beautiful places and enjoy the regional cuisine and the local wines. We will pass several Châteaux on the river as we canoe by but we will also have the opportunity to visit many of the Châteaux in person. Those of note include the Chambord, Blois, Chenonceux, Chaumont, Amboise, and Clos Lucé (where Leonardo da Vinci lived).
Day to Day Schedule Day 1. Arrival and first meeting. We meet at the Three Stallion Inn in Randolph Vermont, unless we have arranged to pick you up from a regional airport or railroad station, for example in Albany. This Vermont stock farm has been restored to provide the ideal combination of charm and comfort. The grounds and surrounding hills provide an idyllic setting. If you have time you will be able to make use of their facilities, such as hiking in the extensive grounds and woodlands, using the swimming pool or perhaps relaxing in the hot-tub. You may arrive at anytime from the afternoon onwards. We will gather for dinner at about 7:00pm where we will have time to discuss the trip, go over our schedules and look at some maps, before getting to know one another over dinner.
Day 2. Our First paddle in Vermont on the Winooski. After breakfast we leave our cars behind and travel by canoe and our minibus for the next five days. The Winooski is a sampler in itself with smooth and easy sections as well as quickwater, such as that at the mouth of the Mad River. The Winooski winds its way through both secluded and civilized areas. In the afternoon we will load up for the trip north to Stowe where we will stay at the Stowehof Inn. The Stowehof is a traditional Swiss-Austrian Inn situated off a quiet country road in spacious  grounds. We will be able to enjoy our surroundings and the majestic beauty of Mt. Mansfield from either the swimming pool or the deck.
Day 3. Paddling on the Lamoille We paddle the Lamoille River for our second day with its wide open views of valleys and interesting geological rock formations. We will put-in at a secluded spot just below Cady's Falls. Lunch is often near the portage around Dogs Head and Sloping Falls. If the water and our mood is right, we will run Sit-A-While rapid and Ithiel Falls, and canoe through the wonderful granite islands in the afternoon. Tonight will be the first of two evenings spent at the Lake Salem Inn in Derby.
Day 4. Paddling on the Missiquoi into Quebec The Missisquoi is a wide meandering river that flows westward across the top of Vermont, with a loop into Canada, on it's way to Lake Champlain. Hills and mountains are the backdrop of this beautiful valley as the river cuts through quiet meadows and farmland almost entirely away from the road. The day ends as it began at the Lake Salem Inn. The peace and quiet of the Northeast Kingdom surround us as we enjoy one more evening with warm hospitality and excellent cooking. We enjoy sharing stories of the day on the porch or taking a quiet walk along the lake or into the town itself
Day 5. Paddling the Black River and Lake Memphremagog. Today head to the Black River where there are several sections we can choose from. We easily settle into the Black's gentle pace as we head north toward Lake Memphremagog. Â After our day on the river and lake we head back to the Three Stallions Inn in Randolph for our last night.
Day 6. A Paddle on the White River and a time to leave The best is saved for last. The White River is one of the best loved canoe runs in Vermont. We will run a mixture of flatwater, quickwater, Class I and II rapids over the White's ledges. A lot depends on water level, but we guarantee it will be a fitting finale to our Tour of Vermont. We plan to arrive back at the Three Stallion Inn in the late afternoon to pick up our cars and say our farewells. If we have arranged for alternative pick-up & return points then we will be delivering you wherever that may be.
Where We Stay The Three Stallions Inn, Randolph For the 1st and 5th nights we are at the Three Stallions Inn just outside the small Vermont town of Randolph. It is an old stock farm in extensive grounds suitable foir hiking, and cross-country skiing in the winter, with a golf course next door. In the grounds it has an outdoor swimming-pool and indoors a hot-tub for those chill Autumn evening. Early morning walkers can join the guide for a walk before breakfast if they wish to. Several trails are available and you can get a small map from reception.
The Stowehof Inn, Stowe On the 2nd night we stay at the Stowehof Inn near the village of Stowe. Situated on 26 acres high upon a hill with spectacular views of Mt. Mansfield and the Green Mountains, the Inn began life as a grand estate and is a Vermont landmark. The Inn was built in 1949 as an Austrian Ski House and B & B by eccentric architect Larry Hess. Utilizing old barns, houses and even a church to provide a unique feel to the building, Hess also masterminded the structural use of the “petrified� maples that were taken from the grounds and now support the iconic covered bridge-like structure of the entry. In the 1981 film classic, "The Four Seasons" starring Alan Alda and Carol Burnett, the Inn served as the set for much of the film. The moose head that Alda threw in the fireplace is hanging at the top of the stairs.
The Lake Salem Inn, Derby On the 3rd and 4th nights we stay at the Lake Salem Inn near the village of Derby. Situated in seven acres on the banks of Lake Salem this is a tranquil and relaxing spot. This is an ideal place to relax after a day out on the river, but if you still have the energy the Inn has canoes of its own which you may take out onto the lake.
Canoeing All the canoes for the trips are provided by us and include paddles and a life-jacket. The price is included in the trip. We always prefer open Canadian style canoes, which are paddled in tandem - with two people aboard (usually). If you prefer to paddle solo then this can be arranged. These canoes are especially suited for the calm water conditions we will be paddling on and are stable and safe. They allow plenty of room for yourself and your stuff. From time to time we get guests who wish to paddle a Kayak. We can arrange this for you if you prefer but we do stress that the rivers we canoe do not really warrant the use of a kayak and we feel tandem paddling in a canoe is the way to go. Most of our guests have been canoeing before but we will insist on reviewing safety procedures at the beginning of paddling each day and revise paddling strokes for those who haven't paddled for a while or have paddled on lakes rather than rivers for example. For those who have never paddled before their will be plenty of time for lessons as we go. These rivers are ideal places for learning. If time and the inclination allows we can also practise other paddling procedures such as Eddy Turns, Peeling Out and Ferrying. Our guests will not be expected to lift or carry canoes at any time.
Hiking Although the main focus of the trips will be on the canoeing we will have plenty of time for short walks and longer hikes. Where possible we will walk to and from the river, although this is not compulsory. In the appropriate season when early mornings are light we can opt to go for a pre-breakfast walk. The length and timing of the walk will depend on a consensus reached between those that wish to walk, how early we wish to rise and the time of year.
Wildlife On the river we will see plenty of bird-life both on and around the water. We will see Ducks, and Herons. We will also see Kingfishers, and Swifts and Martins as well as various other birds crossing our path such as Woodpeckers, Jays and other crows as well as the almost invisible songbirds in the tree and hedges. We will have to keep our eyes open to see the local raptors. This area of the USA has a rich variety of Butterflies and we will see many familiar species such as Great Spangled Fritillary, Pearl Crescent, Eastern Tailed-Blue, Harvester, Clouded Sulphur, Common Ringlet, the White Admiral and of course the famous Monarch. If we see these nowhere else then the flowers of the gardens of the Three Stallions Inn we usually provide plenty of different butterflies. The river itself will provide many examples of the Dragonfly and Damselfly f a m i l y. I h a v e s e e n Autumn Meadowhawk, C h e r r y - f a c e d Meadowhawk and Ebony Jewelwing. I’m sure we
could find many others with a little more endeavour. Eastern Newt or RedSpotted Newt ( N o t o p h t h a l m u s v. viridescens), in its Eft form (Adult terrestrial, see below). From on the road to Jamaica, Vermont, USA This newt (and its close relative the Striped Newt, N. perstriatus) are unique in that they undergo two metamorphoses. The first is the usual transformation from aquatic, gilled larva to an airbreathing terrestrial form. However in these two species there is a second, less striking metamorphosis to a breeding aquatic adult. The sexually immature land phase is usually called an Eft while the aquatic adults are called Newts. We will also be able to see many flowers, especially early in the summer before the meadows are cut. Of course we will also see many trees and shrubs along the river course and in the forests. We can have some fun trying to identify them.
Maps And Books GUIDE BOOKS, for the Vermont Tours All the usual suspects do guide books to Vermont: Lonely Planet, Fodor, and others so you can take your pick of your favourite style. Explorer's Guide Vermont, by Christina Tree and Alice Levitt Features recommendations for dining, lodging, transportation, shopping, recreational activities, landmarks, and cultural opportunities in Vermont. Vermont Off the Beaten Path, Cindi Pietrzyk Vermont Off the Beaten Path features the things travellers and locals want to see and experience if only they knew about them. From the best in local dining to quirky cultural tidbits to hidden attractions, unique finds, and unusual locales, Vermont Off the Beaten Path takes the reader down the road less traveled and reveals a side of Vermont that other guidebooks just don't offer. NATURAL HISTORY Vermont Nature Guide, by Sheri Amsel The Vermont Nature Guide is a treasury of the most common plant and animal life found in Vermont. With descriptions and fullcolour illustrations of more than 260 species of birds, mammals, insects, reptiles, amphibians, wildflowers, and trees, this little book is the perfect Vermont companion.Â
HISTORY The Story of Vermont: A Natural and Cultural History, by Christopher McGrory Klyza and Stephen C. Trombulak Klyza and Trombulak use the lens of interconnectedness to examine the geological, ecological, and cultural forces that came together to produce contemporary Vermont. They assess the changing landscape and its inhabitants from its pre-human evolution up to the present, with special focus on forests, open terrestrial habitats, and the aquatic environment. FICTION Pollyanna, by Eleanor H Porter When her father dies, Pollyanna is sent to live with her stern Aunt Polly. She is poor, orphaned and alone but Pollyanna just feels lucky to have an aunt at all. The truth is that her dear father, before he died, taught her a trick for life - the 'Glad Game' - the aim of which is to find the good in every bad situation.
MAPS Many types of maps are available for this region but I recommend those produced by the United States Geographical Service (USGS). These and other types of recreational maps can be purchased here at Omnimap. For the Vermont Tours: 1:250,000 maps covers about 120 x 70 (E-W x N-S) miles and these two covers the north and central regions of Vermont where our rivers are. TNY2148 LAKE CHAMPLAIN, NY TUS0656 GLENS FALLS L-185, US The 1:100,000 maps covers about 50 x 30 (E-W x N-S) miles. TVT0230 MOUNT MANSFIELD, VT TVT0231 MONTPELIER, VT TVT0229 RUTLAND, VT