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Recreation Date published: 3/19/2010
BY CARDEN HEDELT With the weather getting warmer, the Rappahannock River is starting to look inviting. But it's not quite time for the average paddler to hit the river. The water is still dangerously high and, as Virginia Outdoor Center owner Bill Micks points out, is still too cold to paddle on without a wet suit or dry suit. "The river is still pretty high, in the yellow or red most days," Micks said. "And most of the water is snow melt. It's all pretty cold, and it will be for a while. I won't put people on the river right now. It's really too dangerous." Micks hopes to get the VOC up and running in late April or early May, but he knows that the huge amounts of snow melt could ruin the first few weeks of the paddling season. "At this time of year, hypothermia is the biggest fear," Micks said. "If people head out without wet suits or dry suits on, they're in huge danger. "Also, if you turn over when the river is high like this, it could be a real wash. You could easily lose your boat and then you're in huge trouble. Only very confident paddlers should be out right now, and they should be going out in groups of no less than three boats." That doesn't mean that the VOC hasn't been getting calls from groups eager to get out on the water. "We get calls all the time," Micks said. "We've had tons of Scout groups calling to reserve two-day trips down the river already. We've had tons of other people calling us who are sick of dealing with the cold and the snow of this winter. People are just itching to get out on the river. "We appreciate their excitement, but we're still trying to enforce that it's really not safe to be out on the river yet. People have to watch these water temperatures. It probably won't be safe for another month or so with these water temperatures." At the VOC this weekend, Micks will sell part of his fleet of canoes and kayaks. All the used boats will come with life jackets and paddles--as well as some advice from Micks to stay off the river for a while. GYMNASTICS COMPETITION AT RIVERBEND Paragon Gymnastics is hosting the Virginia USA Gymnastics State Meet for level 8-10 gymnasts this weekend. The competition, held at Riverbend High School, will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. on Sunday. The cost of admission is $10 for adults and $5 for seniors. Children 11 and under are admitted free. Two day passes are available. For more information, visit vausag.com/state-meet-information/2010-vausag-level-8-9-10-state-meet. Carden Hedelt: 540/374-5440
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