Great Ohio River Paddle 2008
Trip Details
Come join us for a weekend on the River!
Register early for discount (see details below)!
The Great Ohio River Paddle 2008 (GORP 2008) will be Saturday, July 19 - Sunday, July 20, 2008. Paddlers will stop each day at different sites. Along the way, naturalists, biologists, scientists, and local historians will share their knowledge and experiences. Many have intimate knowledge and up-to-date information about their areas of expertise. Paddlers will lock through a shipping lock that calmly lowers you more than 20 feet in a few minutes. Come explore, learn, and have fun!
How do like your GORP?
NEW FOR 2008!!! PaddlePods
Paddlers will be able to select 3 different paddling "pods" for a more personal experience:
- An EcoPod - learn about the ecological jewel of the Ohio. This includes at least one tributary trip.
- A TouristPod - paddle across the Ohio and disembark at Augusta, KY for lunch and a walking tour of this historic Ohio River town.
- An EndurancePod - paddle, paddle, paddle - you want a workout? - paddle the Ohio and a few tribs.
You select a Pod when you register. You can let us know on Saturday or Sunday morning if you want to change to a different Pod.
MORE NEW FOR 2008!! Paddler Sponsorship
One of the ways you can help make this extraordinary event even more exciting is by letting friends, family, and local businesses support our efforts to improve the environment and quality of life for 25 million people (the approximate population of the Ohio River watershed). You can do this by participating in the optional fundraising feature of the event and earn fabulous prizes!!!.
It's very easy. Visit our paddler sponsorship page for more information and to view the paddler premiums.
The Paddle locations are:
-
Saturday, July 19th from Ripley, OH to Chilo, OH (14 miles), and
Sunday, July 20th from Chilo, OH to Moscow, OH (6 miles)
---- 20 Ohio River miles total (mileage may vary depending upon which PaddlePod you participate in) ----
Camping and Amenities
GORP arranges all camping and amenities for paddlers. The campsite location for July 19 is the Clermont County Chilo Lock and Preserve No. 34. Amenities at the campground include public restrooms, hand-washing stations, shelters, trash receptacles, yurts, and water hose hookups. Some form of presentation or entertainment will be provided.
Food
Meals will be provided for you throughout the trip; lunch and dinner on Saturday, and breakfast and lunch on Sunday. Breakfasts and dinner will be served buffet-style, with a variety of delicious items to choose from. There will be both meat and vegetarian options. Saturday any non-paddling visitors can enjoy dinner in exchange for a $10 donation. Snack foods will be available for on and off-river snacking both days.
A Typical Day
Paddlers can expect to cover an average of 3 miles per hour paddling down the river. A lunch break will be held around midday depending upon availability of landing sites. Lunch may be early or delayed if especially good time is being made. Side trips into marshes or tributaries are also possibilities.
After arriving at Chilo on Saturday, each paddler may set up camp on his or her time schedule, but all camps should be set up prior to dinner. There will be time to enjoy any community events and Ohio River exhibits, enjoy the river or the host community, call home, or just relax. In the evening there will be opportunities to talk about the day, learn about our fellow paddlers and chat about our experience with any interested folks.
Sunday will begin with breakfast, break camp, pack boats, and daily safety briefing. Paddlers will leave Chilo and lock through a lock at the Captain Anthony Meldahl Locks & Dam that calmly lowers you more than 20 feet in a few minutes. They will experience the river as few people have or ever will! Paddlers will then proceed on their journey to Moscow, OH!
Massage
After a long day on the river, nothing feels better than a massage. Licensed massage therapists will be available Saturday afternoon and evening to soothe those aching muscles! There is an additional charge for massage, generally $10 for 10 minutes.
Prior Experience and Other Important Information
Paddlers must have some prior paddling experience on moving water (not beginners) within the last 2 years and camping experience. (If you want, to gain some experience before GORP you can take a skills course at a Canoe & Kayak School like that run by the Sierra Club - Miami Group.) Commercial ships and tug and barge combinations will be sharing the river with us, along with numerous large pleasure craft. We will avoid the shipping channel at all times, except for scheduled channel crossings. You should be able to handle modest waves and wakes (less than two feet), be able to paddle into a strong head wind for the day and be able to perform self and assisted rescues as the victim or the rescuer (we'll teach you, if necessary). You can expect four to five hours of paddling each day.
Requirements for Participants 17 and under
Minors need to paddle with an adult in their boat, have the ability to swim, and have wet rescue training or experience. Any minor that can't paddle needs to have 2 adults in their boat.
If you have questions about any requirements, give us a call (or e-mail) and we will be happy to talk to you about whether or not your experience is adequate or a class is appropriate.
Equipment
Paddling boats of the recommended minimum lengths will make it easier for you to paddle the long distances and help keep the group together. Boats lengths recommended: at least 9 feet long for single or two-person kayaks, and at least 14 feet long for canoes. All paddlers are expected to carry and provide their own safety gear (including Coast Guard approved PFD). All canoes must have 2 paddlers. You must provide your own kayak or canoe and paddling and camping gear (including tent). NO INFLATABLE BOATS. A suggested list of items can be found on the Gear Checklist.
No Pets
Unfortuantely, no cats, dogs, or other pets allowed on GORP. Sorry.
Baggage Shuttle
Your camping baggage will be loaded onto a truck when you arrive, then shuttled and unloaded at Chilo. On Sunday baggage will be shuttled to Moscow for pick up by you at the end of the day. Baggage that is to be shuttled needs to be no more than 2 reasonably sized duffle bag per person, each weighing 20 pounds or less. You should pack a separate waterproof bag to take with you on the river to hold extra clothes, jacket, sunscreen, etc. For ideas on what to pack see the Equipment Checklist.
Site Locations and Driving Directions
Ripley Public Landing (Ripley, OH)
Clermont County Chilo Lock and Preserve No. 34 on Rte. 52
Moscow, OH
Transportation, Parking, and Shuttle Options
You can either arrange your own transportation to be dropped-off at the put-in and picked-up at the take-out. Or you can park a vehicle at both locations. GORP will provide paddler shuttle service back from Moscow to the point of origin (Ripley) - a 30 minute ride. We will watch over your gear and boat until you return with your vehicle. If necessary, a transportation request should be made at the time of registration. If you are interested in this option, be sure to fill out the parking and shuttle section on the registration form.
While we believe that the parking at these locations is relatively safe, we cannot guarantee the security of your vehicle. Please do not plan to leave any valuables in your car.
Pre-trip Lodging
Before GORP begins on July 19th, you might want to get there the day before. Maybe it's a long drive. Maybe you want to sample the local town ambience. If so, there are a few B&Bs in Ripley, or you can go right across the river (there's a bridge just east of Ripley) into Maysville, KY where a whole bunch of options exist. There is no overnight camping available at the put-in location. If you try, the police may find different overnight accommodations for you.
Cost: Before May 12: $60 Before July 12: $80 July 12-19: $100
PLEASE - Also consider the fundraising option - we're offering really great prizes!!
Fee includes: Sumptuously delicious meals, camp-site fees and arrangements, insights from naturalists and historians, safety paddlers/guides, paddler shuttle, drinking water, snacks, and all the logistical details handled by GORP.
ORF MEMBER DISCOUNT
$10 additional discount for ORF members
Registration Information
On-line, fax, and mail-in registrations will not be accepted after July 15th. If you want to wait to register on-site, registration begins at 7:30am, and the on-site fee will be $100. Launch (a/k/a put-in) time will be around 10am.
Cancellation Policy
Refunds, less a $25 processing fee, will be issued to those who submit a written cancellation by June 12, 2008. From June 12 to June 30, cancellations for medical reasons only will be accepted with a letter from a licensed physician, less a $35 fee. NO refunds will be granted after June 30, 2008 for any reason.
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