From the Helm

by John Ohrt, Commodore

Although the pecan trees haven't leafed out yet, which is the old way of telling when spring has really come, the spring paddling season is well underway. As a reminder, be cautious of sudden changes in the weather which can occur anytime until early June when cold fronts collide with hot humid gulf air. these will result in hard rain, high winds, and big drops in temperature. Keep informed of the weather reports. It is your responsibility to be prepared for all trips you go on.
And speaking of trips, the Houston Canoe Club has a varied trip schedule. We do not specialize in only one area of paddling. We have as many different sorts of trips as we can get trip organizers. I recommend that all HCC members take advantage of this and try something different this year.
Try camping out of canoes; sitting around the campfire at night watching the stars come out and the fog on the early morning river.
Try some whitewater; with the thrill of running wave trains and rapids.
Try some exploring some new flat water areas like Lakes Charlotte and Sheldon. Go on a new river.
Trying someting new will make you a better paddler and you always learn something. Of course don't try something that your skills or conditioning are not up for, but variety is one of the best parts of HCC so make use of it. There is a very active schedule between now and mid June, look it over, put something on your calendar, take the time, and get out there make new friends and enjoy