Winter Solstice Poling Cruise

[eckilson]

I don’t get out poling as much as I’d like to, but I was able to get out for a (day early) Winter Solstice Poling Cruise on the Nashua River. We did the section on the North Branch of the Nashua River from Leominster to Lancaster (MA). The river was about 2.5 feet on the Leominster gage - a perfect poling level. Its mostly a down river run that twists and turns through conservation land and two state forests. As we stopped for lunch the snow started, and we poled the last section in the snow. Video of the trip here thanks to Bob.

Snow made the drive home long and slow, but it was still worth it.

 

[memaquay]

I've always wanted to try poling but never got around to it, looks like a lot of fun. Watching those pictures makes me wonder if anyone is going to grab one of those stand up paddle board paddles and paddle a canoe mostly standing up.

 

[eckilson]

You should try it - its a lot of fun. Wood poles are pretty easy to make.

Lots of people paddle standing with the long paddle. Folks interested in that will also probably also have a pole in case they need to push upstreams or snub downstream.

 

[lowangle al]

That looked like a great trip. It must be nice to have some like minded paddlers near by.

I've always wanted to try poling but never got around to it, looks like a lot of fun. Watching those pictures makes me wonder if anyone is going to grab one of those stand up paddle board paddles and paddle a canoe mostly standing up.

Just carve yourself a six foot paddle and give it a try. I was introduced to it by an ex Maine Guide up in Ak. back in 91' and have been at it ever since. I always have a six footer with me as a second paddle. It works well for me in conjunction with a pole too, and I wear a Tilley hat.

 

[eckilson]

The Tilley is important.

 

[Robin]

Were you fellas wearing dry suits? Do they keep you warm enough? Nice trip, I enjoyed the video, Thanks.

 

[eckilson]

Everyone was wearing a drysuit - need it this time of year.

I forgot how cold it is poling with a metal pole. Between the metal and the water dripping off the pole my hands got cold. Fortunately, one of the guys had an extra set of globes that I could use after lunch. When I paddle hydroskin gloves are fine. Not for poling - the heaver the better, and bring a couple of pairs.

 

[jdeerfoot]

Very nice video and it encourages me to try poling, once the local river thaws out. The Nashua looks very much like my home stream the Root River just north of Racine WI.

 

[Nick Pending]

I've always wanted to try poling but never got around to it, looks like a lot of fun. Watching those pictures makes me wonder if anyone is going to grab one of those stand up paddle board paddles and paddle a canoe mostly standing up.

I tried poling back in the mid 1970s, but didn't like it because we did a lot of deep-water paddling and a pole didn't seem of much use to me in deep water. That and I knew how to brace and there isn't one with a pole in deep water, or at least for me. I bought a 6-foot paddle and did a lot of standup paddling from the later '70s clear through the later twenty-teens, not sure when I stopped, but I was losing my equalibrium and no longer as comfortable with standing. It was likely a slow decline after 2015 and gone before 2020. It takes a paddle (for me at least) with a fairly burly bottom edge to the blade for those shallow spots when poling and pushing is required. And I had a brace when the water was deep. I think I went through about three or four paddles in that 40+ year standing phase and never broke one, just wore out blades. Certainly not all paddling was standing but it was a fair share, just a little bit solo, most tandem. Paddling solo in a boat with a pedestal seat is difficult, at least was for me.

 

[stevet]

Used to love paddling in the snow or on a morning with a fresh snowfall overnight. Silence. Ice on the paddle. Everything looked untouched. Magic.

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

Very idyllic and Robert Frost-ian, Erik. Thanks for posting this.