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Volume CXXXII, Number 19 |
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St. George canoe race
CECILY UPTON
COLUMNIST
Last weekend, the BOC represented Bowdoin College with style at the St. George Canoe race. This annual race, the first in a series of races, is four miles long, covering both swift and flat water.
The BOC entered nine boats, an impressive amount, and we were definitely noticed by the crowd. Although only six boats finished (we left three tangled on some rocks in the first section of whitewater which were later extracted by our crack rescue team), three of our boats placed. Mike Woodruff and Josh Rudner scored second in the open men's racing division, Lauren Whaley and Amber Reed landed third in the open women's racing division, and Dan Abraham and Eliot Jacobs snagged third in the open men's novice division.
While we didn't earn one of the beautiful wood trophies, Callie Gates and myself won for style, sporting clown wigs and leopard print skirts. We were hailed as "a beacon of light on the river." Not bad. The BOCers had so much fun that we plan on doing it again. The next race, the Kanduskeag, is a little bit longer, 16 miles, and includes more rapids and even a portage.
The ice out on the St. George means that the rivers are pumping on the other rivers in New England as well. The whitewater kayaking class has been honing their skills in the pool, but the real test comes this weekend with their trip to Parker Head. There is also a whitewater kayaking and rafting trip to the Contoocook River in New Hampshire this Saturday as well.
On the trail, the spring leadership training crew is keeping it real as they head out on their skills weekend trip to Tumbledown Mountain. On this trip, the gang will learn, hands-on, the basic skills they need to survive in the woods. This includes learning to use the stoves, learning how to set up the tents, orienteering, and general group management. This semester's leaders-in-training are soaking up the information like sponges, so get ready to go on some great trips with them in the future.
On the home front, the BOC takes a break from speakers next week in order to gear up for two special events. First, on April 24, there will be two bear scientists visiting the Outing Club to inform the community about bears, and what to do if you encounter them in the woods. Second, on April 28, the Outing Club is hosting a Get Out More! extravaganza. Get Out More! is a campaign led by Backpacker Magazine to incite people to do just that. Backpacker Magazine representatives will be here to give advice on backpacking, and we have also organized for several other outdoor organizations from around the state of Maine to give presentations as well. This will be an all day event, and we hope to have lots of student participation. In the meantime, get out more!
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