Iceboating in New Hampshire

Rare are the right iceboating conditions – sufficient ice thickness – no snow on the ice – and a windy day.

This blog reflects on the uniqueness of two types of iceboats, terms of the sport, and includes a ride with an iceboater.

Once you get over the initial “What am I doing here?” feeling, you sense being one with the boat. You hear the wind in the sail and the rumble of the runners over the ice. 

Tim, Steve, Dundee

Indeed, you must dress in layers for relative comfort at below-freezing temperatures and high winds. The driver of the iceboat is encouraged (required in races) to wear a helmet in case the boom hits the head, or the boat has a flip.

The first iceboat shown in the video is a DN Class iceboat, meaning the DN is a Class made to specific specifications (see below reference International DN.) The temperature at sailing was 28-degrees. The ice has frozen for the past week, and a few chisel holes into the ice showed the ice to be 3 – 4 inches thick – plenty of strength for ice boating – and smooth ice with no lingering snow.

The second iceboat is handcrafted by Dundee using skates, a broken hockey stick, and his summer sunfish boat sail. The temperature was 10-degrees, and the ice thickness more than 8-inches.  

Checking for Ice Thickness

Dundee uses a chisel to see how thick the ice is.

Microspikes – essential for walking on ice

The frequent crackling sound in the video is not the wind – it is the sound of microspikes as Steve walks on the ice. Microspikes offer serious traction on ice for walking and tasks such as pushing the iceboat.

“Let’s go iceboating!”

The DN Class Iceboat

The DN iceboat was given to Dundee by a friend.  The boat had been disassembled and stored in a barn for forty-plus years. It was re-assembled by Dundee.

Dundee has many creative skills – and the second iceboat is Dundee's handcrafted iceboat, made to his specifications (e.g., can fit two persons.) A special treat in this video is riding alongside Steve as he skims over Perkins Pond.

Below Video: One-minute peek of riding in an iceboat.

Below Video: The DN and Handcrafted Iceboats

Learn More About the Iceboats

For the DN boat, three 26-inches angle iron blades called "runners" support a triangular-shaped wooden frame with a front steering cane-shaped tiller. The blades are attached to the boat, one on each end of the rear cross plank and one at the fore end of the hull. The runner blade in the front is capable of rotation controlled by the tiller. There is a backrest seat in the middle for the driver.

The mast for Dundee's custom iceboat is from his summer “Sunfish” sailboat. (A Force 5 or Laser sailboat mast will work just as well.) A rope is tied to the sail and used by the driver to control the sail. The custom boat uses an old hockey stick for the tiller with old ice skate blades for 10-inches runners. 

The DN Class boat has a sail specific for the DN boat. Dundee's boat is identified on the sail as DN 1792. A well-tuned DN can sail three times as fast as the wind speed.

The boat with sail weighs about 125 lbs.

Starting, Steering, and Stopping

The boat can be started by putting the boat sideways to the wind. You then pull onto the sail to capture the wind – and off you go.

The crafted boat is steered with the hockey stick tiller to direct the front runner.

The driver pulls or releases the sail via the boom rope to angle the sail to catch the wind. The only seeming limitations to iceboat speed are windage, friction, the camber of the sail shape, strength of construction, quality of the ice surface, the level of skill, athleticism, and fearlessness of the sailor. There are many styles of iceboats, but it is said, an iceboat of the DN style can go twice the speed of the wind, i.e., with a 20-knot breeze, your iceboat can reach a speed of nearly 40-MPH!

Tacking or coming about is a sailing maneuver by which a sailing vessel turns its bow into the wind through the 'no-go zone' so that the direction from which the wind blows changes from one side of the vessel to the other. The tacking method gets the iceboat up and down the pond. Catching the wind on an iceboat in the winter is precisely like sailing a boat in the summer.

Sailable ice is known in the sport as "hard water" versus sailing on liquid or "soft" water. Iceboats are strictly wind powered and need nearly snow-free smooth ice to sail.

References:

• International DN: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_DN
• DN North America: https://www.idniyra.org/about/specifications/
• Video and Blog: Ice Boating on Perkins Pond
  http://outdooradventurers.blogspot.com/2015/01/ice-boating-in-new-hampshire.html

• Iceboat.org: http://iceboat.org/faqiceboat.html
• Tacking (sailing): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacking_%28sailing%29
• Sailing: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sailing
• Ice Boating in New Hampshire - Bedford Community TV http://tiny.cc/46y26x

 " Everyone must do something. I believe I will go outdoors with family and friends"

---------------------------------------------------

Steve’s books are available as hardcopy and e-Books at Amazon's Kindle and hardcopy at Harborside Trading Company, 81 Main St, Sunapee, NH, Wild Goose Country Store, 77 Main St, Sunapee, NH, Morgan Hill Bookstore, New London, NH, Bookstore at Colby-Sawyer College, New London, NH, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Gift Shop, Lebanon, NH, and Village Sports, New London, NH.

  Outdoor Play has trip preparations, routes, and narratives of bucket list places to go. The book will motivate friends and family to make the outdoors a key component of their daily life. If you want 5 or more books signed, send Steve an email and we can work out the logistics. 




Additional Sources of Books at:
Hardcopy at: http://outdoorsteve.com and https://www.amazon.com/dp/098503842X
E-book at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/098503842X

Hiking Reney Forest Loop Trail Grantham, NH

I was looking for a short Sunday hike. For years my wife and I had passed a trail sign in Grantham for the Reney Trail. I googled "Reney Trail" and found the below references.

 About the Hike: The Forest Society's Reney Forest is located on the slopes of Barton Hill in the town of Grantham. Its main hiking trail takes you on a moderately steep 1.3-mile loop up and down the hillside along old roads, through areas of recent logging, and on a snowmobile trail mainted by the Blue Mountain Snow Dusters.

Begin your hike on the yellow-blazed trail starting from the right side of the parking lot. The path crosses a minor brook and begins climbing right away. Cross a few grassy old roads, where signs mark the trail. The grade moderates after a while, and the trail crosses another little brook and emerges in a snowmobile trail corridor after just under half a mile. Turn left to join the snowmobile trail and continue the climb uphill. Follow the narrow footway through the grassy trail for about a quarter mile until it crests the top of a ridge and levels off.

Just as the snowmobile trail begins to descend, watch for a left turn back into the forest on the foot trail. The trail generally follows the top of the ridge downhill as it skirts a clearing and joins an old road.

After 0.35 miles, the trail swings right for a bit, then bears left as it joins a different woods road. Descend for another quarter mile, and bear left at a junction with a path leading to a separate parking area. Continue about 0.15 miles across level terrain back to the trailhead.

Below is my video of this pleasant 90 minute hike. 

Driving Directions: Trailhead and parking area are on Rt. 10 in Grantham, NH. Look for the spacious dirt parking area on the east side of the road, 2.9 miles north of the center of Croydon and 0.5 miles south of the junction with Rt. 114.

References

• NH Family HIkes
• Donas J. & Margaret Reney Memorial Forest
• Blue Mountain Snow Dusters
• Exploring New Hampshire's Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsage Greenway
• OutdoorSteve.com

" Everyone must do something. I believe I will go outdoors with family and friends"
---------------------------------------------------

Steve’s books are available as hardcopy and e-Books at Amazon's Kindle and hardcopy at Harborside Trading Company, 81 Main St, Sunapee, NH, Wild Goose Country Store, 77 Main St, Sunapee, NH, Morgan Hill Bookstore, New London, NH, Bookstore at Colby-Sawyer College, New London, NH, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Gift Shop, Lebanon, NH, and Village Sports, New London, NH.

Outdoor Play has trip preparations, routes, and narratives of bucket list places to go. The book will motivate friends and family to make the outdoors a key component of their daily life. If you want 5 or more books signed, send Steve an email and we can work out the logistics. 




Additional Sources of Books at:
Hardcopy at: http://outdoorsteve.com and https://www.amazon.com/dp/098503842X
E-book at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/098503842X

ORFS BOWL MEYER MAPLE LANES IN CLAREMONT

This is never serious bowling but always a lot of laughs! There is a fee for games and rental shoes. 

DIRECTIONS: From New London, take Rt. 11 to Claremont. Go past the Opera House Square on your right and continue on to Pleasant St. (which is also Rt. 11/12 South). Turn left and go 0.9 mile. Turn right at the light on Maple St. and go 0.6 mile to Citgo sign at 125 Maple St. Turn right past EZ Mart to Maple Lanes parking lot. We will have lunch together afterward at Chinese Imperial Buffet, take left after WalMart intersection on 154 Washington St.

Who Are the ORFS?

The Outdoor Recreation for Seniors (ORFS) group meets every Tuesday year-round at 10 am. In the summer, we kayak/canoe, hike, swim; in the fall, we hike and bowl; and in the winter, we snowshoe and cross-country ski. Our trips are from 1½ to 2 hours, followed by lunch.

Directions and locations are available for our Tuesday 10:am outings via email and the monthly New London Chapin Senior Center Courier newsletter. To learn more and join, contact the Chapin Senior Center at 37 pleasant Street, PO Box 1263, New London, NH 03257 or go to their web site at http://www.coachapincenter.org

The ORFS are a very informal group and participation is for all outdoor enthusiasts wanting guaranteed good exercise with a friendly fun group.

" Everyone must do something. I believe I will go outdoors with family and friends"
---------------------------------------------------

Steve’s books are available as hardcopy and e-Books at Amazon's Kindle and hardcopy at Harborside Trading Company, 81 Main St, Sunapee, NH, Wild Goose Country Store, 77 Main St, Sunapee, NH, Morgan Hill Bookstore, New London, NH, Bookstore at Colby-Sawyer College, New London, NH, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Gift Shop, Lebanon, NH, and Village Sports, New London, NH.

Outdoor Play has trip preparations, routes, and narratives of bucket list places to go. The book will motivate friends and family to make the outdoors a key component of their daily life. If you want 5 or more books signed, send Steve an email and we can work out the logistics. 




Additional Sources of Books at:
Hardcopy at: http://outdoorsteve.com and https://www.amazon.com/dp/098503842X
E-book at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/098503842X

Never say, “I wish I had taken Skeet Shooting Lessons”

  Introduction: 50-Second Trailer Video: Never say, “I wish I had taken Skeet Shooting Lessons” 

Introduction

 My friend Mark invited me to go skeet shooting. My first inclination was to say, “Thank you, but I know little about skeet shooting, I have never shot skeet, and I do not have a shotgun.” Mark’s positive response was, “I will teach you.”  Mark continued with my motivational mantra, “Never say, I wish I had.”  I was forced to concede to his skeet shooting challenge.

 Definition of Skeet Shooting

Skeet shooting is the dynamic sport of shooting at 4 –5” targets (called clay pigeons or birds) thrown in the air, generally with a clay target thrower machine. In my case, a shotgun is used to shoot at the clay targets thrown.  In skeet shooting, targets are launched from two houses in somewhat sideways paths that intersect in front of the shooter. 

An Upper and Lower House Skeet Shooting Range

As I delved into this sport with Mark, I learned Skeet Shooting is an Olympic sport. I watched the 2020 Olympics woman’s and men’s Skeet Shooting events. The 2020 Olympics certainly helped get me excited about learning more about this vibrant sport.

 My first two lessons

 A friend, Al, invited us to use his wooded rural property with a temporary range to expose me to the sport of skeet shooting.  Foremost in learning skeet is to master the rules of gun safety protocol.  Knowing AND practicing gun safety is a MUST.  Skeet shooting is very safe, in that, like learning to fly an airplane, the participant cannot break the safety rules without receiving harsh warnings and possible exclusion from the sport.  Any safety lapse is never taken lightly.

 Mark demonstrated the shooting stance, the technique of melding the shotgun to the cheek, mounting the gun to the shoulder, sighting the target with the gun bead, and other suggestions to prepare me to shoot the flying clay bird. After that, he critiqued each shot I fired.

 I will make this introduction brief. I had two lessons from Mark, firing about 50 rounds at the flying clay targets.  My initial score was hitting ZERO of FIFTY targets.  Mark recommended more intense instruction from Bill Rody of Rody Gun Shop in Newport, New Hampshire.  Bill came highly recommended by Mark as both a master instructor and skeet shooter.

 Skeet Shooting Instructions for a Novice skeet shooter

 The below video of this novice skeet shooter was taken during my third of three lessons with Bill. You can watch the full thirty minute video, or three individual videos.

 One more thing.  At the end of my third lesson, I hit about a third of the targets.

Here is the 30-minute video that covers: Understanding your Shotgun - Right from the box, Snippetts of Steve's range shooting instructions with Bill Rody, and Cleaning the shotgun.

 Enjoy this video.

Here are the individual parts of the 30-minute video:

Part 1: Understanding your shotgun – Right from the box (12 Minutes)

Part 2: Snippets of Steve’s range shooting instruction with Bill Rody (11 minutes) 

Part 3: Cleaning the shotgun (7 minutes) 

 My Novice Perspective

 As you watch the videos, keep in mind the perspective is from a novice  with very little skeet experience. The intent is for you to get a feel for the sport, so you never have to say, "I wish I had…”

Always practice with an experienced skeet shooter – and ALWAYS practice safety protocol.

 Key pointers I learned (as seen from the eyes of a first time skeet shooter:

•  Begin with the proper stance
• Bring the gun to your cheek, not your cheek to the gun. Then position the gun tight to your shoulder.
• At the end of the shotgun barrel use the bead at the end of the barrel as a guide. Better yet, look at the target/clay pigeon
• My first instruction resulted in a sore shoulder.  I did not hold the gun tight against my shoulder.
• After my first lesson my cheekbone was sore. I learned I was bringing my cheek to the guy. Bill’s instruction to overcome a sore cheekbone was to get into the proper stance, and then bring the gun tight to just below the cheekbone. Bringing the cheek to the gun, results in my head tilting, often missing the target, and the gun banging against the cheekbone.  

·       I found many of Bill’s instructions referenced in the article, HOW TO SHOOT SKEET – 8 HELPFUL SKEET SHOOTING TIPS. Here is the outline of these 8 Tips. See if you can spot them in my videos.

1.     Know the Rules

2.     Perfect your Stance

3.     Mount Your Gun

4.     Refine the Swing

5.     Fire

6.     Learn Your Weapon

7.     Find Some Friends

8.     Use Proper Equipment

9.     Tip 9 is added by Bill – Above all: Safety, Safety, Safety.

 

A big "Thank You" to my mentors Mark, Al, and Bill.

 ----------------------------------------

References

Definition of skeet - Merriam-Webster
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skeet

Skeet definition is a dynamic shooting sport in which a shotgun is used to hit clay pigeons thrown in such a way as to simulate the flight of birds.

 HOW TO SHOOT SKEET – 8 HELPFUL SKEET SHOOTING TIPS
https://www.mossyoak.com/our-obsession/blogs/how-to/how-to-shoot-skeet-8-helpful-skeet-shooting-tips

 Clay Pigeon Shooting
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clay_pigeon_shooting

Mounting to the cheek
https://www.ducks.org/hunting/shooting-tips/perfect-your-gun-mount-at-home

Stance and how to mount shotgun
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rO7Ogc7R4UI

 How to lead a target
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=how+to+lead+a+target+when+shotgun+shooting

Shotgun Bead
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3hzXm2U5S0

 Don't Look Down the Barrel | Shotgun Tips with Gil Ash
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXo0WUiCx34

" Everyone must do something. I believe I will go outdoors with family and friends"

---------------------------------------------------

Steve’s books are available as hardcopy and e-Books at Amazon's Kindle and hardcopy at Harborside Trading Company, 81 Main St, Sunapee, NH, Wild Goose Country Store, 77 Main St, Sunapee, NH, Morgan Hill Bookstore, New London, NH, Bookstore at Colby-Sawyer College, New London, NH, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Gift Shop, Lebanon, NH, and Village Sports, New London, NH.

  Outdoor Play has trip preparations, routes, and narratives of bucket list places to go. The book will motivate friends and family to make the outdoors a key component of their daily life. If you want 5 or more books signed, send Steve an email and we can work out the logistics. 




Additional Sources of Books at:
Hardcopy at: http://outdoorsteve.com and https://www.amazon.com/dp/098503842X
E-book at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/098503842X

  

 

 

 

Haunted Trail

 

Paddling from Hartland Dam to Quechee Gorge, Vermont

A Paddle to Quechee Gorge, Vermont

Flood Risk Management. US Army Corp of Engineers. Flood Control Dam

North Hartland Lake, Hartland, Vt.

The one-mile-long 165 feet deep Quechee Gorge is a narrow gorge on the Ottauquechee River. The Gorge is the deepest gorge in Vermont. For most visitors, its breathtaking views are generally from the US Route 4 bridge. 

For those wishing for a unique point of view, the bridge and Gorge can be experienced below the bridge from the Ottauquechee River where the River takes a left turn as it empties into North Hartland Lake.

The paddling put-in to obtain this view is four miles downstream at the North Hartland Beach located at the North Hartland Lake flood control dam in Hartland, Vermont.

The North Hartland Dam

The North Hartland Dam is a wonder to see. The earthen dam was constructed between 1958-1961 by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, with a height of 182 feet, and a length of 1,640 feet at its crest. It impounds the Ottauquechee River for flood control and stormwater management for the Connecticut River area.

The reservoir the dam creates, North Hartland Lake, has a normal water surface of 215 acres. It has been estimated that North Hartland Dam has prevented over $180 million in damages along the Connecticut River since its construction in 1961.

The recreation of the area includes fishing, swimming, and boating in the summer, and winter sports such as snowmobiling, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing.

In mid-September, Jim, Dundee and I arrived at the North Hartland Beach put-in, and the automobile access road was gated. We thus put our kayaks on carts, and walked about ¼ mile downhill to the beach. This downhill trek meant, upon our return, we pulled our carts uphill for ¼ mile. This quest to paddle to Quechee Gorge from the Hartland Dam includes some huffing and puffing upon return.

As we pulled our kayaks to the put-in we were met by Heather, a Park Ranger. She very graciously welcomed us, gave us suggestions of things we might see, and instructed us on the rules of the park. Heather used my camera for our picture and a brief video of us pulling the kayaks on the carts. Most importantly, was that at 3:30 pm, the exit gate closes for vehicles. Just be aware.

Our Paddle Upstream to Quechee Gorge

The weather was sunny and a comfortable 70 degrees. There was a slight breeze facing us during our 1 ½ hour meandering paddle upstream to the Gorge. A perfect day for chatting, seeing wildlife, and experiencing the beautiful green mountain forests of Vermont. Please note, this trip offered little opportunity for putting ashore, as we were encased by mountains, forest, and marsh for the entire 4-mile paddle to the Gorge.

We saw eagles, great blue herons, ducks, turtles, extensive signs of beaver chews and lodges.

Eagle

 Shortly before reaching the Quechee Gorge, we began to hear the sound of waterfalls. After that we entered what indeed was a deep water gorge, and we were immediately surrounded by rock ledges of the mountainside. Through the clear rushing water was seen the quick drop off of the ledges, and we knew we were at the Gorge.

Eagle Nest

Warning

We learned of this destination from our friends Outdoor Recreation for Seniors (ORFS), of which we are members. They told us we could swim and have lunch on the rocks by the Gorge. HOWEVER, they warned us the area was quartzite rock and we SHOULD WEAR WATER SHOES WITH TREADS BECAUSE THE quartzite is a hard, non-foliated metamorphic rock, with many sections AX-BLADE SHARP and VERY SLIPPERY.

This warning should not be taken lightly. In the video, you will see how cautiously we walk around this area. I had thick kayaking boots, BUT when I return, I will store my hiking boots in my kayak to wear in this area.

This area is where the Ottauquechee River makes a left-hand turn and drops over the falls, we have an amazing majestic one-mile view of the Route 4 Bridge crowning Quechee Gorge.

Return Paddle

We spent a half-hour having lunch and gingerly walking over the quartzite rocks. Thereafter we put-in, and paddled back to Hartland Dam.

Our trip downstream was rather speedy, as the wind was now at our backs and the slight current was downstream with us. The trip took 2 ½ hours upstream, but a quick 1 hour back. We paused paddling once, as we spied a huge eagle’s nest high in a pine tree way above the river.

Certainly, a gorgeous day with wonderful friends in a unique area of Vermont – Quechee Gorge.

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Directions from New London, NH

I-89N to exit toward Lebanon/ White River Junction. Go .5 mi to the I-91 N exit toward WRJ. Go .1 mi to exit 11 for US-5 South. Keep left at the fork. Follow signs for Hartland/Windsor/US 5 S. Go 4 miles to Clay Hill Rd. IT IS BEFORE UNDERPASS. Turn right. Go 1.1 mi. Turn right onto N. Hartland Dam Rd. There will soon be a FORK IN THE ROAD, leading to dam and beach.

References

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Outdoor Recreation for Seniors (ORFS) 

" Everyone must do something. I believe I will go outdoors with family and friends"

---------------------------------------------------

Steve’s books are available as hardcopy and e-Books at Amazon's Kindle and hardcopy at Harborside Trading Company, 81 Main St, Sunapee, NH, Wild Goose Country Store, 77 Main St, Sunapee, NH, Morgan Hill Bookstore, New London, NH, Bookstore at Colby-Sawyer College, New London, NH, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Gift Shop, Lebanon, NH, and Village Sports, New London, NH.

Outdoor Play has trip preparations, routes, and narratives of bucket list places to go. The book will motivate friends and family to make the outdoors a key component of their daily life. If you want 5 or more books signed, send Steve an email and we can work out the logistics. 




Additional Sources of Books at:
Hardcopy at: http://outdoorsteve.com and https://www.amazon.com/dp/098503842X
E-book at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/098503842X

 

 

 

ORFS Covid Relief at Kolelemook Lake, Springfield, NH

Time for the Outdoor Recreation for Seniors (ORFS) to have Covid relief at the annual "Fun in the Sun" potluck picnic at Luna-See Lodge, Springfield, NH.

After ninety minutes of kayaking, paddle boarding, or hiking around Kolelemook Lake, followed by an optional swim, set up your portable chair, grab a drink, get in line for the covered dish buffet and relax with the ORFS gang. Other silly options: gratitude ceremonial dance with rhythm instruments from all over the world in thanks for our health during the pandemic; and releasing pent-up emotions whacking the virus-shaped piñata! So let gratefulness, freedom, and fun fill our spirits as we celebrate brighter tomorrows together in typical ORFS style.

Enjoy the video of the ORFS "At Play."

Kolelemook Lake, Springfield, NH

Who Are the ORFS?

The Outdoor Recreation for Seniors (ORFS) group meets every Tuesday year-round at 10 am. In the summer, we kayak/canoe, hike, swim; in the fall, we hike; and in the winter, we snowshoe and cross-country ski. Our trips are from 1½  to 2 hours, followed by lunch.

Directions and location are available for our Tuesday 10:am outings via email and the monthly New London Chapin Senior Center Courier newsletter. To learn more and join, contact the Chapin Senior Center at 37 pleasant Street, PO Box 1263, New London, NH 03257 or go to their web site at http://www.coachapincenter.org

This is a very informal group and participation is for all outdoor enthusiasts wanting guaranteed good exercise with a friendly fun group.

" Everyone must do something. I believe I will go outdoors with family and friends"

---------------------------------------------------

Steve’s books are available as hardcopy and e-Books at Amazon's Kindle and hardcopy at Harborside Trading Company, 81 Main St, Sunapee, NH, Wild Goose Country Store, 77 Main St, Sunapee, NH, Morgan Hill Bookstore, New London, NH, Bookstore at Colby-Sawyer College, New London, NH, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Gift Shop, Lebanon, NH, and Village Sports, New London, NH.

Outdoor Play has trip preparations, routes, and narratives of bucket list places to go. The book will motivate friends and family to make the outdoors a key component of their daily life. If you want 5 or more books signed, send Steve an email and we can work out the logistics. 




Additional Sources of Books at:
Hardcopy at: http://outdoorsteve.com and https://www.amazon.com/dp/098503842X
E-book at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/098503842X

Friends and Relatives Annual swim across Perkins Pond.

The swimmers, accompanied by a safety boat, go across Perkins Pond, around a raft, and then return back to the start. The swim takes approximately 40 – 50 minutes minutes.

Swimmers and Safety Guards - Perkins Pond One-Mile Swim

History

The history of this swim started when my 7 and 6-year-old boys, Shaun and Tim, asked to drive our six-hp motorboat by themselves. Cathy and I knew the boys could swim and drive the boat, but if an emergency should occur in the boat, we were skeptical about their ability to swim a long time.

We told the boys they could only take the boat alone if they could swim across Perkins Pond, and then swim back, all without a life vest. Of course, we would accompany them by boat to ensure their safety.

Our challenge proved to be an incentive for these young boys to improve and practice their swimming skills. Later that summer they fulfilled their swim agreement, and they were allowed to use the boat, always wearing a life vest, by themselves.

Now, annually for the last forty-plus years with close friends and family, we gather to repeat this original challenge. This year also offered another celebration, as four of our group accepted proposals of marriage.

The Swim

As you see in the video, the eleven swimmers are accompanied by a motorboat, canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards, all of which have life-vests plus throw cushions for each swimmer. Utmost is ensuring the safety of the swimmers with immediately available help in case of cramps or exhaustion and keeping recreation boats away from the swimmers.

To participate, one needs to be an experienced swimmer. Moreso, they need to be in good physical condition to make this one-mile 40 - 50 minute swim. This requirement may seem obvious, but my experience finds some swimmers in the past have underestimated their skill and endurance needed for this one-mile swim in open water. The result is they were pulled from the water into one of the lifeguard boats.

As you will hear in the video, there is good-natured ribbing and chatting throughout the easy-going swim.

" Everyone must do something. I believe I will go outdoors with family and friends"

---------------------------------------------------

Steve’s books are available as hardcopy and e-Books at Amazon's Kindle and hardcopy at Harborside Trading Company, 81 Main St, Sunapee, NH, Morgan Hill Bookstore, New London, NH, Bookstore at Colby-Sawyer College, New London, NH, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Gift Shop, Lebanon, NH, and Village Sports, New London, NH.

Outdoor Play has trip preparations, routes, and narratives of bucket list places to go. The book will motivate friends and family to make the outdoors a key component of their daily life. If you want 5 or more books signed, send Steve an email and we can work out the logistics. 




Additional Sources of Books at:
Hardcopy at: http://outdoorsteve.com and https://www.amazon.com/dp/098503842X
E-book at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/098503842X