Kayakers paddle Clark Fork River

THOMPSON FALLS – Kayaks lined the banks of the Clark Fork River and an assembled group of women practiced their kayaking techniques on a mild and damp morning over the weekend.

Rocky Point Ranch, several miles east of Thompson Falls, served as the starting point for the waterborne expedition on Saturday, Aug. 16.

The inclement weather did not seem to scare anyone away from the day out on the water as a sizeable group of women showed up to take part in this year’s Becoming an Outdoors Woman workshop.

The women in attendance appeared ready to go as they actively practiced their kayaking strokes and prepped their boats for the journey.

According to Ginger Ward, who helped out with the workshop, 32 individuals participated in this year’s event.

Sissel Robertson, the owner of Crazy Woman Kayaks of Thompson Falls, was on hand to lend her expertise to the participating ladies, demonstrating proper rowing techniques, while providing tips on how to save energy and keep oneself dry during the journey.

Robertson did not seem concerned with the weather and was looking forward to the daylong trip.

“It is always nice once you get out on the water,” Robertson said.

Last year’s BOW event was spread out over both Saturday and Sunday and this year’s edition returned to the one-day format of previous kayaking events.

Starting at 9 a.m. the individuals who would spend their day navigating the waters of the Clark Fork with their small and nimble watercrafts received a brief tutorial to give them a better understanding of the ins and outs of the recreational water sport.

Robertson was uniquely qualified to provide the workshop’s tutorial as she has been kayaking from a very young age and has fallen in love with the outdoor sport over the years.

“Kayaking is just so relaxing, refreshing and simple,” Robertson said.

According to Robertson she has been kayaking since she was three years old.

She also took some time before the group’s journey to explain the vehicles the group would be using throughout their journey.

The group employed sit-on-top kayaks; a vessel, which offers, improved balance and is substantially easier to paddle and steer than sit-in versions of kayaks.

Robertson reiterated the importance of centering ones balance and using proper rowing techniques to avoid tipping the kayaks and keeping the craft going in the operator’s desired direction.

At the conclusion of the tutorial the assembled ladies made their way down to the riverbank where one by one they launched their watercraft and began their journey.

More experienced kayakers, and a few women on hand to help out with the event, assisted everyone as they got their kayaks off the shore and out into the open water.

After a short logjam at the boat launch all the kayakers entered the river and proceeded down the river in an orderly manner, their colorful kayaks providing a striking contrast against the day’s dull skies.  

The group planned on stopping at Cherry Creek to enjoy a picnic lunch and rest up for the final portion of the journey.

After launching from the boat ramp at Rocky Point Ranch the kayakers headed in a westerly direction, down the Clark Fork River to Broad Street in Thompson Falls, where the journey reached its conclusion.

In total the water trek consisted of 10 miles and Robertson expected the journey to take around four to five hours depending on the experience of the kayakers participating in the event and conditions out on the river.   

Crazy Woman Kayaks provided the kayaks and equipment for the day’s river outing. The business has been operating in Thompson Falls since July of 2008.