Bardstown Boaters

Russell Fork Rendezvous

2008-10-31T16:04:00.008-04:00

Once again The Bardstown Boaters were at the Russell Fork Rendezvous for some glorious Fall paddling. The Rendezvous is a gathering in Eastern Kentucky to celebrate the Russell Fork River and the wonderful people of the area.

You could find The Bardstown Boaters camp at the trailhead for the Pine Mountain Trail.

On Saturday, The Bardstown Boaters paddled the Upper Section of the Russell Fork then hiked into The Gorge Section to watch competitors in The Lord of The Fork, a whitewater race through what is known as the Beast of the East.

On Sunday, many in the club paddled the Upper Section of the Russell Fork River once again.

The Russell Fork runs every weekend in October with scheduled releases on Saturday and Sunday. The scenery is always spectacular this time of year. When the Fall comes it continues to invoke memories of the Russell Fork into the minds of Bardstown Boaters.

For some first-hand recounts, a run down of the winners, and more images from the weekend visit the forum.

Race to follow Bourbon Trail

2008-10-27T11:54:00.003-04:00

A new adventure relay race called The Bourbon Chase will be held for the first time in Kentucky in October 2009.

Teams consisting of 12 runners will run along the state's famed Bourbon Trail on Oct. 9-10. The race will start near Bardstown and finish in Lexington, but the route the runners will take covers nearly 200 miles.

"Certainly, running along the trail in horse country is beautiful. It's a great way to showcase our finest products," said Mary Quinn Ramer, vice president of tourism marketing for the Lexington Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The idea for the race came from Mike Kuntz, a former track and field coach at the University of Louisville and Bellarmine University.

He participated in Oregon's annual Hood to Coast Relay in 2001 with former U of L runners.

"This is the grandmother of them all," he said of the Oregon race.

"I thought we could do an event in Kentucky that could be even better," he said, adding that Kentucky has more to market, and the Bourbon Trail has more beautiful scenery than the Oregon race route.

"I felt like we could have a better runner's experience in Kentucky. ... Oregon was beautiful, but they really didn't showcase the state," he said.

Kuntz talked with people in the bourbon industry about his idea for a race in Kentucky nearly a year ago.

"It's my idea that's been slightly tweaked," he said of the Kentucky race.

Lexington has been designated as the host city for the overnight relay race.

"We want to have a huge post-race event here in Lexington," Ramer said.

She said the race could have an $800,000 to $1 million economic impact on the Lexington area. People who participate in such events often stay overnight in the cities where the races end, she said.

"Ultimately our goal is to have an event that will bring people from every corner of the United States," she said.

Next year's race will be held the same weekend that Keeneland Race Course's fall meet starts, so participants can enjoy the city after the run, then head to the track, she said.

Up to 4,000 participants and volunteers are expected the first year for The Bourbon Chase, which is designed to celebrate Kentucky's bourbon production history, according to planners of the event. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail links distilleries in the state, where visitors can see how bourbon is made.

Each runner will run three three- to eight-mile legs. Support vans will drop off and pick up runners at designated exchange points along the route.

"This is a great opportunity to introduce our signature industry to thousands of adventurous travelers," said Eric Gregory, president of the Kentucky Distillers' Association.

Details for the event are still being worked out, including what prizes the winners will receive.

"I think there's nothing to win on a Bourbon chase really than bourbon," Kuntz said.

For more info visit www.bourbonchase.com

Viking Canoe Club Donation

2008-10-23T12:40:00.003-04:00

The Bardstown Boaters would like to send out a very big thank you to The Viking Canoe Club and to those who attended the LVM Premiere at Nachbar in Louisville. They have graciously donated $100 in proceeds towards the Bardstown Whitewater Park.

The Viking Canoe Club and The Nachbar host many LVM Premieres and other boater friendly activities. Keep checking in with the Vikings and visit the Nachbar at 969 Charles Street on the corner of Charles and Krieger in Germantown where there is always a good time to be had.

Song of the Moment

2008-10-22T16:39:00.000-04:00

This is the song of the moment. ”The Funeral” by Band of Horses. You will enjoy this tune while driving home on the Eastern Mountain Parkway.

[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

This Weekend...

2008-10-20T17:25:00.002-04:00

Russell Fork Rendezvous
This Weekend.

Wild and Scenic Rivers Act - 40th Anniversary

2008-10-08T09:10:00.002-04:00

On October 2, 1968, President Johnson signed the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

Paddlers were and continue to be among the most passionate advocates for protecting our nation's free-flowing rivers. Upon witnessing the loss of hundreds of miles of great rivers to water development projects and hydropower, paddlers were among the first activists who advocated for a Wild and Scenic Rivers system to protect our nation’s last free-flowing rivers.

In Kentucky there is only one river in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, Red River.

(154) (A) RED RIVER, KENTUCKY. — The 19.4-mile segment of the Red River extending from the Highway 746 Bridge to the School House Branch, to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture in the following classes: (i) the 9.1-mile segment known as the "Upper Gorge" from the Highway 746 Bridge to Swift Camp Creek, as a wild river (this segment is identified as having the same boundary as the Kentucky Wild River), (ii) the 10.3-mile segment known as the "Lower Gorge" from Swift Camp Creek to the School House Branch, as a recreational river.

Hike Pine Mountain, Channel Daniel Boone

2008-10-03T12:05:00.007-04:00

By DAN WHITE

“THIS is all virgin trail,” said Shad Baker, a connoisseur of hiking in the steeply slanted backwoods of eastern Kentucky, as he dropped me off at the start of my adventure there on the new Pine Mountain Trail. “This is probably the most remote place you can get that exists out here. You are five miles even from the nearest house.”

We said goodbye. He drove off. And then I slipped into woods so thick they looked like an American jungle.

Read More in the New York Times

Song of the Moment

2008-10-03T11:45:00.002-04:00

Neil Young's "Alabama"

You just can't beat old Neil Young tunes. May this one be on you're radio the next time your heading to the put-in.

[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

Rusell Fork Rapid Descriptions

2008-09-30T13:15:00.000-04:00

The upper and lower sections of the Russell Fork offer fantastic views and great Class II-III action. The upper is fantastic for intermediate paddlers who want to work on surfing and boofs, the lower is a great beginner/intermediate training ground. If we could only figure out how to jam them together!

Visit the great Russell Fork Info website for a run down on all of these rapids.

Upper Section
Splashdam
Railroad
Twenty Stitches
Johnny Rock

Lower Section
MeatGrinder
Pinball

Site Update

2008-09-24T15:49:00.005-04:00

The Bardstown Boaters website has undergone some changes today. You might not notice much difference but behind the scenes things have changed. Now anyone can be a contributer to the main page blog that you see here. If you would like to contribute please let me know. I am looking for some new writers to the blog. Contact me at spalding@bardstownboaters.com

Race Challenges Didn't Stop It

2008-09-19T17:05:00.001-04:00

This year's "Bourbon City Challenge," which was last Sunday in the area around Samuels Field, Sympson Lake and west Bardstown, had a pair of major challenges. First, the organizers, led by former Standard Reporter Bob White, lacked a major sponsor and had to scramble to figure out how to pay the bills without serious underwriting. The participants in the run, paddle and peddle competition faced wind gusts of more than 50 mph during the early afternoon dodging falling limbs and being pushed backward and sideways.

As it turned out the second annual event turned out to be a great success with more people taking part as individuals or as part of a team. We hope that the perseverance shown by White, Bardstown Boaters, Horizon Hoppers and the other sponsors will pay off next year in landing a "naming sponsor" for the event.

In the meantime, the community should be thankful that we have volunteers who have the fortitude to stay with a project even in the face of adversity and give it a chance to succeed. If we are going to live up to the outdoor adventure potential that National Geographic Magazine sees here it will take some more of the vision shown by the "Challenge" organizers.

Their efforts should be applauded and others should follow their example to make Nelson County the place it can be.

Bourbon City Challenge Results

2008-09-16T12:31:00.001-04:00

Here are the results from the Bourbon City Challenge

Male Solo
1st - Matt Hoyes (Bardstown) 2 hours, 15 minutes
2nd - Jeremiah Ellis (Fort Knox)
3rd - Thad Hardin, two hours, 26 minutes

Team Relay
1st - Brian Beauman and Bradley Medley (Bardstown) two hours 16 minutes
2nd - Djzvad Kreso, Mike Zoeller, and Chris Walsh (Bardstown)
3rd - Kenny & John Thomas, Lindsay & Robin Cline

Female Solo
1st - Amanda Tucker - 2:38
2nd - Sue Mulet - 2:42
3rd - Leslie Seymour

Hollis Hurst

2008-09-13T19:58:00.000-04:00

Hollis Clark Hurst was born today in Bardstown, Kentucky. Weighing in at seven pounds 12 ounces and twenty-one and a half inches long, Hollis looks to be a promising young boater. She is the daughter of Spalding and Jennifer Hurst, members of the Bardstown Boaters.

More Pictures: Picasa

Bardstown Recycling Program

2008-09-11T14:41:00.000-04:00

In 2008 the City of Bardstown and the government of Nelson County worked together to apply for a grant to start a recycling program for all city and county residents. In May of 2008 they were given notification that they had received the grant from the State of Kentucky. This grant made it possible to purchase the forklift, two balers and five recycling bin trailers that would be necessary for the start of the program in the Bardstown community. The trailers will be parked strategically around the city and throughout the county where you can drop off your recyclable materials that you have collected.

To learn more about which materials you can recycle and where the bins are located check out the City of Bardtown’s website.

Adventure Race This Sunday

2008-09-08T12:09:00.000-04:00

Adventure Race
This Sunday!

This year's Bourbon City Challenge Adventure Race in Bardstown, Ky., Sept. 14, 2008 begins Sunday at 9 a.m. at the Bardstown-Nelson County Airport on U.S. 62 just a mile west of Bardstown.

Notes about the race

1. Anyone Training on the lake prior to race day needs a $10 boat permit. This does not include trail running or biking on the road. There is no permit needed on race day.

2. Anyone planning to rent a canoe or kayak, needs to contact Central Ky. Canoe and Kayak's Mike Hammons at (502) 345-9220 or (502) 507-9364 to reserve a boat. We're trying to have numbers coincide with racers to ensure all people get a canoe or kayak as they intend. The rental boats are $20.

3. The event goes rain or shine. No exceptions. This is an adventure race, so we'll not quit for weather. (as those who entered last year's race know, a little rain can actually improve conditions and the mud makes for a great photo op!)

4. Please arrive early to give yourself plenty of time to station your bikes, boats and teammates at transition areas. Both Bike and Boat Transition areas are on Ben Irvin Road on the back side of Sympson Lake. Attached is a map of the bike and boat course (The trail has changed since this map was made) The map details the bike transition area. The boat transition area is the boat ramp at Sympson lake. Please position your boat on the shore on the left side of the concrete boat ramp. The concrete ramp needs to be clear as much as possible.

5. We have a lot of return racers from last year's event and that says to me we did a pretty good job last year! Hopefully this year, racers will be even more impressed.

Bardstown Whitewater Park

2008-09-01T16:18:00.000-04:00

Find out more about the Bardstown Whitewater Park

Colorado-based company surveys Beech Fork River for whitewater park

2008-08-25T09:01:00.000-04:00

From: The Kentucky Standard

RiverRestoration.org surveyed Beech Fork River near Rubble Dam Thursday as part of Phase I of the Beech Fork whitewater park project.

River Engineer Jason Carey with the Glenwood Springs, Colo.-based company, which focuses on river restoration, preservation, enhancement and use of ecosystems, will be in Bardstown through Saturday.

The whitewater park project is a joint effort between Bardstown Boaters and Bardstown City Council. The emphasis of the River Recreation Enhancements design is to enhance Rubble Dam on the Beech Fork River for whitewater recreation and to improve the water supply.

A plan for a whitewater park has been under way for about two years, Bardstown Boaters President Spalding Hurst said.

“We had a really good spot to build a whitewater park,” he said, “and since that time, we have been raising money and looking for ways to bring in some designers to start the work on this. That’s where we’re at today with RiverRestoration.org.”

RiverRestoration.org is the first developer Bardstown Boaters has hired to survey the area. Bardstown Boaters raised $10,000 — $6,000 from the club, $2,000 from City Council and $2,000 from tourism — to bring Carey, who has more than nine years of experience as a river engineer, to Bardstown. Carey has a master’s degree in civil engineering and a bachelor’s degree in physics.

“We had explored the idea of going with another firm from Colorado,” Hurst said. “For a while, we were going to try to go with a professor at the University of Louisville that does stream restoration, but it didn’t work out with them. They felt the scope of work was not what they could do and the timing wasn’t right. So, we went back to the Colorado engineers and found Jason.”

Carey, along with Hibbs Engineering, will be conducting topographic and channel surveys and taking photographs of the river channel. Carey will also be meeting with officials to discuss what can be done and what is allowed at the river. Hurst said RiverRestoration.org was chosen because the club felt Carey developed three of the best whitewater parks in Colorado.

“We do a lot of different kinds of river projects all over the place, but we’ve currently been getting involved in recreation enhancements, mostly whitewater kayak parks,” Carey said. “We really think they are great projects because they kind of bring communities back to their river ways and they introduce people to the river system and make the rivers a great place to be.”

Carey said Bardstown had a perfect location for a whitewater park near Rubble Dam, which serves as a back-up water supply for Bardstown.

“The city is interested in improving this system for municipal water supply as well as making it an amenity for the community,” he said. “I think there is a lot of opportunity here.”

Kayak parks are becoming increasingly more popular in cities, Carey said.

To create a whitewater park, rocks are rearranged and reform the channel hydraulics to create waves that allow surfboards, inner tubes and kayaks to float in moving water.

The information Carey collects from the surveys will be converted to a computer model to compare the information to hydraulic models to predict what would happen to the river at different levels.

“In the computer, we can stimulate water running through here and make it as deep as we want to,” Carey said. “[It will also help us] understand how the river system works right here to understand what opportunities we might have for improving it.”

RiverRestoration.org will work with the Division of Fish and Wildlife to help protect vegetation, wildlife and river species.

“We will investigate the opportunities and constraints, such as do we have issues with the bridge? Do we have issues with flooding? What are the constraints of the site? We work with the resource agencies and the habitat issues and figure out what can be done,” he said. “Possibly, we could enhance the habitat.”

The data Carey collects will be presented to Bardstown City Council and from there, the city would decide what the next step of the project would be. The project could cost between $300,000 to $1 million and could take at least a year to complete.

The Bardstown Boaters support a whitewater park, stating it could modify the hazardous Rubble Dam, attract visitors to the park, create a venue for paddlers, increase the city’s water supply, enhance the fish habitat, create a family-friendly and easily accessible river park, improve the aesthetics of the site and provide local economic stimulation.
According to its Web site, economic impacts of a whitewater park could provide recreation, tourism, competitions, new jobs and businesses, environmental awareness, construction of the river, enhance land and property value and business retention.

To view some of RiverRestoration.org’s whitewater river projects, visit http://riverrestoration.org/projects/index.html.

RiverRestoration.org in Bardstown

2008-08-22T08:31:00.000-04:00

National Geographic Recognizes Bardstown & Whitewater Park

2008-08-18T11:14:00.000-04:00

Bardstown has been named one of 50 “next great adventure towns in which to live and play” by National Geographic Adventure magazine.

On Bardstown, National Geographic wrote: “We ain’t gonna lie: Bardstown’s status as the world’s bourbon capital drew us in, but its rivers flow as freely as the whiskey. Paddlers convene at Sympson Lake, and a whitewater park is in the works downtown. Not in the liquor business? Lexington and Louisville are both less than an hour’s commute.”

Now we just need to deliver on that whitewater park so we can truley make Bardstown a great adventure town!

Article: Kentucky Standard

Club Stickers

2008-08-13T14:07:00.000-04:00

Only $1

Slap this bad boy onto your car, truck or boat to show some love to your local boating club.

Bardstown Boaters offers the original, exclusively printed Club stickers which are being sold with a minimal markup to cover our expenses. It's the best proactive way that we know to make sure that this image that was produced by the volunteer efforts of the few, end up in the hands of the many. Get it here.

Bourbon City Challenge Adventure Race 2008 in Bardstown, Kentucky

2008-08-05T10:15:00.000-04:00

Bourbon City Challenge Adventure Race 2008 is proud to announce Central Kentucky Canoe and Kayak as the 2008 title sponsor for next month's adventure race in Bardstown.

Central Kentucky Canoe and Kayak - a vital supporter of last year's race - joins hands with more than a dozen other event supporters already whom have pledged their support. And we're still five weeks out from race day.

"Supporting this event is a given for me," Mike Hammons, CKCK owner said. "I had a great time last year and with many of the same supporters on board this year, we'll again see this event grow into one of Kentucky's most enjoyed races."

Thanks to the canoe and kayak livery of Central Kentucky's acceptance of the title sponsorship, this is sure to be another great year for the Bourbon City Challenge Adventure Race.

CKCK joins a generous and dedicated group of supporters - the majority of which turned out last year for the event's inaugural - of whom all are critical to the event's success.

Red Bull, Kentucky Bourbon Distillers, Beam Global Spirits, Makers Mark, Flaget Hospital, Ale-8-One, Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, Bardstown Boaters, Honaker Aviation, Joe Hill's Equipment, Lonely Goat Productions, and many others are on board again this year to support the event and we invite and encourage others to lend their support.

The cooperation of the city, county, and state governments, their departments and the Bardstown-Nelson County Air Board must also be recognized, because only with their cooperation can this event be what it is.

This year's Bourbon City Challenge Adventure Race in Bardstown, Ky., Sept. 14, 2008 begins Sunday at 9 a.m. at the Bardstown-Nelson County Airport on U.S. 62 just a mile west of Bardstown.

The first year's event was a great success drawing 70 racers, 40 sponsors and more than 100 spectators and race fans. This year is sure to attract even more.

The multi-sport race combines running, paddling, navigation and road cycling in a race designed to challenge the person of average athletic ability and provide die-hard athletes a great venue to compete in.

The Bourbon City Challenge is followed by a week filled with activities in Bardstown, during the Kentucky Bourbon Festival's full-week of events. The world renown festival is a celebration of Bardstown's 200-year distilling heritage.

The race begins with a run leaving the Bardstown-Nelson County Airport and continuing across adjoining property with Sympson Lake, where a paddling leg of the event takes place. After the paddle, racers mount bicycles to head their way back to Bardstown on a 12-mile ride in and around Bardstown.

The event offers three categories of racers: solo male, solo female and team relay.

The team relay category allows participants to partake in only portions of the race, while teammates fulfill other legs.

"This keeps the event open and fun to all, not just the hardcore athletes," Bob White, race creator said. "That's what we're here to do is have a great time running, paddling and cycling in the outdoors."

Entry fee for the 2008 race is $30 per racer. The price includes free camping and party activities the night before, a gift bag filled with neat stuff from our sponsors, and a chance at winning prize packages.

Learn more about the event and register online for the race at www.kyrace.com. Bardstown Boaters and Horizon Hoppers Adventure Services are hosting the event along with Bob White, a news reporter for Landmark Community Newspapers Inc. Those interested in sponsoring the event, being an event vendor, volunteering, or media interviews, should contact Bob White.

Ocoee Trip

2008-07-26T08:53:00.000-04:00

Summer trip to the Ocoee with Jay, John, and Kenny Thomas, Jonny and Michael Matthews, Scott(Scooter), David Ethridge, Spalding Hurst, Josh Carpenter, and Amber camping at Ocoee River Rats. First run on the lower with Jay and Kenny in the duckie, Spalding and Josh in Kayaks, and Jonny guiding Michael, Scooter, David, and John in Ole Abram(bucket raft). Second run included the upper-lower combo run with Spalding, Michael, Jay, Kenny, John, and scooter in Ole Abram. Tons of fun all around. Highlights include Jay and Kenny with a swim at Double Trouble in the Duckie, running the meat of Double Suck BACKWARDS in Ole Abe, Scooter and Michael getting a bull ride in on Hell Hole, and Ethridge's attempts to keep a cigar lit on the whitewater. Can't wait to go back.

Pictures

Bardstown Whitewater Park Proposal Recieved

2008-07-18T11:20:00.000-04:00

We have recieved a letter of Interest for River Design Services of Municipal Supply and Whitewater Recreation Enhancements from RiverRestorations.org.

The emphasis of the River Recreation Enhancements design will be to enhance the rubble dam on the Beech Fork for whitewater recreation and improved water supply. Proposed is a holistic approach that balances the environment with the recreational facets, as well as facilitating municipal water supply. The project will provide additional community benefits such as: passive enjoyment of the riparian zone, swimming holes, fishing access, and a tourist draw.

Through the efforts of the Bardstown Boaters and Bardstown City Officials we may be soon moving toward Phase 1; Reconnaissance Survey of the Bardstown Whitewater Park. Stay tuned...

BADDLUN

2008-07-09T09:08:00.000-04:00

For those hardcore adventure types, try your hand at Baddlun at the Russell Fork.

Ratliff Hole, Elkhorn City, Ky
Noon, Saturday, October 11th, 2008
13 mile bike, 9 mile paddle, 3 mile run.

Mass start bike from Ratliff Hole to Bartlick Bridge, paddle down Russell Fork to Carson Island, trail run back to Ratliff Hole. No entry fee, no prizes, no teams...we do this shit for fun. Great training for Lord of the Fork Race. River safety and a sweep wagon will be provided.

More info: Baddlun

New Local Creek?

2008-07-02T14:01:00.000-04:00

Jennifer Hurst, while driving through Boston, KY was sent on a detour around a traffic accident. She reported that the creek that followed the road she was on looked like it may abe a pretty good whitewater run if it had water in it. So put Cedar Creek on your list of local creeks to check into the next time it rains.

Click here for a map of Cedar Creek. It passes under Bennets Lane near Boston, Ky.

You can add this to the list of Bardstown’s most promising oppertunities for whitewater creeking, which includes Rowan Creek. No first decents have been made just yet. But it has got to rain again.