After back to back summers of historic rainfall and flooding the pendulum swung the opposite direction. It seemed inevitable, as we were at risk of being spoiled (don't forget the spring was one of the best of the past 10 years). As the last of...
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As I write this nearly 70% of Vermont sits in a state of "severe drought" while another unfortunate 24% are experiencing "extreme drought". The remaining 6% are lucky enough to be only contending with "moderate drought" conditions. So what better time to look back on...
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The summer of 2024 started with yet another flood, exactly one year to the day after those of July 10 - 11 of 2023. Much like its predecessor, this event hit some regions significantly harder than others, with areas like Hinesburg, the Mad River and...
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This one will be short. Let's just get right to it.A WARM START TO THE YEARThe "winter" of 2024 was fickle one. And while for skiing that was a bad thing, it made for quite a few opportunities to boat throughout. January provided several days...
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If this were a movie, here would be the part where a montage of news clips play:A field reporter stands in the flooded streets of Montpelier.“In total, the central Vermont region reported more than 20 inches of rain over the summer, the most it has...
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What a difference a year makes. This time last year I was writing from the middle of a summer drought, lamenting about how bad of a spring season we had. Now I write after Vermont experienced its worst flooding since Irene and reflect on a...
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The past few years have felt unusual for obvious reasons. For whitewater boaters in Vermont this was amplified by a prolonged period of drought, meager snowpacks and undesirable weather patterns that seemed to never relent. It takes digging through the archives to find the last...
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Are whitewater kayakers in Vermont being subjected to some test of faith? Perhaps we are being punished for our hedonistic pursuit of recreation. Or perhaps it’s just an unfortunate and poorly timed climate cycle, a coincidence if you will.Regardless of the reason, those looking to...
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“Now in early summer, things have begun to return to the way they were and should be, with packed shuttle cars and beers shared on tailgates.” – me, really jinxing things in mid 2021 Justin Beckwith Runs Lincoln Brook Falls as Culley Thomas looks on from...
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There is a detectable strengthening of light on the horizon, and oh boy is it good to see. I fear these posts were becoming redundant. After all what new is there to report about the past spring of whitewater kayaking in Vermont? A lingering pandemic,...
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