Non-ACA participants may need to pay a fee. See below for details
Trip Description: For those of us who are not paddling whitewater this weekend, here's some blue(ish) water to paddle. While humans have previously visited this locale, it is the first time for HASK. We will paddle from the FM 2004 boat ramp on Chocolate Bay to try to find the Big Rock Candy Mountain.
This will be about a 15 - 16 mile paddle, depending on how much exploring we do. We will stop for lunch at 6 miles if the shell reef is above water. Then we will attempt to find the mouth of Hall's Bayou for a possible future trip before returning to the put-in. Weather as of now looks perfect, with temps in the 70s and light ESE wind. This should be a Level 2 trip, With more wind, it would be a Level 3.
Bring plenty of water and lunch and snacks. Find facilities before the put-in, where you will not find any.
Directions: Drive your favorite route to FM 2004, depending on where you live. Chocolate Bayou is between Lake Jackson (Hwy 288) and Hitchcock (I-45). You can also copy the lat-lon below into Google Maps or your GPS for driving directions. It's about an hour from downtown Houston.
Lat/Long of the put-in: 29.2121809N, 95.2076706W
Hazards: The usual hazards will be present, including slippery ramps, debris and pilings in the water, oyster reefs, sting rays, fire ants and other noxious insects, mosquitos, rattlesnakes, and attack beavers. Wear good footwear for oysters, etc. There will be some recreational and commercial boat traffic, including possibly barges. We will need to stay out of the channel.
Trip Leader |
Carl Kuhnen |
Trip Assistants |
|
Trip Rating* |
2 |
Ready to Launch at |
9:30 a.m. |
Duration (hours) |
6.5 hours |
Paddling Miles |
16 |
Emergency Initiator |
|
Emergency Phone #s |
911 |
Latest Expected Return |
5:00 p.m. |
Auto Description/Lic # |
BP2-469 |
Distance from Houston |
50 from downtown |
* Trip ratings are only a guide. Actual conditions will vary with wind and other weather.
This is an ACA sanctioned event. Every participant must wear a PFD and sign a HASK/ACA Waiver. Click on link below to print out the waiver. Please complete prior to the trip so we can all get on the water a little quicker. HASK members who have provided a waiver to the HASK Membership Director within the last year do not need to complete a waiver.
o ACA Waiver - Adult
o ACA Waiver - Minor
Non-ACA Participants: HASK will cover the $5 ACA event membership for the first 2 times you paddle with us. Thereafter, to continue participating, it is expected that you will join HASK and the ACA.
Non-HASK ACA Participants: You must provide your ACA number.
....................................................................................................................................
Bonus information, some of the original lyrics:
"Oh, I'm bound to go where there ain't no snow
Where the sleet don't fall and the wind don't blow
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains."
..............................................................................................................................
"There's a lake of stew and ginger ale too
And you can paddle all around it in a big canoe
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains."
Non-HASK ACA Participants: You must provide your ACA number.
Non-HASK ACA Participants: You must provide your ACA number.