In Arizona, there are places to paddle all year round, and our kayak group will be exploring many of the waterways throughout Arizona, for the joy of floating, and the appreciation of venturing out to some relatively pristine and magnificent natural habitats.

[From the Preface of Sea Kayaker, Deep Trouble by Christopher Cunningham]

A kayak puts you in touch with the elements. You feel the water on your hands, the wind on your face, and the sights, scents, and sounds of the coast surrounding you. The kayak feels like an extension of your body: it responds to your every move, and through it you can feel the water moving beneath you. For many of us a kayak is the means by which we can take in the full measure of the rich ...environment. But the environment where air, water, and land meet is notoriously variable, and the intimate connection a kayak provides with that environment leaves us exposed and vulnerable to forces that can easily overpower us.

 
We will be mainly doing flat water floats, which will be safe for those who have never paddled. There will be opportunities to do some swift water, class 1 and class 2 paddles as well for those with training and experience.

For flat water paddling, the book Paddling Arizona refers about 17 low elevation lakes, and about 20 high country lakes. During the warm season, we will mainly visit the more remote high country lakes, and in the cooler season the lower elevation rivers and lakes. A popular summer float in the valley would be moonlight paddles at several waterways.

Our visits to the high country lakes will often involve some car camping due to the distance from the city. Naturally, the car camping trips will be open to those who just want to spend the day with us, or find a hotel near our location. Included in our camping trips will be opportunities to hike, fish, do photography. We may also plan some paddle camping trips, i.e., paddling with equipment to sites along the waterways. We will also be considering paddle camping trips (taking the camping equipment by boat to campsite).

Our visits to lower elevation rivers and lakes will often be day trips, but some weekend camping trips will be planned as well. We will be planning trips on the average of once to twice a month throughout the year. We are a family friendly group.

Instruction for flat-water and whitewater will be available through our community, including safety rescue practice.

While most of our trips are appropriate for beginners who may have never been in a boat, keep in mind that we are a social networking group, and our organizers and hosts are not designated with the responsibility to teach paddling or boating skills (See list of Resonsibilities below).

If you want to start out with formal professional instruction or professionally guided trips, maybe because you've never been in a boat before, consider contacting one of our sponsors,  The Hiking Shack (Link on left side of page). You can also obtain instruction from PaddleSportsAmerica through the Coast Guard Auxiliary here.

http://dev02.cgaux.org/generic/custom1.php?...

If you want to rent a kayak, please consider renting from one of our two sponsors, The Hiking Shack and ArizonaOutdoorFun.com (links to their website is on the left of this page). Both rent at a considerable discount, from $20 for a single kayak. Both will help you get the boat on your vehicle. The Hiking Shack may be available to transport your boat to the site, as the owners are members of the club, and often join our trips (may be additional charge, maybe not).

The Hiking Shack also sells a full range of new high quality paddle equipment, and will ofter our membership a significant discount. Check store for details.

There are plenty other kayak and canoe rental places in the Valley, see our message board for thread entitled "kayak rental".

If you decide you are interested in joining Paddle Arizona, please consider that we are a non profit networking group, like most groups using the meetup venue. We are not a for-profit adventure group that provides organized tours with professional tour guides. Many of our members are first time paddlers,, some of our members are certified instructors, and the rest are in between. Most of our members are very friendly and supportive to first time paddlers, and provide assistance and guidance.

Because we are a networking group, we do not carry liability insurance. Instead, to minimize liability, and to increase awareness, responsibility, and best practices in safe boating, we use the following disclaimer, and list of safety rules and responsibilities. If you do not agree then don’t join our group.

By joining Paddle Arizona, you are making an agreement to the following disclaimer, safety rules, and responsibilities.

Disclaimer & Assumption of Risk/Liability:

Paddling, like all sports have inherent risks and dangers. All paddlers (on behalf of him/her self and his/her minor children) are responsible for their own safety during Paddle Arizona floats, voluntarily accepts any and all risks of injury, harm, medical conditions, or property damage, assumes all liabilities, and waives any and all damages against Paddle Arizona (including its organizers, hosts, and members).

"Paddle Club Safety Rules and Responsibilities"

Responsibilities

1.     Paddling Arizona, as many groups organized through meetup.com, is a networking group. Our organizers and hosts are not designated with the responsibility to teach paddling or boating skills.

2.     Our organizers and hosts are people who like to float, not necessarily expert paddlers.

3.     The host of each of our Paddle Arizona paddling trip events has some responsibility to post a description of our proposed trips, with suggestions about when and where we will go, and how we will get there.

4.     No one is leading any of our floats, or providing any formal instruction.

5.     Paddlers who join us will be responsible for themselves, and parents are responsible for their minors.

6.     You have a responsibility to ask questions and to share any concerns you might have about your abilities with the group before you launch and to make sure you are in a group where at least one other person has enough experience and is willing to take you under their wing or assist you when needed.

7.     As a community of peers, everyone should watch out for each other.

8.     Decisions about activities on trips are often made collectively, on the spot, by those who show up. Occasionally, but rarely, people that show up split into smaller groups each going their own direction based on similar interests. Members of each group are then responsible to watch out for each other.

9.   Paddle Arizona will sponsor formal instruction by experienced and expert paddlers (who may or may not be members of Paddle Arizona), outside of the scheduled paddle trip events, at various venues in the valley, to teach members skills for flat water, white water, and safety and rescue skills. The instructors may charge a fee to pay for the instruction.

Safety

1.     Most of our floats will be flat water floats on lakes and some rivers, and are normally suitable for persons who have little or no experience as paddlers.

2.     Some of our river floats may involve some class 1 or 2 white water, and may be suitable for those persons with prior experience and instruction. Members who lack experience will be responsible to consider taking formal instruction prior to the trips.

3.     Members agree to wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life vest while paddling in the boat.

4.     Members agree to remain sober while paddling.

5.     Occasionally when people paddle the boat may go over for one reason or another (e.g., a strong wind). Wearing a vest and remaining sober will ensure optimal safety.

6.     One of the main events raising safety issues on a flat water venture is wind, which could make it difficult to paddle to our designated exit position, or may create some waves that occasionally may turn the boat over. To repeat once more, wearing a vest and remaining sober will ensure optimal safety.

7.     During long floats, especially river floats, the group members may get dispersed as some floaters float faster then others. It is important that each person is visible by some member of the group. On long floats, a relatively experienced paddler may be designated as the “sweep”, and will remain behind the paddling group. On lake floats with a small shoreline, this may be unnecessary.

8.     Safety aids that are essential to carry are

a.      Plenty of water

b.     Sun screen

c.      Snacks

d.      An electrolyte drink (e.g., Gatorade)

e.      A wide brim hat

9.     Safety aids that not everyone needs to carry are:

A whistle (that can be used if a safety concern arises, so other members can locate where you are and come to your aid), a rope (to lash onto a boat with a paddler that needs aid, a knife (to cut the rope), a first aid kit.