Kayak Trips and Training

EVERYONE, EVERYONE is always moments from a swim. If you are near a bank in shallow water this is usually not a problem. When it happens in water over your head, it is a game changer.
Click this link to register for the class.

If you paddle a kayak on any type of water, YOU NEED THIS CLASS! Does not matter how long you have been paddling.

If you still drag boats filled with water to the bank to empty them, YOU NEED THIS CLASS!!

If you are not comfortable falling out of your boat, YOU NEED THIS CLASS!

YOU WILL BE WET, VERY WET, MUCH OF THE DAY!

I have now introduced over 5000 people to paddling have seen lots of swimmers, even on very calm lakes.

We will review the basics of paddling but then we will learn several different ways to deal with a swamped kayak, both in still deep water and closer to shore. The more you know about self rescue, the safer things will be for you and your paddle partners.

This class is suitable for beginners. Heck, beginners need it the most!

By the end of the day you will know what to do, for you or your buddies, when that unexpected swim happens.

The cost of the class is $125.00 if you do not have a boat. $90.00 if you are bringing a boat.

Class will start on the side of the lake and then move into the water. The class will end at approximately 3:00 PM BUT we will have an assortment of different kayaks you can demo. We will stay until approximately 5:00 so you can all try the boats you are interested in.

Please respond on here if you plan to attend but you do not have a spot in the class until you follow this link to register:

Click this link to register for the class.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to call me.

John Miller
678-549-4950

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

You will have to ride in a shuttle vehicle with others. If this is a concern you can arrange for someone to drop you off then pick you up. I will be glad to discuss this with you.

We watch the weather and the Dam release schedules very closely. Sometimes we do have to reschedule. The decision is usually made the night before the class around 6 pm. It is imperative that you check your email late the night before or first thing in the morning of the class for any last minute changes.

The class we teach is the "Essentials of River Kayak" as approved by the American Canoe Association (ACA). Classes will be taught by an experienced ACA certified instructor.

We provide a boat, life jacket (PFD) and paddle unless you indicate that you have your own boat. (This is not a 'roll' class) Cost of the class is $149.00 There is a $49 discount if you bring your own boat.

Class ending time varies, however, we typically are done between 4:00-5:00 pm.

BRING: lunch (no coolers except small soft-shell ones), plenty of water, a snack/protein bar, and sunscreen.

What do we do: equipment and safety overview, stoke/paddling technique/boat control practice, learn to 'read the river' and use its currents to your advantage, get WET...most importantly, we have FUN!

What to WEAR: water shoes (no flip flops), quick-dry clothing (not cotton or denim), hat (optional).

This is an introductory class in which you will learn the skills needed to become a competent recreational paddler on lakes and easy rivers. This is for brand new paddlers or paddlers with a little experience that want to take their skills to the next level. After mastering these skills, transitioning to white water paddling becomes much easier if you decide to follow that route.

Course Description: THIS IS AN ALL DAY CLASS. WE NORMALLY GET BACK TO THE CARS BETWEEN 4:00 AND 5:00. We spend a day on the Hooch teaching basic kayaking skills. The class begins at Settles Bridge Park where we discuss river safety and paddling principles. We cover basic paddle strokes and boat control before moving down the river.

We stop for lunch somewhere down stream around 1-1:30 so eat a good breakfast and maybe bring a granola bar to keep you going.

After lunch it is back to the water where we continue to practice our skills. You will be learning boat control in class I and I+ rapids. Our takeout point will be the McGinnis Ferry Boat Ramp.

At the end of the course, you should feel comfortable paddling rivers with Class I rapids. Expect to spend approximately 1.5 hours in a riverside class, then approximately 4-5 hours on the river.

Dress to get wet. Cotton and denim are the two worst things you can wear. If you have a lightweight rain jacket, it is always a good idea to have it with you. Good water shoes are recommended. FLIP FLOPS ARE NOT ALLOWED! Shoes without laces are best. Sunglasses should be on a safety cord. Assume that everything you bring to the river will get wet. ZIPLOC bags are not waterproof. Your instructor will have waterproof bags for any items that might get damaged by water. Be sure to bring water and a lunch.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

We do not teach the kayak roll in this class.

If you have any questions, please call or email John Miller at: 678-549-4950 or kayakclassesga@gmail.com

We only do this section of the Etowah once a year.
Click here to register for the trip!!!

Skills of the Past will be on display Saturday, September 21st from 10 AM to 4 PM. This is the 23rd Annual Skills of the Past event.

THIS IS A GREAT PADDLE FOR KIDS. THEY LOVE THE EXHIBITS.

You will have to ride in a shuttle vehicle with others. If this is a problem I will talk with you about doing your own shuttle.

Etowah Indian Mounds Historic Site - Cartersville, GA

Come see demonstrations of primitive skills that were essential to the Native Americans of the Southeast in prehistoric times. (This from the Park website} It is really cool for kids and adults both.

This is both a fun and educational trip.

The cost of this event is $50 if you have your own boat, $90 if you need a rental boat. Admission Fees to the Museum and Park is part of your registration. We will have both sit on tops (SOT) sit in (decked boats) kayaks to choose from.

This paddle is okay for paddlers of all abilities.

The lone hazard is the historic Thompson Weinman Dam, a low head dam that MUST be portaged. We portage as a team, makes it easier. We will also have to navigate pretty steep bank covered in large rocks where we stop at the mounds.

Starting in the shadow of Allatoona Dam, this 9 mile section takes you from 20th century engineering (Allatoona Dam) to precolonial engineering (Etowah Indian Mounds and Fish Weir). Owing to Allatoona Dam and the cold, clear water it issues from the bottom of the lake, the water appears pristine and inviting. Shoals and rapids are limited to Native American fish weirs and small ripples, and there are no obstacles exceeding Class I in difficulty.

We will stop at the Indian Mounds for lunch and a tour. Admission to the park is part of your registration fee.

We will stay at the Mounds for about 2 hours.

Home to several thousand Native Americans from 1000 A.D. to 1550 A.D., this 54-acre site protects six earthen mounds, a plaza, village site, borrow pits and defensive ditch. Etowah Mounds is the most intact Mississippian Culture site in the Southeast. Artifacts in the museum show how natives of this political and religious center decorated themselves with shell beads, paint, complicated hairdos, feathers and copper ear ornaments. Hand-carved stone effigies weighing 125 pounds still bear some original pigments. Objects made of wood, seashells and stone are also displayed.

Visitors can follow a nature trail along the Etowah River where they can view a v-shaped fish trap used for catching fish. The trail also highlights how early civilizations used native trees for food and medicine.

While only nine percent of this site has been excavated, examination at Mound C and surrounding artifacts revealed much about the people who lived here. They were a society rich in ritual. Towering over the community, the 63-foot earthen knoll was likely used as a platform for the home of the priest-chief. In another mound, nobility were buried in elaborate costumes accompanied by items they would need in their after-lives.

Put in/Launch site: a large concrete boat ramp and paved parking area are located at the launch site near Allatoona Dam. Toilet facilities are in a nearby day-use recreation area. There are bathrooms at the lunch break.

Take out is a ramp/dock at Highway 61/113 (West Ave)

We watch the weather and river levels very carefully. The decision to go or cancel due to weather is made the night before at approximately 6:00 pm so check your email for updates the night before and again before you leave your house the morning of our trip.

BRING: lunch (no hard sided coolers if using one of my boats, soft 6 pack size works fine), plenty of water, a snack/protein bar, and sunscreen.

What to WEAR: water shoes (no flip flops), quick-dry clothing (not cotton or denim), hat (optional). DRESS FOR THE WEATHER!!!!!

This is an all day trip. Expect to get off the water sometime between 4:00 and 5:00 PM.

Please do respond on here if you are attending put you do not have a spot until you: Click here to register for the trip!!!

Additional information will be emailed to all who register.

John Miller

678-549-4950

Click this link to register for the trip.

Over the past 15 years this has been our most popular day trip. Join us and see why!

Did you know the government used to operate a TOP SECRET Nuclear testing facility near Dawsonville? Come see what's left!!

If you have never done this before, don't wait any longer. If you have done it before come on back. We would love to see you.

This trip is both beginner and kid friendly.

Let's paddle and then hike to the water falls. Maybe even try the rope swing. This is a beginner and kid friendly trip for sure.

We watch the weather and river levels very carefully. The decision to go or cancel due to weather is made the night before at approximately 6:00 pm so check your email for updates the night before and before you leave your house on trip morning.

If you have your own boat the cost of the guided trip is $40.00 per person. If you need a rental boat the cost is $80.00. If you are brining your own boat change the amount to $40 when you are directed to PayPal.

BRING: lunch (no hard sided coolers, soft 6 pack size works fine if using a rental boat), plenty of water, a snack/protein bar, and sunscreen.

What to WEAR: water shoes (no flip flops), quick-dry clothing (not cotton or denim), hat (optional). DRESS FOR THE WEATHER!!!!! A light weight rain jacket will keep you dry and warm even if it does not rain.

All GLASSES/Sunglasses should be secured by a cord. There is a possibility of loss.

...Keep reading to ensure you have all the information necessary to enjoy the trip...

This 9-mile paddle on the Etowah run takes you through Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area and past Shoal Creek, the proposed site of a massive dam & reservoir project that would impact flows on the Etowah and habitat for endangered fish species. We will paddle from Hwy 9 to the Kelly Bridge takeout.

For those that have not paddled this section, it is beautiful and suitable for beginners. Do not be surprised if we have to dodge a few strainers.

We will stop by a cool water fall. A true "Kodak moment".

This is not a race. We will be moving slow, playing in eddies, watching for wildlife, picnicking by the river, etc., etc.

Please arrive at The River Park NO LATER than 8:30 am. If you have a boat to unload, you need to be unloaded NO LATER than 8:30 am. We will organize our shuttle arrangements at that time and plan on being out of the parking lot by 8:45. We normally get off the river between 4:00 and 5:00.

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT:
To enjoy your trip more, Google Nuclear Testing in Dawson Forest. Read some of the articles, watch some of the videos. This is a part of Georgia history that most people have never heard of.

OR If you'd like to learn more about the history of Dawson Forest watch this video, "Secret Forest" at: Secret Forest
Interesting stuff!
'Sharon Collins, of GPB's Georgia Outdoors, ventures to the northern foothills to unlock the mysteries surrounding the Dawson Forest. Peer through the barbed wire to catch a glimpse of the forest's Cold War history!'

More info will come in an email once you sign up for this trip.

Click this link to register for the trip.

Questions? Call John Miller 678-549-4950 or Dustin Miller 770-715-4282 or kayakclassesga@gmail.com