Rappahannock River Kayak Trip (24 miles, 2 days, STRENUOUS)

Come be part of LMH’s second annual kayak camping trip! This year we are heading south to the picturesque Rappahannock River near Fredericksburg. We’ll paddle 24 miles down the river over two days, through a largely wooded landscape that’s been preserved to protect Fredericksburg’s drinking water supply. This is a class I/II river, so expect some medium rapids, as well as long flat stretches. You must have prior kayak experience so that you’re comfortable with the length (approx 6 hours of paddling per day) and rapids.

Here’s a video of what to expect on the river.

We’ll begin our paddle Saturday at Kelly’s Ford, and stop a little over halfway at Rappahannock River Campground, where we’ll camp in a group site by the river. You must provide your own camping gear (tent, sleeping bag, etc.), but leave a comment if you need to borrow something from a fellow trip attendee. The campground has potable water, pit privies near the site, and hot showers within walking distance.

We’ll complete our paddle the next day, ending at Mott’s Run, and if we have the energy we’ll fuel up at a restaurant in Fredericksburg before the drive home.

We’ll be using Virginia Outdoor Center as our outfitter. They will rent kayaks to us and provide a shuttle to the launchpoint.

Here’s a rough itinerary:
Saturday

• 7:30am - suggested departure from DC
• 9am - arrive at Rappahnnock River Campground. We will leave several cars here and fill them with our camping supplies. We’ll consolidate into the other cars and drive to the Virginia Outdoor Center
• 10am - Depart on Virginia Outdoor Center’s shuttle to our launchpoint, Kelly’s Ford
• 10:30am - Get on the water
• 3:30-4:30pm - Arrive by boat to Rappahnnock River Campground

Sunday
We will get on the water at a time determined by the group (I believe last year it was 9:30am). We will have another ~5 hours of paddling back to Virginia Outdoor Center. From there we’ll need to drive back to the campground to retrieve our stuff/cars, then head home, possibly stopping for food. Expect to get back to DC in the evening.

Payment: $117.54 (that includes $95.40 for the kayak/shuttle and $22.14 for the campsite). You must send me payment within one week of signing up for the hike via Venmo (@sarahbabbage), Paypal (@sarahbabbage), or other means (please contact me if you need this option). You’ll be moved to the “not attending” list if you do not submit payment within one week. Note that I am not making any money off this trip, just fronting the cost of reservations.

Cancellation: The outfitter doesn’t offer refunds, but the trip will be postponed if the water level is too low or too high. Please only sign up if you’re committed to the trip. You can only cancel if someone on the waitlist is willing to take your place. No RSVP changes are permitted within 72 hours of the trip.

To bring: lunch for day 1, lunch for day 2 (this shouldn’t be perishable unless you’re bringing a cooler in your car), dinner you can cook or eat at the campsite, breakfast. Camp stuff (tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, supplies to cook your own dinner/breakfast), sandals or shoes that can go in the water (no flip flops), sunscreen/bugspray, a dry bag or ziplocs for valuables you’ll bring on the boat, a day pack for the boat, water bottles that’ll accommodate however much water you need on the boat.

Carpooling: Please leave a comment if you're willing to carpool. You're the ones who make LMH great!

Meeting point: Rappahannock River Campground, 33017 River Mill Rd, Richardsville, VA 22736

Note: This trip involves risk. You will be required to sign a waiver with the following language:

This kayak trip is a voluntary, informal group activity organized by a volunteer leader. The group has no membership fees, no paid guides, and no professional instruction is being provided.
Kayaking, especially on moving water with rapids, involves inherent risks, including but not limited to: capsizing, swimming in current, collision with rocks or other objects, cold water immersion, injury, head trauma, equipment failure, weather changes, and the possibility of serious injury or death.
By choosing to participate, each participant acknowledges and accepts full responsibility for their own safety, equipment, decisions, and actions during the trip. Participants understand that accidents may occur even when reasonable care is taken.
This is not a guided or commercial trip; participants are expected to be self-sufficient paddlers.
Participants assume all risks, known and unknown, associated with this activity and agree to release and hold harmless the trip organizer and other participants from any claims, demands, or liability arising from injury, loss, or damage sustained during or related to the trip, except where prohibited by law.

Participants are responsible for:

• Assessing whether the trip is appropriate for their skill level
• Wearing appropriate safety gear (including a PFD)
• Knowing their own physical and medical limitations
• Carrying any required medications or safety equipment

By attending, participants confirm that they have read and understood this notice and voluntarily choose to participate at their own risk.

By signing up for this event, you acknowledge and agree that Late Morning Hikers, its volunteer organizers, and drivers who volunteer to carpool are not responsible or liable for accidents, injuries, damage, or losses that may occur while traveling to or from the hike. Late Morning Hikers does not condone or encourage impaired driving. Drivers are expected to follow applicable laws and make responsible transportation choices.

Background information about the group:
Please remember that this group is an informal group of friends and volunteers initiating trips under the common adventurer model (http://www.ronwatters.com/CADefine.htm). We do expect our members to be familiar with the best practices of hiking – this is not a group for first time hikers and is NOT a group for those seeking hiking instruction.
We're also not experts or professionals, nor are we trained hike leaders, nor do we scout out hikes. We plan hikes for fun. You are responsible for your own welfare and safety at all LMH events. Be sure to choose to attend hikes only within your own physical abilities and hiking knowledge; take maps, suitable clothing, provisions (at least two liters of water plus any food or medical supplies you might require) and equipment, and act responsibly and safely at all times.

Acting responsibly and safely includes always making sure that you stay with a group (we advise using the buddy system) and staying on, or within sight of (if you need to answer the call of nature or avoid an obstacle on the trail), marked trails at all times. If you ever believe you may be lost, follow the advice of the US Forest Service (https://www.fs.fed.us/visit/know-before-you-go/if-you-get-lost)
LMH organizers and members shall not be liable for any injuries, loss or damage to persons or property, direct or consequential, arising out of any aspect of LMH activities. By attending this event, you represent that you have read, understand, and agree to the contents of our waiver of liability in the following link (Waiver of Liability - Google Docs).