WEATHER FORECAST:
What a slendid weekend is headed our way! All indications are that Hurricane Earl will pass well to our East on Friday, setting us up for a mostly dry, crisp weekend with partly sunny skies and a delightfully cool breeze ... just perfect for soccer!!
RIVER FORECAST:
The US Army Corps of Engineers has announced that because of the extraordinarily dry summer this year, and lower than expected reservoir levels, a full dam release of 750 cfs will be held on Saturday, with a partial release on Sunday. No rain is expected from Hurricane Earl, so no change in the weekend plan is anticipated. Rapids on Sunday will be somewhat smaller ... but still a lot of fun ... "rafting, splashing, swimming, and soaking yourself silly" as the outfitter says. Don't forget the free apres-rafting picnic cookout after the trip ... both days!
Note:
Souvenir photos of you and your crew shooting the rapids are available after each trip. For information, inquire at the rafting center store.
Box lunches for the river trip are available at $5.75, if ordered in advance and prepaid. Lunches ordered on the morning of the trip cost $6.75 each. Large day-of-trip orders are sometimes difficult to fill, so advance orders are strongly recommended. You are also welcome to bring your own lunch, if you prefer, but glass bottles/containers and alcoholic beverages are not permitted. Also avoid bringing large ice chests, as there is insufficient room in the raft for these.
If you intend to rent waterproof paddling jackets or wet suits on the morning of your trip, you may want to arrive at the rafting center 15 to 30 minutes earlier than your scheduled check-in time. Up to six wet suits may be rented on a single driver's license.
A hint from the outfitter: "Avoid wearing anything made of cotton, especially sweat shirts or sweat pants." Cotton will make you colder when it gets wet. Synthetic, polypro or wool blend materials work best under a wet suit or paddling jacket. But again, swimwear is more the order of the day this weekend.
REGARDING RAIN: Generally, all the rafting trips go rain or shine. The only exception would be dangerous conditions -- such as lightning or flooding. (Flooding is rarely a concern, since the Lehigh is a dam-controlled river.) If you want to confirm that your river trip is running as scheduled, please contact the outfitter directly at: 800-443-8554.
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