KayakingSnowboarder

Location Reviews: Lehigh Valley PA

garrettmarkscott@gmail.com (Garrett Scott) — Sun, 25 Jan 2026 00:11:16 GMT

Lehigh Valley

Ranking Criteria

If you’re like me—a regular person with a regular job who lives for the rush of dropping into rapids or carving fresh powder—finding the right place to settle down isn’t just about scenery. It’s about realistic access to both sports without turning your life into a constant road trip or breaking the bank.

I’ve spent years chasing both whitewater kayaking and snowboarding while holding down a full-time gig, so I’ve ranked my top spots based on what actually matters for folks in our shoes:

Thrills — Quality and variety of runs/rivers (class III+ whitewater, solid snowboard terrain).
Accessibility — How quickly you can get there after work or on weekends (drive times under 1-2 hours are ideal).
Livability — Affordable housing (or at least reasonable for a 9-5 salary), job opportunities, community vibe, and overall quality of life without extreme costs or isolation.

Lehigh Valley: Why It's My #2 Pick for Kayaking + Snowboarding on a 9-5 Budget

The Lehigh Valley—Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, and the surrounding areas—is a classic East Coast gem. Rolling hills covered in lush deciduous forests, winding roads hugging ridges with rivers and streams below. That vibrant, green liveliness of the Northeast is tough to beat. It's nearly perfect if you don't drool for Class V adrenaline: smaller rivers, smaller mountains, way fewer tourists and traffic, and—crucially—substantially lower price tags. Life here feels easy and mild compared to pricier outdoor hubs.

Kayaking in the Lehigh Valley

Beginner paddlers: You're in heaven. The Lehigh River ranks among the best learning rivers in the country, with progressive Class I to II+ whitewater that's forgiving yet fun. Plenty of entry points—weekend raft guiding gigs, the active Lehigh Valley Canoe Club, or local classes to get started fast.

Advanced paddlers: This spot shines as a hub for the Northeast Kayaking Circuit —16 non-overlapping festivals spread over 8 months for consistent events. When it rains (which it does more often now), Class V creeking options pop up within ~2 hours. Playboaters love the ~2-hour drive to Holtwood Whitewater Park—one of the East's best man-made setups.

Snowboarding in the Lehigh Valley

Short season, yes—often humid, icy conditions—but you can actually afford a home just 15–30 minutes from the slopes. Great for young families or newer riders: smooth, predictable groomers, solid lift capacity, and comfy lodges.

Quick resort breakdown:

Blue Mountain & Camelback : Overall winners—better terrain variety, stronger park scenes, and perks like VIP fast lanes for season pass holders.
Jack Frost/Big Boulder : Slower lifts, and the Vail takeover has thinned out the park scene (plus oddly limited beer options at times). Still fun for a chill day.

Within a 4–5 hour drive north, you can hit upstate NY for some of the fastest groomers around when you crave bigger stuff.

Housing: The Real Game-Changer

This is a huge reason the Lehigh Valley ranks #2 on my list—drastic affordability with solid convenience. As of late 2025/early 2026, median home prices hover around $340K–$360K (up from prior years but still well below the national median of ~$415K+). Dedicated dining rooms are standard, yards aren't a luxury, and houses prioritize space and utility over Instagram aesthetics. You'll get way more square footage than Denver or Bend.

Pro tip: Aim for spots between Blue Mountain and Allentown. Palmerton, PA nails it—15 minutes to Blue Mountain skiing, 45 minutes to prime whitewater, 15 minutes to Lehigh River tubing spots, and a realistic 30–45 minute commute to bigger corporate jobs in Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton.

Climate "Proofness" & Long-Term Outlook

While the West deals with wildfires and water shortages, the Northeast (including Lehigh Valley) faces more intense heavy rain and flooding events—driven by climate trends. That means more reliable water for rivers (good for kayaking!) and potentially steadier agriculture, without the extreme hurricanes hitting the Southeast or brutal winds. Projections show warmer temps (up ~5–6°F by mid-century) and more hot days, but overall, it's positioned as one of the more resilient spots for 2040+. Migration to the Northeast could ramp up—something worth factoring in when picking a long-term base.

Big Backyard Bonfires for Fun

Pennsylvania (and most of the East) just loves a good bonfire—any time of year. High school bonfires with 30-foot wood pallet towers, trail fire pits everywhere, backyard hangs as the default social event. Got old furniture? Burn it! ��

Things That Kinda Suck

Higher-than-average crowd that works, drinks, and calls it a day—can feel depressing if you're craving more variety.
General population isn't super active; fewer folks keep up outdoor hobbies into their 30s/40s+.
White-collar jobs exist but are tougher to land (region leans manufacturing/logistics/healthcare; unemployment is low ~3.7%, but growth is in "making and moving goods").
Summers past 80°F get sticky/humid and gross; winters mean scraping ice off your car most mornings.
Mosquitoes are relentless.
Growing fast, but still not big enough for super-niche scenes (e.g., specialized outdoor or cultural groups).

Overall, if you're after balanced access to both sports without insane costs or crowds, the Lehigh Valley delivers East Coast charm with real practicality. It's not flashy, but it's livable—and that's why it edges out flashier spots for a lot of us 9-5 adventurers.

Northeast Circuit #05 - Stonycreek Rendezvous

garrettmarkscott@gmail.com (Garrett Scott) — Sat, 10 May 2025 02:08:17 GMT

⏰ May: 3rd Weekend

�� PARking Locations

��️ Purchase tickets ($25)

https://form.jotform.com/231365676771970

( Benscreek Canoe Club Website )

�� Volunteer

Check Socials ( Benscreek FB Page )

�� Overview

The Stony Creek Rendezvous is a very family friendly fair weather paddling event. My favorite part was the night surfing under the lights! Packing food is always good but there are food trucks serving three meals a day.

There is a mass-start race and freestyle event each year and I would highly encourage anyone to participate!

Release Hours for Main Stony Canyon: As of 2024 release begins a 7:00am, gets to the Hollsopple Ball Field Access by 10am and then begins to drop at 2:00pm.

⛺️ Where to stay

Camping is at the event at Green House Rd, Johnstown, PA 15905 . It is a large park but this is also a large event. You will ABSOLUTELY need to show up early and with your group at the same time. It fills up fast.

�� Phone Service

No issues. Service on water.

��️ Climate

View Local 7-day Forecast (Google Weather)

�� Vibe Vid

�� Online References

Official Race Details

www.stonycreekrendezvous.com

Facebook Page

www.facebook.com/stonycreekrendezvous/

Stony Creek Website

www.thestonycreek.com

American Whitewater

https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/1659/main

For other streams in this watershed, check out these American Whitewater links:

Stony Canyon (III-IV) (Main Stretch)

Stony Gorge (IV)

Roaring Fork (IV)

Shade Creek (III-IV)

Paint Creek (V)

Dark Shade Creek (IV-V)

Clear Shade Creek (III)

Conemaugh River (I-II)

Quemahoning Creek (III)

Boise Events 2025

garrettmarkscott@gmail.com (Garrett Scott) — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 03:13:37 GMT

Took the time to digitize 2025 Boise Events Newsletter and a few others. Calendar you can toggle on and off to see what city-advocated events are happening.

Add to Google Calendar
Add to iCalendar

Location Reviews: Boise 🥇

garrettmarkscott@gmail.com (Garrett Scott) — Sat, 15 Feb 2025 13:50:40 GMT

Boise

Boise will be known for:

"Environmental stewardship;
A predictable development pattern;
Stable neighborhoods and mixed-use activity centers;
Being a connected community;
Being a community that values its culture, education, arts, and history, Having a strong, diverse economy; and Being a safe, healthy, caring community."

Quoted from BluePrint Boise - 365pages
( View All City Plans )

Ranking Criteria

Where is the best place to settle down for a 9-5 guy or girl that loves kayaking and snowboarding? The thrills, the accessibility, and the livability are all factored in my personal ranking for Best Places to Live for Kayaking and Snowboarding . Get to know about me for an understanding about who I am and what would be relatable to you.

Boise: Motif

Of all the best places to live for kayaking and snowboarding, Boise Idaho is my top ranked location in the country.

When you ask people what they do, they respond with their hobbies, not their job titles. World class whitewater, good snowboarding, Muti-million dollar skatepark, Multi-million dollar whitewater park, world class downhill mountain bike course, and host of other outdoor passions… all 15-45 minutes away. On the weekends when you can drive a little further out (2hrs) you have hot springs, top quality snowboarding, hiking in the mountains, even sandboarding.

Boise: Kayaking

I really enjoy the paddling here. The Payette is you local backyard run with incredibly easy logistics. A really unique feature is that “Banks” is the take out for both the Payette north fork (advanced) & Payette south fork (intermediate) along with the put in for the Payette Main (beginner). Having everyone congregating in one spot is really great as you can mix and mingle skill groups so everyone can meet up and hangout no matter where they are at in their paddling journey. The water is chilly but not excessively cold. The clear waters make up for this though! Growing up in Northeast I’m used to murky rivers with muck along the sides. In Boise, you get clear waters and sandy river beaches. For a full list of runs surrounding Boise view Boise Whitewater Guide

Boise: Snowboarding

I would give the local resort, Bogus, a B rating. While not Salt Lake City Skiing or Denver Skiing Boise offers similar thrills of natural terrain skiing. Bogus needs the street credit it deserves as it is the only high-altitude night skiing that I have seen. With an impressive ___ trails at night. Meaning you can go on a Tuesday night after work. Icing on the cake is that due to some strange time zone design, Boise area gets an extra hour of daylight. Whohoo!!!

Boise: Livability

Boise is great for families and singles. There is low crime. People are up for conversations. You’ll hear the term ‘Boise Kind’ and that is a real thing. People treat other people as if everyone is neighbors. Additionally the city is large enough that there is plenty of events happening and if you are open to spending a few dollars, endless things to do. Go boxing �� , go fencing �� , take ballroom dance lessons ��, get some Botox ��, cooking classes ��‍��, the list goes on!

Boise: Housing

While still cheaper than Denver, Boise charm comes at a cost. While there are surrounding areas to live. You will want to live close to downtown as possible. Surrounding neighborhoods are more affordable but adding 45 minutes of traffic to any activity you want to do really brings down what Boise has to offer.

Boise vs. Salt Lake City Rivalry

While on my AirBnB tour of the country I lived in DLC for two months and while I would explain how Boise was next on my tour and would be warn d that ‘They are kind of weird up there’ flash forward to me living in Boise and ironically in conversations about SLC I will be told about how ‘They are kind of weird down there’ Being a person from PA I have always found this pretty funny because they are also the nearest neighbor either remote area has!

Boise Transplants

About 50% of the population is transplants. From my experience there are locals that will look away once they know you are from out of town. Especially if you are from California. However, don’t let that deter you. Understand that this happens and don’t take it personally. Be courteous, show you are the kind of person that adds to the community and you will be fine ��

Ranking Top Locations to Live for Kayaking and Snowboarding

garrettmarkscott@gmail.com (Garrett Scott) — Sun, 28 Jul 2024 06:28:04 GMT

Methodology

I work a 9-5 in tech and like to dabble in side-hustles. This narrowed down my list to kayaking & snowboarding locations within close proximity to a sizable city. Two large regions have not been included, Pacific Northwest and areas beyond a working mans' (woman's) budget. Pacific Northwest has incredible activities but I experienced living in an overcast area while in college in Erie PA and not interested in living in an overcast area ever again! Each ranked location I spent 2 or more months living in and during that time did as much time engaging with people and area as possible.

#1 Boise, Idaho

Stole my heart. Cleanest downtown of them all. Fun mid-sized snowboarding and class V kayaking under an hour from the city. When asking people “So what do you do?” everyone responds passionately about their hobbies vs. job/status. Better love it though, nearest city is SLC 5 hours away! (Full review)

#2 Lehigh Valley, PA

Easy living, climate proof, 2hrs from NYC and Philly. Large ski resorts and amazing rivers 4-6 hours away. Small 1000’ ski resort and class II river right in back yard. Unique affordability shoots this way up the list. $400k will buy a multi-story home with sizable yards and grass. (Full review)

#3 Denver, Colorado

Full of awesome outdoor activities for the weekends but being 2+ hour drive away the rest of your week is in the megatropolis. If you are prioritizing your career, Denver will be an incredible arena to work your way to the top. (Full review)

#4 Salt Lake City, UTah

Salt Lake City took me by surprise. I knew the skiing would be great but did not think I’d consider living there until I was there! The downtown was a mix of young, fit, and fashionable people. Additionally SLC had one of the friendliest community. Only 1 month of epic kayaking though brings it down below Denver. You can spend $60 at bars and still be legal to drive due to small amount of liqour in drinks. (Full review)

#5 GreeR, South Carolina

Greer is an hour south of Asheville. People are as warm as the weather. Snowboarding is not the best, but surprisingly does exist! Beech Mountain is just over an hour away with 830' of vertical and a 3-month season. For a better job market look into Asheville.

#6 Bend, Oregon

Mt. Bachelor is a top resort and offers unique terrain being that it is on top of a volcano! Handful of great backyard rapids for kayaking but the majority of the rivers are calm. This is made up by the fact that you'll be living in the sunshine while catching all the class V creeks west of the Cascade range. Little White Salmon and Mt. Hood being under 4 hours away doesn't hurt either.

Other Considered Locations

Syracuse, New York

Access to the fastest slopes in the country the Northeast tip has top to bottom groomers and some notable parks. Though there is a good chance you'll need your ice skates due to lower elevations. The best kayaking for the 9-5'r that wants to run some class 5.1 waterfalls and creeks. Ridiculous amount of mosquitos. Old industrial downtown. (Full Review)

Asheville, North Carolina

The Portland of the East. Lots of alt energy and world class kayaking in backyard. If you lean more towards kayaking than snowboarding than look into it as the Green River is right in your backyard. Snowboarding in the Southeast does exist but it is 830’ feet of vertical about 2 hours away. (Full review)

Portland, Oregon

If Portland was sunnier this would be it! Renowned kayaking, renowned snowboarding with no signs of drought in sight. Great transportation and a very involved community… But depressing amount of dreary weather and real drug/camping issue.

Anywhere, California

Good locations just too expensive for me to consider in near future. Many reasons for everyone leaving that can't afford Hollywood-budgeted neighborhoods.

Northeast Circuit #15 - Tallulah November Releases

garrettmarkscott@gmail.com (Garrett Scott) — Sun, 05 May 2024 02:52:36 GMT

⏰ Nov: All Weekends

�� Parking Locations

�� Overview

Tallulah is great vibes and many people travel from The Green Race right over to run the Tallulah. Both happen on same weekend. My favorite accommodation is the Tallulah shuttle that brings you right back to your car! Remember to bring some cash for parking and the shuttle .

��‍♂️ Release Schedule

noc.com/events/tallulah-river-releases

⛺️ WHERE TO STAY

Most people stay at Thrifts Ferry Campground

�� PHONE SERVICE

Pretty good service

��️ Climate

View Local 7-day Forecast (Google Weather)

�� Vibe ViD

�� Online References

AW - Narrows

https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/506/main

Video Explaining the Lines

Northeast Circuit #14 - The Green Race

garrettmarkscott@gmail.com (Garrett Scott) — Sun, 05 May 2024 01:11:08 GMT

⏰ Nov: 1st Weekend

�� Parking Locations

�� Overview

The Green is essentially the journey to mecca, everyone should try to go once in their life.

Do not feel pressure to run Gorilla. Commitment to showing up is what makes a kayaker.

For spectators, hiking in the hike in will take above or below 2 hours. ( View details )

⛺️ WHERE TO STAY

Purchase your camp tickets as soon as registration opens. They do sell out. This tends to be in December.

Fires: You can have fires but you need to bring a 'leave no trace' device. It does get cold and while there is a community fire at night, having a daytime camp fire is extremely nice. Fortunately, there tends to be plenty of firewood around. I use my UCO flatpack grill and recommend it as a great product for a fair price compared to other very expensive options.

�� PHONE SERVICE

Consistently 1 or 2 bars. Will work in the mornings and late evenings but during the day there is too much strain on the grid when everyone is using it at same time.

��️ Climate

View Local 7-day Forecast (Google Weather)

�� Vibe Vid

�� Online References

Official Event Page

https://greenrace.us

Great Resource for Release Schedule

https://greenrivernc.com

AW - Narrows

https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/1080/main

Dane's Race Lines

Northeast Circuit #13 - Lord of the Fork Race (Russell Fork)

garrettmarkscott@gmail.com (Garrett Scott) — Sat, 04 May 2024 21:11:05 GMT

⏰ October: 4th Weekend

�� Parking Locations

�� Overview

Lord of the Fork Race on the Russell is a great time. The river has dynamic twisting routes that have many options to choose from. A top run in my book! Almost a hybrid of creek and big water. There is an after race event/party with food for purchase and a few bands. A relaxed vibe for the most part.

⛺️ Where to stay

IF your are able to get to the takeout on Thursday night or early Friday (before 7:00pm) that is your best bet for free camping. Otherwise support local business at the main event at Thunder River Campground. They have better bathroom options as well.

�� PHONE SERVICE

Terrible! Download as much as you can. Even texting is spotty in most places. Forget about phone calls.

��️ Climate

View Local 7-day Forecast (Google Weather)

�� Vibe Vid

�� Online References

AW - Russell Fork

www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/2010/main

Official Event Page

www.russellforkrendezvous.com/about/

Facebook Page

www.facebook.com/LORDOFTHEFORK/

Really Great Video

Northeast Circuit #12 - Gauley Fest

garrettmarkscott@gmail.com (Garrett Scott) — Thu, 02 May 2024 02:43:07 GMT

⏰ SepT: 3rd Weekend

�� Parking Locations

�� Overview

The biggest whitewater party in the world. More importantly it is Gauley Fest where you catch up with your paddling friends from all over the East coast and beyond. There are options for whitewater as well. The biggest gripe can be the over crowding of the river. From my experience the most danger is the crowded eddies as it can be very hard for rescue situations when eddies are packed with rafts, i.e. floating strainers.

Water release schedule:

https://www.lrh-wc.usace.army.mil/wm/?wwsched#:~:text=Gauley%20Fest%20is%20scheduled%20for,%2C%2015th%2C%2019th%2C%2020th.

⛺️ Where to stay

Stay at the main event at Nicholas County Veterans Memorial Park

�� PHONE SERVICE

Service is great for the most part. I believe I remember the New having spotty service.

��️ Climate

View Local 7-day Forecast (Google Weather)

�� Vibe Vid

�� Online References

AW - Gauley Fest

https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Wiki/aw:events_gauley

AW - Upper Gauley (IV)

https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/2378/main

AW - Lower Gauley (III)

https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/2379/main

AW- New River (III)

https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/2418/main

Northeast Circuit #04 - Cheat River Festival

garrettmarkscott@gmail.com (Garrett Scott) — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 06:01:42 GMT

⏰ May: Early in Month

�� Parking Locations

�� Overview

Cheat Fest is one of the best festivals in the Northeast Festival Circuit . My favorite part is the number of incredible runs to choose from. Note this festival is about half kayakers and other half of people are locals and music lovers. Total people wise, this is the largest total people. Gauley fest will still have the most boaters by a mile!

Access roads are on the rugged and steep side. I would avoid low-clearance sedans and if it rains you will need tires with good traction. You don't want to be the one that stalls everyone else on the winding roads.

⛺️ Where to stay

There are two distinct options. Option 1 is in the heart of the festival itself. This is some really high-energy camping and ideal for colliding with new people. The other option is a short walk away at Cheat Canyon campgrounds (they have showers and toilets). While not near a wild, I was very happy to have earplugs. See the Google map .

�� Phone Service

Spoty. Internet can be very slow with so many people using it at the same time.

��️ Climate

View Local 7-day Forecast (Google Weather)

�� Vibe Vid

�� Online References

https://cheatfest.org/

Northeast Circuit #11 - Beverfest Rendezvous

garrettmarkscott@gmail.com (Garrett Scott) — Sun, 28 Apr 2024 00:06:18 GMT

⏰ Sept: 1st Weekend

�� Parking Locations

�� Overview

Reigns as the champion among My Ranked Northeast Kayaking Events. Beaverfest boasts a variety of rivers catering to all skill levels, quality accommodations, and an amazing atmosphere.

A special shoutout to Backyard Boat Shop and the volunteers who generously dedicate their time to ensure the success of this event. Visit Backyard Boat Shops website for most up to date details.

Backyard Boat Shop is also hosts a release schedule calendar worth checking out!

⛺️ WHERE TO STAY

Snow Ridge is the place to be. They have real bathrooms, lots of fresh water taps across campground, bar, and food. Be prepared though, lots of mosquitoes.

�� Phone Service

Pretty spotty. Suggest downloading what you can.

��️ Climate

View Local 7-day Forecast (Google Weather)

�� Vibe Vid

�� Online References

Backyard Boat Shop

https://backyardboatshop.com/pages/ny-festivals-and-releases

Facebook Event Page

https://www.facebook.com/beaverriverrendezvous

AW - Raquette (V)

https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/1387/main

AW - Moshier (IV+)

https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/2613/main

AW - Eagle (IV+)

https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/2614/main

AW - Bottom Moose (III or V)

(can leave halfway through)

https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/1352/main

AW - Taylorville (III)

https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/2612/main

AW - Black (III)

https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/1255/main

AW - Salmon (II)

https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/1404/main

Northeast Circuit #08 - Deerfield Festival

garrettmarkscott@gmail.com (Garrett Scott) — Sat, 13 Apr 2024 01:13:04 GMT

⏰ August: 1st Weekend

�� Parking Locations

��Overview

Deerfield Festival is a great time that can be shared with your intermediate boating friends. Many of the rapids can be relatively easy to navigate but what is unique about kayaking this river is there is the ability to do make it as challenging as you want. There are a ton of options for ferries, boofs, attainments, and some pretty thrashy holes to get yourself into. The runs are very short so you can choose your own amount of adventure.

Water release schedule for Dryway:

Saturday releases 10:00am-3:00pm.
Sunday releases 10:00am-2:00pm.
You put in at the dam so water begins immediately. No need to wait for it. ( Zoar ).

Note for Shuttle:

Parking is very limited at the put in. I would strongly recommend to park at the put in by 8:00pm. Then, the second think to know is that the takeout has the main parking about a 20min walk from the 'pick up zone' as an fyi. Be a nice human and offer lift to drivers after you load your boats.

⛺️ WHERE TO STAY

The majority 80% of those that attend stay at the main event campground at Birkshire East Ski Resort . Another 10% campout at the takeout. The local rules say no camping but from what I was told there have been no issues. There are a lot of bugs/mosquitos at both Birkshire East and the take out. When I went I wound up staying at Mohawk Campground and do not regret it! No bug issues, great riverside camping (if you book early), and plenty of showers just 5 minutes away from the Birkshire ski resort. You do need to call them though, no online bookings.

AW Listing of Deerfield Festival (with more camping options)

�� PHONE SERVICE

Enough for texting everywhere. Not enough for calls in some areas.

��️ Climate

View Local 7-day Forecast (Google Weather)

�� Vibe Vid

Online References ��

American Whitewater Event Page

https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Wiki/aw:events_deerfield#the_river

American Whitewater Dryway Page

https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/681/main

"Paddling Dryway" search on Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=paddling+dryway

Northeast Circuit #02 - Top Yough Race

garrettmarkscott@gmail.com (Garrett Scott) — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 04:52:02 GMT

⏰ April: 1st Weekend

�� PArking Locations

�� Overview

Top yough race is my favorite grass root race and a great way to kickstart your race season as it is a solid class IV run that brings out some of the best paddlers. It is a great place to build your boater community!

Great Falls Foundation has an excellent article with all the race day details

https://www.greatfallsfoundation.org/top-yough-race/

NOTE: This event has a tendency to move to it's rain date. Something to consider if driving from far away.

⛺️ Where to stay

With this being a colder event with a high chance of rain or snow it is really advised to shell out the money if you can to get an AirBnb with some friends. View pre-configured Airbnb search near Swallow Falls.

�� Phone Service

No issues. Service on water.

��️ Climate

View Local 7-day Forecast (Google Weather)

�� Vibe Vid

�� Online References

Official Race Details

https://www.greatfallsfoundation.org/top-yough-race/

AW Page

https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/754/main

Plastic Welding a Kayak with Minimal Tools

garrettmarkscott@gmail.com (Garrett Scott) — Sun, 24 Mar 2024 17:59:03 GMT

Don't worry, you got this!

Things you'll need:

Heat gun
Plastic Rods
Nails with fat heads
Some low grit sandpaper

This process is more forgiving then you may imagine as the kayaks can take a lot of heat before it starts to burn! On each side try to mentally think if you have liquified at least half the plastic on the side you are working on. Once you do the same on the other half then the plastic is blended the whole way through your boat and is solid. WORST case scenario you go back and do it again.

Northeast Circuit #06 - Spring Moose Fest

garrettmarkscott@gmail.com (Garrett Scott) — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 06:22:01 GMT

⏰ May: Last Weekend

(Memorial Day Weekend)

�� PArking Locations

�� Overview

Spring Moosefest is a small event and a ton of fun. The Moose is one of my favorite runs on the NorthEast Kayaking Circuit with very manageable waterfalls and easy scouting/portaging for those in your group that may not be ready yet. It is common to have two runs, some go for three.

Bottom Moose: Short class IV run with plenty of sneak lines. Great transition for class III boaters looking to get a taste of creeking.

Bottom Bottom Moose: Class V run. Need to have confidence in your ability to ferry across a few stronger currents before dropping over ledges. Pretty straight forward when in the main flow but there are a few places you do no want to wind up and will need to cross currents. An absolute blast! If you are lucky, you will be able to run the dam by the takeout where you will go between some wooden boards and a metal walk way. That dam rapid is called Crypto as it is currently powering a crypto company and cooling the machines. Which is warming the waters.

Make sure to sign in. This is used not only for safety but also to gauge public interest. It is marked on Google Map

⛺️ Where to stay

The camping at the put in is 100% primitive. There is room for tents and hammocks.

Alternative camp spots:

(available in Spring Moose Fest google map )

�� Phone Service

Can't remember.

��️ Climate

View Local 7-day Forecast (Google Weather)

�� Vibe Vid

�� Online References

Backyard Boat Shop

From Alex and Hannah:

"We have been the official organizers of Moosefest and Beaverfest for nearly a decade, and manage the complexities of New York's whitewater release schedule on behalf of American Whitewater. We hope you understand our struggle to navigate multiple legally binding agreements to create a balanced schedule which satisfies both the locals who fought for these first-in-the-nation releases, and our friends from afar who travel to enjoy the region. Please remember to sign-in to every release on the Moose, Beaver and Raquette, and be respectful to our local communities."

https://backyardboatshop.com/pages/ny-festivals-and-releases

American Whitewater (Bottom Moose & Bottom Bottom Moose)
"Releases occur on weekends in October and April-May.

Summer time on the Moose is a local favorite. The river becomes more like a traditional creek at low water, opening new lines, and giving beginners a chance to learn on warm reliable class 4-5. The run stops after double drop without the releases once the river is below 4-4.5 feet, but with more and different lines this is not a problem. Once the river drops below traditional levels the power company is unable to produce power and river is low but runnable from below Agers Falls to Magilla." - AW https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/1352/main

Bottom Beta

Bottom Bottom Beta

Northeast Circuit #01 - Paddling Tohickon Creek

garrettmarkscott@gmail.com (Garrett Scott) — Sat, 16 Mar 2024 01:46:28 GMT

⏰ March: 3rd Weekend & SEPT: 1st Weekend

�� PArking Locations

�� Overview

Tohickon creek releases two times a year. It is a short run that can be done in about 30-45minutes. It is pretty standard to get two runs in but there is glory for those that do three runs. Get flowers, chocolates, whatever to attract a shuttle bunny for the day. It makes a huge difference here.

See the latest updates on American Whitewater . If you plan on attending Green race, you'll want to catch the March release since the Green is in November.

⛺️ Where to stay

Many people will camp at the takeout/event area but it is cold. There are a limited amount of places to stay so you will want to book early if you want a warm place to sleep at night. Most of the crowd comes out for a day.

�� Phone Service

Easy texting and calls anywhere

��️ Climate

March Release

View Local 7-day Forecast (Google Weather)

November Release

Online References ��

Extra Links
https://paddling.com/paddle/trips/tohickon-creek-pennsylvania

https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/1672/main

https://www.ccghpa.com/event/tohickon-creek-dam-release-2/

Build Custom Mini Med Kit

garrettmarkscott@gmail.com (Garrett Scott) — Wed, 24 Jan 2024 03:56:28 GMT

Why you need a travel kit

Accidents don’t happen often but when they do it boy is it nice to have a few things to take care of life throws at you, or your friends/family. Many of the med kits on the market are created to keep at home or in your car with enough supplies to last you 10 years. Problem is that doesn’t help much when you are out!

This is why I advocate and am the one to carry a micro-med kit on my adventures. The main difference is that you will want to replenish after use. The goal is to patch just about anything up to make it home. Or if you are living out of AirBnbs full time , then as your main medical kit.

[ picture of med kit Back pack hanging in tree ]

What I pack makes sense for the things I do, you may not need a whole arsenal of waterproof adhesives if you don’t kayak!

What’s in my Kit

Pair of Gloves

Stay protected when providing help to another.

Alcohol Prep Wipes

Absolutely essential to clean fresh wounds. It’s gonna be a short sting but will dodge long term infections .

Gauze (Roll and Patches)

A single roll of gauze will be a life saver in if a large laceration were to happen. Pads are good for medium jobs.

Waterproof Tape

Even if you aren’t a kayaker, water proof tape is generally more heavy duty and have a longer shelf life when exposed to the elements from my experience.

Trash Bag

Useful for so many things. One thing is to help with hyperthermia. Wearing it like a poncho is extremely effective. It won’t be a breathable Patagonia by any means but if you are freezing you just want warmth.

Lighter

Just have one.

Butterfly Bandages

You never want to need a butterfly bandage but if someone in your crew has a deep cut you’ll be happy to have them.

Assorted Bandages

I bought a large variety pack off the internet. You certainly do not need as many different kinds as I do but one kind to look for is a knuckle bandage.

Carry a Knife

I could personally be a lot better with this my self but it is responsible to have something sharp enough to cut with.New Paragraph

Mark Your “Templates”

In my photos you’ll see that I have put 2301 on two of each kind of bandage. This way I can use the non/marked ones without taking the time to resupply each time I need a band aid. Which is the most popular use of my med kit. If I find myself using one of the templates that’s my sign that I need to take the time to resupply.

First Kit? Great Friend Activity!

Buying individual things you need at the local pharmacy is a great way to build a great kit. The only issue is you probably don’t really need 200 alcohol prep wipes and 150 bandages. It takes time to unbox and lay everything out but it is a great opportunity to invite a friend or small group over for an hour.

Bonus - Vacuum Sealer

It is a major plus if you can get your hands on one as it will keep you kit incredibly small until you need to use it.

Be safe!

You never know what might happen. I somehow got this deep cut from a shovel while clearing snow during my time in Salt Lake City, Utah .

Riding Utah's Public Ski Bus

garrettmarkscott@gmail.com (Garrett Scott) — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 05:09:37 GMT

Overview

With only a few stops, it isn't much longer than driving yourself. You don't need to deal with finding a spot, and skip the $35 resort parking ! (Solitude)

Bus Lines

(Click to enlarge)

https://www.rideuta.com/Rider-Info/Ski-Service

Bus Schedules

Bullets

Park and rides are super easy. Can wait in your warm car or come last minute as the bus is pulling in.
Try your best to get first bus out from the first station on weekends.
If you can’t get first bus, still drive to the first station. The busses fill fast and will be stuck standing for 1hr ride or possibly even not have room. Busses will skip stops once full
Ikon and other season passes include bus ticket fee.
One way tickets are $5 with Transit app. It is easy and straightforward. Transit app doesn’t scan on bus, just show to driver.
My first experience was 3-4” of snow in town and about 13” in the mountains. Roads were good on the way to the station and the bus didn't have any delays due to weather. (Spot on with Google's prediction)
Way back can be brutal. I tried to leave early on the 12:30 bus but to my surprise there was no room and had to catch the next bus. This one was on its way to Brighton and wound up not getting back to Salt Lake until 2:15. 1hr 45min in total.

From The Locals

People love these lines and they used to run every 15min but in 2023 run every 30min. I made friends with two locals who support the bus and they both speculate the city made the busses less convenient to get more people to support the Salt Lake Gondola project. This is a touchy subject. It would go right through lots of climbing and outdoor recreation. Meaning you would lose privacy and become a tourist exhibit like a zoo. Secondly, the very expensive project would be paid for by local taxpayers vs. the resorts.

Menus and Pricing (2024)

Northeast Circuit #10 - Lehigh River Classic

garrettmarkscott@gmail.com (Garrett Scott) — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 00:54:28 GMT

⏰ AUGUST: 4th Weekend

�� Parking Locations

��Overview

Lehigh River Classic is a mass start endurance race of around 40 minutes with mostly flat water and some class II. I would argue that this is the most laid back race in the Northeast Festival Circuit and that caters to a lot of friendly competition. This is the only race in the circuit I have seen dogs in the racing vessels!

If you are in the area or willing to travel this is a great event to meet new people. The after party was very comfortable with plenty of seating, food options, live music, beer pong tournament, and raft guide olympics.

⛺️ Where to stay

Lehigh Classic is part of the 3-Day Lehigh River Fest and in 2023 Whitewater Challengers hosted this event for the whole weekend and offered $15 camping that includes both Friday and Saturday night . It seemed there was plenty of room to camp. View their link to RiverFest 2023

�� Phone Service

Easy to text and call anywhere

��️ CLIMATE

View Local 7-day Forecast (Google Weather)

�� Vibe ViD

Online References ��

Official Page
https://www.lehighclassic.com/

American Whitewater Page
American Whitewater: Upper Lehigh

Lehigh Valley International Airport Upgrading - 2023

garrettmarkscott@gmail.com (Garrett Scott) — Sun, 24 Dec 2023 03:50:52 GMT

Allentown - Pennsylvania - Economic Grown

The Lehigh Valley in PA is growing incredibly fast and was a pleasant surprise to see new upgraded security check.

Only time will tell how long Allentown Corn Hole will be a thing! Having been born and raised in this area of Pennslyvania I can saw with confidence that there is a desire to modernize and be a leader in economic development. Time will tell.

Here is a nice article that explains all the details of the 35million dollar project:
https://www.expansionsolutionsmagazine.com/newly-expanded-terminal-at-lehigh-valley-international-airport/#:~:text=The%20%2435%20million%20terminal%2C%20which,generation%20of%20TSA%20screening%20equipment.

Upgraded Terminal:

Tubing the Lehigh River

garrettmarkscott@gmail.com (Garrett Scott) — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 01:31:22 GMT

Incredible fun river trips happen in July and August!

The Lehigh River is one of the Lehigh Valley's best assets! More and more people are on this river. With that being said it is incredibly important to bring a dedicated tube or method of trash collection. There is already an incredible amount of trash in our river but will flush out with time as long as we are responsible, maybe even pack out 1 extra can or piece of trash. If you lose a lot of trash. It is your responsibility to take at least 2 extra out each time until you reset your karma. Keep the Valley nice!New Paragraph

Time needed is the biggest question
For each evenly spaced out location you see on the map you can assume 1-2hours depending on flow and size of crowd. The key is to not plan a job interview after a day on the water.

Tips

Wear a shirt, your belly will burn and sunscreen tends to wash off relatively quickly.
Use a tech fabric if possible. Cotton is not a good time when wet. Wool or fleece is excellent for a little extra warm.
Only go on hot days. Once people get cold the mood freezes.
Bring an extra tube. They are cheap and is great insurance.
Purchase something to keep your keys and other valuables dry. I recommend the Pelican 1040 (~$30, Affiliate Link)
Buy something to hold your sunglasses.
NRS HydroSkin is premium gear that will be the best for adding a few degrees of extra warm (~$80, Affiliate Link)

Shuttle 101

Meet everyone at either the take out, then load as many people as possible into cars going to the put-in. Remember to tube down with your keys! When everyone gets to the takeout there are two teams. Team A fits as many people as they can to take people back to their car at the put in. Team B deflates and packs the tubes. Once team A all come back everything will be packed and ready to go home.

Seasonality

Being in the water for hours makes a big difference so it really is ideal go in July or August when water temp is 69 degrees on average. The number 1 fun killer is getting cold and having no way to get warm.

View river gauge temperature

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/01447800/#parameterCode=00010F&period=P365D

Some fun photos

Paddling Walnutport Canal Loop

garrettmarkscott@gmail.com (Garrett Scott) — Sat, 16 Dec 2023 23:41:26 GMT

A great week night exercise.

The Walnutport Canal loop is a really nice 2 mile paddle that can be done in Slatington area for a scenic paddle and/or nice fitness session.
This paddle can be done in about 30-60minutes (paddling time) at relatively athletic pace.

I personally do my best to keep this to weeknights as the first 100yards of canal are a popular fishing spot.

The Details

Step 1

Park in the Walnutport Boat Ramp

120 Lehigh St, Walnutport, PA 18088

Step 2

Put in and paddle up the canal until you see a man-made lock, this is where the water flows in. You will get off on the hiking trail, walk upstream direction for about 30 yards and on the left you will see a clearing toward the river. That is your put on.

Step 3

Paddle down and your parking will be right after the bridge.

Portable Travel Gym

garrettmarkscott@gmail.com (Garrett Scott) — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 02:28:17 GMT

The Gear

The Program

I use B.U.F.F. Dudes Dumbbell only training program because their bulk/cut program changed my life!

Why I Chose the Gear

The Dumbbells

I wanted to be able to lift heavy as possible and maintain portability while living out of Airbnbs. The easy conclusion was adjustable dumbbells. The hard part was doing the research on finding the right pair! Durability was my top concern and so for me the 'select a weights' were out. What made Baadass stand out for me was that the ends are flat. Good balance, no need to dodge your head, and sits flat on your thighs.

Justifying a Weight Bench

At the end of the day, having a weight bench just makes all the difference. I chose to got with FlyBird quite frankly because I have shorter legs and the red/black and carbon version was one of the lowest to the ground and very light.

Gear Review - H20 Audio Bone Conduction Headphones

garrettmarkscott@gmail.com (Garrett Scott) — Fri, 13 Jan 2023 01:51:42 GMT

W hen kayaking and snowboarding I have always had a love/hate relationship with music. Kayaking always posed a problem because, well, water. The second problem is that even with waterproof headphones, you want to be alert and wires were always inconvenient. Snowboarding you’d always have to choose to either be tuned in to the music or your friends. That’s after you fumbled trying to get your music to pause or play.

After 10 years of kayaking and snowboarding in search of an ideal solution, H2O Audio delivered.

AMAZON AFFILIATE LINK
(I earn a commission)

Initial Thoughts

These headphones are like have a bluetooth speaker clipped to your backpack but without annoying the rest of the world. You are totally aware of your surroundings and acts as background music to whatever you are doing.

The controls are pretty intuitive though you will not be able to wear any kind of gloves. I sort of need to use my finger nail to push in the buttons. Perhaps a future model with use haptic controls but price will probably also go up.

Awesome for whitewater kayaking! Things can get turbulent when upside down and I have historically lost all my tunes and the earbuds will get 'clogged' and sound muffled like you have water in your ear. Wit

Updated Notes

Wearing beanies is a bit odd. I find it best to fiddle around and ‘tuck’ them to the inside if the beanie.
Gym, I’ll stick with my normal headphones. H2O’s get pushed off ears when laying on back. Good if going with a friend.
Great for running errands, can have background music while shopping but still be able to have conversation at the checkout or just people in general.