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The Blue Ridge Voyageurs

- A Club for Whitewater Paddlers -

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Covid 19 Era Trip Guidelines | Trip Calendar |

(3-28-21) BRV has begun listing and organizing trips this year, and we have added several common sense provisions to avoid transmission of Covid-related illnesses. We expect many of our members will be vaccinated by late April, but even if you are you can still transmit the deadly virus,. So let’s all be vigilant, careful, and avoid close contact on the river and when running shuttles.

BRV has largely adopted the updated the trip and shuttle guidelines developed by Canoe Cruiser Association, which include the following tips:  

  • Stay in small groups, keep recommended social distancing,
  • Avoid shuttling (with the exceptions below) and carpooling except with pandemic-fellows like family members, etc. 
  • If you are feeling ill, stay home.
  • Seek areas with uncrowded parking. 
  • Set trips early or late in the day if possible, to avoid mid-day crowding in parking areas and on rivers.
  • Wear a proper fitting and functioning face mask covering mouth and nose in parking lots when unknown people are near.  When you get home, wash your hands and the mask in soap and water.
  • If helping others with their boat, ask first and remember to keep your distance.  Keep sanitizer ready and pack a mask in a ziplock bag in your PFD.
  • Separate at least six feet at all times, including on the river. Paddle below your skill level. Spills that require assistance put you and your companions at risk. Injuries put the entire medical community under duress.

Shuttles:

  • Try routes with shuttles that can be done by bicycle, on foot, or with roller carts. See the listing of shuttle-less trips you can take during COVID-19 on CCA's Paddling Trips page.
  • Schedule local runs to avoid long shared shuttles.  
  • Wear masks in shuttle vehicles
  • open windows open to allow ventilation
  • Each person should have their own open window (no middle seat passengers, or people crammed into those little jump seats in a truck cab, etc)
  • Do not attend if you think that you may have been in contact with someone with COVID-19 in the past two weeks, or if you have any of the signs and symptoms of COVID-19. 
  • All participants must have a face mask to be worn when social distancing cannot be maintained. 

More About BRV Trips

BRV Trip Guidelines | Trip Calendar | About BRV and How to Join

Safety: Whitewater paddling is a risky sport. In the BRV, each individual is ultimately responsible for his or her own safety. Each individual is responsible for having appropriate equipment, for having the requisite skills for paddling a given river, and for the decision to run any river or rapid. Although ultimate responsibility rests with each individual, important safety benefits are gained from paddling with a group of other prepared and competent paddlers.

  • We welcome new paddlers, guests, and out-of-town boaters on most posted trips. To participate in a BRV outing, contact a trip coordinator or see the Contact Us page to get in touch.

  • Before participating on a BRV paddling trip, you must communicate directly with the trip coordinator . He or she will inform you about logistics, etc. Trip leaders are volunteers and retain the right to deny participation to non BRV members and/or or those whose skills, experience or gear they suspect may be insufficient to safely participate.
  • BRV members receive a roster that provides contact information for the entire club, The Voyageur newsletter, and periodic email messages about late-breaking trips.

  • Our list of scheduled trips remains a work in progress and reflects mostly weekend trips. Most trips are ad hoc and announced via the BRV email list.

  • For paddling and river safety instruction, check out the Canoe Cruisers' Association's Web page. Many thanks to Charlie Duffey, Ron Ray, and others for leading swift water rescue and other paddling practice instruction sessions and workouts for area canoe clubs.

  • Our trips typically consist of 5 or 6 paddlers. When trip groups are larger, we may split into groups, to probe ahead and preserve eddy space, if called for.