Paddle Journal

Put in: Great Valley, NY
Take out: Killbuck, NY
Time: 2 hours

A week earlier, a snowstorm dumped 1-3 feet in Chautauqua County. However, we are on the water for our first paddle of the spring season. It's 60 degrees, sunny, and all the snow is gone!

Great Valley Creek is a tiny, meandering waterway. The water level was surprising low, considering the snowmelt that occurred during the week. We often ran across gravel bars and swift-moving chutes of water. It was a bit challenging to a few in our group who did not have much kayaking experience. We were all dressed in wetsuits in the event of a capsize, but luckily none of us had to swim!

During our break we found some great fossils! A naturalist in our group identified the 450 million year old organisms that we held in our hands. She also identified all of the bird songs that we heard.

Groves of sycamore trees lined the bank of the creek. Their silver and brown camouflage-pattern bark is very interesting. Especially during this time in spring when very few trees are even in bud, their silvery majestic appearance is just captivatingly beautiful. Placed in a valley with a hill as a backdrop, they can't be ignored.