Rockpage Float Trip?

[songsmith]

I'm a regular Sunday floater on the tailrace of Raystown Dam (Raystown Branch of the Juniata River, below the dam itself), near Huntingdon... it's very clean, warm, clear, moves fairly slowly in most places but never getts TOO fast, and is shallow enough for non-swimmers... all in all a great way to spend a Sunday quaffing a few icy brews and watching the scenery go by. I'd be willing to organize a trip later this summer, if anyone 's interested. I realize it's kind of a hump from Cambria County and such, but I swear, it's worth it. There's a nesting pair of bald eagles I've sighted a few times, the fishing is awesome on an ultralight rig, and so much wildlife, in one day on Monday I saw a turkey, 2 Baltimore orioles, a deer, a zillion squirrels, a large snapping turtle, a painted box turtle, a huge copperhead, 2 water snakes, and a couple sizeable rainbow trout. (Don't worry, if you steer clear of the biters, they'll leave you alone, too.)
Would there be any interest in a float trip like this? You'd need something to float on (an inner tube works great, kayaks and canoes are awesome, dimestore inflatable mattresses will be destroyed in the first mile or so), transportation (carpooling is good, pickups or vans even better), any snacks and beverages you'll want, and you'll have to sign a float plan roster (per state regs) that says you are an adult who knows being in the water is risky, and that you assume that risk. I'll make sure everything is coordinated, and I'll kick in the first case of foamy.
By mid-July, the water's pushing 80 degrees... even ladies and kids are okay with that temp, BUT, if we're taking kids--no beer, AND they must have flotation vests. Also, if the river level is up (it's controlled by the spillway), it starts getting iffy for little guys.
At that time, at normal river flow, it takes about 5 hours from top to bottom (just floating). It is possible to put in downstream, for a 3 hour trip, or a 1 1/2 hour trip. In a kayak, top to bottom can go as quick as 2 hours, if you power downstream, but where's the fun in that?
We'll take out at the Point Fishing Access near Ardenheim, at the confluence of the Raystown and Frankstown branches of the Juniata, which is fairly unknown to the tourists from the lake, so it's not crowded.
I have 3 kayaks, a small canoe, and 3 or 4 innertubes that can be borrowed... let me know if you need something.

All in all, a fun time could be had by everyone, is this something anyone would be interested in?----->JMS

[gymnast]

I am interested. Perhaps you could find a campground that would offer a discount for us Cambianites. I think I stayed at Branch camp last time I went down to R-town.

[DMFJ03]

Are you talking about Snyder's Run, John?

[Quail Whale]

At Wal Mart (at least last year) they sold 1 man inflatable coleman boats for $10 bucks each. We covered the bottoms of them w/ duct (duck?) tape....and there are 3 air chambers, so sinkage was never a problem. We do the Petersburg power plant to Huntingdon float and take out at a park down there. There are a few rapids but it's fun too...although a little chilly now. I also bought a coleman cooler float...that i tie to my one man boat. nothing like a cold corona & a scenic float trip on a hot summer's day...and, you could always mention that you're a boat owner..i bet it would impress the chickies...even if it is only a $10 boat.

[songsmith]

No, Jae, it's past Snyder's Run, which is on the lake. Follow the Juniata for another few miles, instead of turning to go up to Snyder's Run.
Good idea, Quail, taping the underside of the raft... those are about 3 times thicker than the air-mattresses you get for a few dollars at the Dollar Store. Those almost never make it to the bottom, and you wind up walking through river stones and water for miles... worst hike you EVER did. Brand new inner tubes are about $15 and last for many years, but wear a t-shirt, some people get a skin reaction from the rubber. Truck tubes are a bit more, but work really well for fuller-figured fella's like myself. They can be had used, too if you know someone at a garage. They advertise them in the Ad Bargain and Trader's Guide sometimes.

Glad to see some interest, I was afraid I was the only one who did this stuff.---->JMS

[esa]

...Jae, I knew we should have picked up that floating cooler floater....
I wanna do it. So I'm sayin' we're in.

[Quail Whale]

you can order them online at www.coleman.com

[Ron]

I've done that float before. Lotsa fun. I'm in.

[DMFJ03]

I'm in.

[Jim Price]

I'd be interested, if my schedule agrees with the date selected. I've never done the float thing before, but have thought about trying it for the past few years.

[Ron]

I want to ride a raft down the spillway.

[Mackovyak]

I haven't been on a float in years. If I was up there, I'd be interested definately. We used to always make the cooler float and everyone would have a line to it!

[BigJohn]

How comes on a float there is a ton of beer consumed but no one every gets out of there inner tube to pee!!! Jodie and I are in !!!

[Asundor]

I live in Huntingdon and I must say I float down the river every summer probally more times than I can count. It's a blast to get some friends and some beer and just kick back and go. We once started by the Peterburg damn and went to Mapleton Bridge. I won't mention how long that one took though. I do remember we started early and It was pitch black when the fun ended. But me and my wife would be interested. Just let us no. Were be there. Jason/CYPHIN

[Griff]

If schedule permits Karen and I are in

[ERiC_AiXeLsyD]

That sounds fun. I was just telling the woman that we ought to go canoeing (canoing?) some time...

[ZappasXWife]

How comes on a float there is a ton of beer consumed but no one every gets out of there inner tube to pee!!! Jodie and I are in !!!

I'll tell you how, John (and my male friends were quite proud of this invention while we did the float), as you are sitting in your little inflatable boat you take the paddle part off your plastic oar, fit is as an extension over your penis and pee into the river. From reading prior posts on other threads, some of you do not need the extension (yea right)...

[songsmith]

Cool, cool, cool! I'll nail down a date in the next few days... it's starting to sound like we may have to do more than one so everyone can make it... I'm there every weekend anyway, so that'd be okay.
I spoke to Red about it last night at the Blind Jonny show, but he's a whitewater guy, he'd be bored... ladies don't tell him about the "swimsuit tops optional" part of the float.
It sounds like we should do the whole trip too, because there's plenty of parking at the top (Corbin's Island). We'll also need a few chase vehicles at the bottom so we can get people back to the top.

Oh, yeah, while I think of it, canned beer only, no bottles... they weigh too much, and cans float for a little while at least, and won't cut you if dropped. I think we can agree that empties go back in the cooler... I love that river, and litter sucks.

I went down there again yesterday, the fish are biting! Top-water bassin' all afternoon, WOOHOO!! Using an ultralight rig made a rock bass feel like a striper!----->JMS

[esa]

How comes on a float there is a ton of beer consumed but no one every gets out of there inner tube to pee!!!

You should see the looks of people when the same thing occurs...but you're in a canoe instead of an inner tube....

[Quail Whale]

I'll tell you how, John (and my male friends were quite proud of this invention while we did the float), as you are sitting in your little inflatable boat you take the paddle part off your plastic oar, fit is as an extension over your penis and pee into the river. From reading prior posts on other threads, some of you do not need the extension (yea right)...

ZW, one male person on that float filled up the end of the oar, dumped it out, and repeated til done. Weren't they also peeing in corona bottles that day? And you & I had to keep pulling over to pee...if you float in a 1 man boat, you cant pee in it or you'll be sitting in a pool of pee all day...although some might like that, I don't...Not to toot my own horn, but I did save ZW's LIFE one time last summer during a whitewater adventure on the Yough! Then we got really drunk, ate mountain pies, and passed out!!!!!

[red]

Speaking of floating, we have a couple of great class III+ creeks up here, If any on is interested in whitewater!

[ZappasXWife]

Quail Whale, you mean that wasn't corona? I drank that!
Yes, QW did save my life, I fell into the Yough at Dimple Rock where thousands have lost their lives (well at least a few). Mr Davis, our guide, did not even know I fell in. I won't go whitewater rafting anymore, but I may go on the float...

[songsmith]

ZW, you just wanna see me filling out my Speedo! ---->JMS

[Quail Whale]

Mr Davis, our guide, did not even know I fell in. I won't go whitewater rafting anymore, but I may go on the float...

All I've been thinking about all day now is whether or not Mr. Davis is gay. He told me the other night that he screams heterosexual. I may need to take a private kayak lesson to find out for sure.

[the herald]

I love floatin, we used to float from tyrone to spruce creek on tubes, i got some serious tube rash and sunburn though, and a bad hangover i might add but it was worth it. just remember to bring cans no bottles and throw them back into the cooler! (unless its southern comfort, homebrew, or.................what the hell as long as they end up back in the cooler!!) anyways im in!