Long Weekend Kite Skiing Drayton Valley to Edmonton APRIL FOOLS! - Sun, Mar 31 2013, Mon, Apr 1 2013

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Long Weekend Kite Skiing Drayton Valley to Edmonton APRIL FOOLS! (3/31/2013)

PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Once you've reviewed the event details, and decided you'd like to join us, you MUST sign up at the bottom of this page.

You are STRONGLY encouraged to read this page in its entirety before signing up. If you'd like to attend, we ask that you abide by our rules and procedures as a time/cost saving process (with an end result of keeping membership free and lower cost events).

The Basics:
Event Type:Adventure
Event Location: North Saskatchewan River
Date(s) & Time:Sun, Mar 31 2013, Mon, Apr 1 2013  4:55 PM  (Carpool Departure: 3:35 PM   *log in for location*)
Registration Cut Off: Sun, Mar 31 2013 10:00:00 AM
Event Duration:2 days
Difficulty Rating:D3: Moderate
Event Coordinator(s): Mark G
Rhonda S
You must be logged in to get the Event Coordinator contact information.
Member Cost:Voluntary Donation Only (See Below)

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 18 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:50
Minimum Group Size:2
Number Registered So Far: 21 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: Yes

Itinerary:
We will try some Easter long weekend kite skiing along the South bank of the North Saskatchewan River (the part that's usually frozen the most over winter) from Drayton Valley to the Fort Edmonton boat landing. We will have three support members with quad ATV's pulling our gear for us along the same path. The quads have safety rescue equipment and they float. They will easily turn around and throw a life preserver to participants. If the river has melted enough we may even see some locals pulling out their boats on the Northside of the flowing river.

More details from the outfitter to come, closer to the event date, about what to do if you fall through the ice. From what we understand the kite will act as a "flag" to show where you are in the ice.

Attendees should have completed swim lessons where they have had to hold their breath for long periods of time. Also they should not be afraid of heights, if they get tangled up in the trees.

See a video about kite skiing in Alberta for more information.


There is a farm South of Stony Plain along the North Saskatchewan River, on route to Edmonton, where we will stay overnight in dorm style shacks. There is a communal hostel style kitchen that can be shared for cooking with the locals.

There is no heat or hot showers, so the bonfire we will have will dry people off and warm them up. Plus it will act as a beacon to any stragglers still coming off the river. We plan on singing songs around the bonfire with some provided sheet music: (Kumbaya, Home on the Range, Oh Susannah!, Do Your Ears Hang Low?). BYOSM "Bring Your Own Sheet Music". This may continue on in the dorm after, so we really do need some better tunes like: I'm On Fire-Bruce Springsteen, Burning Down The House-The Talking Heads, C'mon Baby Light My Fire-The Doors. The locals will be playing dueling banjos.

On Monday morning after a big pancake breakfast we will join Angus and his kids for the Redneck Rollercoaster Ride he has on site (this is assuming that most of the snow has melted on Monday).
See a video about the Redneck Rollercoaster filmed by Angus himself for more information.


The accommodations and kite skiing gear has been kindly donated by the owner/farmer, Angus Plowman, who plans to start up his own business next winter. He would like to use the EOC members as a focus survey group for his new business venture. There will be no cost to EOC members except for your own food plus extra food donated to Angus, his wife Betsy and their 9 kids (three of their kids are driving our support quads. Depending on donations more kids and quads are available to help haul our gear).

Angus used to be a school bus driver, so we will meet him at the Fort Edmonton Hare Krishna Temple (look for the 1970 volkswagen motor home converted to a bus, that's painted like hippy tie die shirts). He will transport us to our start near Drayton Valley on the Southside of the river (launch point near the pile of abandoned old cars).

Required Items to Bring:
-Overnight bag
-Sleeping bag
-Pillow
-Water proof bag for valuables
-Ice fishing equipment
Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.
-Warm clothes (layers)
-Sun screen
-Hat
-Change of clothes (if dunked in open river spots)
-No fear of heights
-Flare gun
-Items to barter with locals
-Snorkel
-Snuff for "spittin" contests

How to Get There:
Event Directions:
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Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):0Km
Carpool Departure Time: 3:35 PM
Carpool Location:   Log in for location
Carpool Directions:   Log in for directions

Notes:
Please be aware not to venture into any path off the river looking for shelter unless carrying a weapon. There are grow ops, and moonshine distilleries along the way. Your body may or may not be found.
- We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines at all times while participating in EOC events.
- Please scroll through and read the entire online waiver when you sign up.
- Details of this event are subject to undergo a change at any point in time, with or without warning.

 
Voluntary Donation:What is this?)
Suggested donation amount for this event is: $2.00/Person.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance:
Please review our Cancellation Policy carefully!