Yough River Sojourn set for next week
The fourth annual six-day Yough River Sojourn will be held June 15-21, and according to Bob McKinley, Yough Regional Trail Corp. (RTC) executive director and trail manager, this year’s event on the Youghiogheny River promises to be one of the best. “Whether you participate for one day or the entire trip, you will go home with wonderful memories,” McKinley said. “For the entire trip, the pace of life will slow to the pace of the river.”
McKinley said for six days participants would have fun traveling the entire Yough River from the dam at Confluence to the mouth in McKeesport.
“Participants will enjoy 70 miles of canoeing, whitewater rafting in duckies and bicycling while enjoying meals, music, stories and good company around a campfire by night,” he said.
McKinley said a duckie is a one-person inflatable canoe that participants sit in kayak style.
“On June 16, we will gather at the Army Corps of Engineers’ outflow campgrounds, which is our departure point the following morning,” continued McKinley. “Sunday evening will be a time to get to know each other and welcome newcomers.”
Monday morning after breakfast at the Lutheran Church in Confluence, the group will hit the river in rubber duckies provided by Wilderness Voyageurs, going nine miles from Confluence to Ohiopyle, which is considered Class I rapids and safer boating in duckies.
Following the day on the river, the group will be transported to the next campsite located in Ohiopyle State Park. McKinley said restrooms and showers are only a short walk from the camping area.
Monday the platoon will eat at the new Falls City Restaurant & Pub and hit their sleeping bags early because on Tuesday, after breakfast at the Ohiopyle Community Center, they will again join the Wilderness Voyageurs for a six-mile adventure on the Class III and IV rapids of the Lower Yough.
McKinley said the group would return to the campsite, dry out and rest and eat dinner at the Ohiopyle Community Center.
On Wednesday, the group will break camp, packing their gear, tents, sleeping bags into the RTC truck, after eating a in-campsite breakfast served by the Stone House Inn. The crowd will then rejoin the Wilderness Voyageurs in Ohiopyle where they will have bicycles waiting for them for a 21-mile trek to the Rivers Edge Campground in Adelaide.
The group will stop for lunch in Connellsville provide by the Yough River Trail Council, and after setting up camp at the Rivers Edge, river guides and safety officers will hold a canoe training session.
McKinley said if participants are new to canoeing or haven’t been on the water for a while this would be an excellent opportunity to hone their skills.
Thursday is the first day of canoeing and it will be a long one, according to McKinley, since the group will travel 18 miles. Participants will push off from Adelaide after a continental breakfast and travel a short distance to Dawson, where the Tri-Town Historical Society will serve a sojourn brunch.
McKinley said the group would then “waddle back” to their boats and paddle to Cedar Creek Park. There will be a short stop along the way for a snack and for participants to stretch their legs.
The group will spend Thursday night in Cedar Creek Park’s group camping area. McKinley said Sam Truxel, mountain cooking extraordinaire, would provide dinner.
Friday morning’s German farmer’s breakfast will be prepared by perennial sojourner, Dave Hamilton, assisted by volunteers of the Westmoreland Yough Trail Chapter. After breaking camp and packing up the truck, the group will take to the water for an 11-mile float to Buena Vista.
McKinley said the group plans to make Junebugs in Sutersville about lunchtime, then on to Bueney. Friday evening will feature a pool party at the volunteer firemen’s community pool. McKinley said volunteers, who have helped out all week, would join the group for a covered dish dinner highlighted by an entr?e of deep-fried turkey.
Saturday morning the group returns to the river for the final seven miles to Boston, where the Mon/Yough Trail Council will be waiting with another Boston Tea Party, to wrap up the Yough adventure.
After that, participants will say goodbye to each other.
McKinley said in 1998 the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) named the Youghiogheny River Pennsylvania’s River of the Year.
“The purpose of the designation was to bring awareness of this beautiful river to the public and spur interest in and around this tranquil river valley,” said McKinley. “As part of the River of the Year, DCNR sponsors a river sojourn.
McKinley said the Yough has always been known for its fishing but now it is known for boating also.
“If you take a bicycle trek along the river on the Youghiogheny River Trail on any given weekend, you will see a hundred or more canoes floating down river,” he said. “We have seen a large increase in river traffic. When the Yough River Trail was just a dream, there were only a few places to rent a canoe between Connellsville and McKeesport.
“Now, there are liveries in (little) Boston, West Newton, Layton and Dawson. The Yough has always been well known for it’s fishing and now for it’s boating too.”
McKinley said it’s kind of cool to see the blue herons, the bass jumping and muskrats scurrying.
“We will see red-stained tributaries from abandoned mine drainage, and we will hear the black flies in sections where the river has become so clean as to support them,” he said. “We will learn of the geology of the area as well as the history. All who participate in this very special learning experience will have a good time.
For more information on the sojourn call the RTC at 724-872-5586 or e-mail McKinley at yrt@westol.com.