2023 Year in Review

Stokers on the Scantic

The year started with a New Year’s Day trip on the Providence River, and ended with a New Year's Eve camping trip at Burlingame. In between, it was another great year for paddling.

My whitewater season started in February, and I got out on a lot of old favorites including Tville (1, 2), the Upper Millers (1, 2), Otter Brook, Knightville, Housatonic, Lower Deerfield, Pemi-Bristol, the Piscat, the Took and Crystal. I ran the Scantic Spring Splash whitewater race and was able to get into the swiftwater rescue class with the Boston AMC at Zoar Outdoors.

Swiftwater training with Boston AMC

I paddled my sea kayak almost every day of my summer vacation, but only got it out for a couple of other trips. I did the Providence River (1, 2), Point Judith Pond and the Seekonk River with the Flatwater group, and Potter Cove with the Sea Kayak group. I also took the advanced stokes class at the Kayak Centre.

I led one Blackstone Valley Paddle Club trip - Rice City Pond, and three RICKA Flatwater trips – Providence, Point Judith Pond and the Lower Deerfield. I also coordinated the RICKA Flatwater Training. 

Piscat surfing

I did 51 trips which is 3 less than my 12 year average of 54 trips. I had three swims on three consecutive trips – Scantic, Branch, and the Upper Millers. I did one poling trip on the Ware River. 

Here are some of my more significant trips:

• January - Providence, Willimantic
• February - Tville
• March - Scantic Spring Splash, Branch River Icebreaker
• April - Upper Millers, Otter Brook, Knightville
• May - Lackey Dam, Housatonic, West River, Potter Cover
• June - Pawcatuck River Overnight, Tville, Rice City Pond, Assabet
• July - Providence, Upper Millers, Point Judith Pond
• August - Lower Deerfield, Seekonk, Pemi – Bristol
• September - Charles, Allagash Wilderness Waterway
• October - Piscat
• November - Contoocook, Ware, Crystal
• December - Santa Paddle in Wickford, Winter Camping at Burlingame

Here is the video of some of my favorite trips.


Favorite Trips of 2023 from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

I paddled almost every day of my summer vacation on Great Island including a RICKA trip on Point Judith Pond.


South County Vacation 2023 from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo. 

I did get out for a spring camping trip at Burlingame, and a fall Allagash trip with Jonathan, Conrad and Bob. 


Allagash Camping 2023 from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo. 

The year ended with a winter camping trip at Burlingame on New Year's Eve.

Moose Hill hikers

Not sure why, but I didn’t do quite as much hiking this year:

• Harold Parker State Forest
• Mercy Woods
• Moose Hill
• Moore State Park
• Noanet Woods

In terms of resolutions from last year, I did pretty well. I did take a training class in my sea kayak, I did a camping trip on the Allagash, and paddled quite a bit of whitewater. Unfortunately, I didn’t get my sea kayak out in rough water conditions, and I didn't make it back to the Dead.

Tandem paddling on the Took

In terms of resolutions for 2024, they are just like 2023.

• Keep practicing with my new sea kayak – especially in rough water conditions.
• Keep camping – maybe the St. John, or the Allagash again. I’d still like to do a summer trip on the St. Croix, or the Maine Island Trail in my kayak.
• Keep paddling whitewater as long as my knee holds up.
• Get back to the Dead – always a great trip.
• Practice rolling – I’ll keep including it until I do it – maybe in the sea kayak.

I won't be paddling on New Year's Day, but there are plenty of rivers to paddle, plenty of trails to hike, and plenty of places to go camping in 2024 - looking forward to it. Happy New Year everyone.