On Saturday, May 22, 2010, 36 paddlers launched from Red Fox Park in Schwenksville and explored the Perkiomen Creek south to where the Skippack Creek enters at Hoy Park in Lower Providence Township. Conditions were perfect for a leisurely trip.

The annual Sojourn was sponsored by Keenan, Ciccitto and Associates. Woodrow and Associates sponsored the canoes for the day.

The Sojourn is a wonderful opportunity to gain better insight into the Perkiomen Creek and the natural areas that surround and protect the Perkie. The Perkiomen watershed includes parts of four counties and covers 362 square miles, making it the largest sub-watershed in the Schuylkill River network and a principle drinking water source for many communities in the Philadelphia suburbs and for the city itself.

The day started with some safety pointers and rules of the day given by John Oetting of Boy Scout Troup 31 in Zionsville, PA. Additional scouts and leaders acted as the safety crew and guides for the day and were very helpful to beginners and experienced paddlers alike.

Participants enjoyed getting to know the Perkiomen Creek from the water level rather than driving by on a bridge. Many were surprised to find that much of the Perkie feels very remote with steep, mossy cliffs and heavily forested streambanks in the midst of the suburbs. Perkiomen paddlers can expect to see a wide variety of birds and wildlife including an occasional bald eagle.

Boating on the Perkiomen Creek can be tricky because it is a relatively low, wide creek and the terrain includes many large boulders. Paddlers need to be aware of “strainers”, those trees that lean over the creek and can easily dump unsuspecting paddlers. Also, dams on the Perkiomen can create dangerous conditions so all paddlers portaged around the two dams between Schwenksville and Hoy Park. The Conservancy strongly recommends that paddlers never shoot over the dams, especially during high water when conditions are particularly dangerous.


Special thanks are due to the Wildlands Conservancy for sharing their canoes for the day; to Andy Curtis, PWC Board Chair for picking up and delivering the canoes; to Drew Gilchrist who helped launch the Sojourn and to Thom Brasch who manned the picnic station at the end and made sure everyone got something to eat and drink. Also, many thanks to Troop 31 leaders and scouts for helping keep everyone safe.

Anyone interested in paddling the Lower Perkiomen should become aware of the dams and other existing hazards before launching a trip. Additional information about the Perkiomen Creek and other Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy activities can be found at www.perkiomenwatershed.org.