When choosing an initial trip to lead, select a run you know and are quite comfortable paddling. It doesn't hurt to pick streams that are fairly close to home. This will help you in recruiting help and may do the same for filling the trip with participants.

Always pick a run that is well within the paddling skill of your weakest paddlers. This ensures everyone will have a good time and certainly enhances safety. If you have a paddler or two that is "stepping it up", you probably should recruit an extra helper to keep a close eye on them.

Here are some local novice runs that are excellent choices to lead trips on:

• Old Anglers, Maryland Chutes
• Seneca and GW Canal
• Muddy Creek
• Cacapon
• Antitiem
• The Needles section of the Potomac
• Upper Gunpowder River
• The Feeder Canal
• Mather Gorge on the Potomac
• Rappahonock River
• Passage Creek (lower Levels)
• Sideling Hill

By the way, a great place to recruit strong paddlers is your local canoe club. These clubs often have trips scheduled every weekend for all skill levels. In the Baltimore / Washington area, we have several clubs to choose from and most allow you to join their trips whichever club you belong to.