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Welcome to the new and improved Clear Lake Area Paddle Series. A variety of new containers have been placed in new locations, and the entire series has been renumbered to help eliminate confusion on the series. Caches north of the Bay Area Bridge will have a N designation and south of the bridge will have a S for the designation (i.e., #7 N CLAPS, or #46 S CLAPS).
This series extends from the headwaters of Armand Bayou all the way to Clear Lake. It is designed so caches would be obtained by paddling (kayak, canoe, raft, etc.). Much of the bayou areas are very wild and have lots of wildlife, including many varieties of small and large birds, alligators, turtles, snakes, deer, and small mammals. The lake is more open but also very scenic. Bring your camera on this series! Gas engines are not allowed in any of the bayous or in most of the lake.
Sound like fun? It should be! But before you attempt this series, please consider the following:
- You will get wet, and possibly soaked, doing this series.
- Bring a couple gallon-sized ziplock baggies -- one for your GPSr (easy to operate in a large bag), one for your camera and phone, and one for anything else you don't want to get wet. Trap a little air in them and they float should they fall out of the boat.
- Bring sunscreen!
- Bring a hat - especially in summer.
- Bring lots of bottled water!
- Wear a PFD / Lifejacket.
- Bring your camera... but don't drop it!
- Bring your cell phone... just in case.
- No motors are allowed in Armand Bayou and most of Mud Lake. Only the southern-most part of Mud Lake is accessible by motorized boat.
- Review the reference documents about the series! These are linked below on the cache page.
There are no geocaching.com attributes for alligators. Watch out for alligators! They are out there... somewhere. You may not see them, but they'll see you. DO NOT FEED or pester the alligators!
Do not think that because you've never been in a kayak or canoe that you can't do these fun caches! The original series saw quite a few cachers who had never paddled before, and many now own their own kayaks. The learning curve is minimal. Feel free to contact me through my geocaching.com profile if you need ideas, help, or advice on how to get started.
Check out the CLAPS Challenge Cache here: CLAPS Challenge Cache - GC2ANX3.
This paddle cache placed by a
member.
Come visit our website.
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*Photo credits on background go to Indigo Parrish, Kirbydox, and no muggle.
*Thanks to Kirbydox for help in getting North CLAPS placed.
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