Paddling the lafitte preserve

A group of Trail Blazers scouting a new paddling trail for the Sierra Club at Bayou Aux Carpes at the Jean Lafitte National Park Barataria Preserve.

Danny and I met a group of about 30 paddlers from the New Orleans Area to learn about the Sierra Club's Trail Guide.  Colleen Morgan lead the group who gathered at the Educational Center at the Preserve to learn about the Trail Blazer volunteer program to update the Club's Trail Guide.  I will post more information about how to get involved in the program when I receive more information from the Club.  The Preserve has acquired new lands and waterways including Bayou aux Carpes.  Our Group spent several hours this afternoon exploring the bayou to include in the latest revisions to the Guide.  We saw an alligator sunning on a log, a trappers cabin and a variety of birds feeding.  It was a great paddle, we met great new friends and beat the rain!  Looking forward to more outings.

Tomorrow, Saturday Feb. 4th is the Trail Blazers Paddle Trip at the Barataria Preserve near Lafitte, LA.
The Sierra Club is updating its Delta Country Trail Guide.  A group is meeting at the Jean Lafitte National Park's Barataria Preserve at 10 am to paddle the newly acquired Bayou aux Carpes.  I will be going with a group from New Orleans Outdoors, a MeetUp group (find them on www.meetup.com).

Sunset paddle

Grand Isle Sunsets are spectacular this time of year.  There is nothing better than a sunset paddle to wind down at the end of a day.

Winter Paddle Trips

Winter is mild in Grand Isle this year, making paddle trips a comfortable and entertaining way to spend your day or weekend.  A great place to launch your kayak is at the end of Ludwig Lane behind the LA Wildlife and Fisheries Buildings.  See the map below for directions. 

From this launch area, paddle to the west to view the last two mile of stretch of undeveloped marsh left on the island. You are likely to see wading birds such as herons, egrets and pelicans. You may alo catch a glimps of a roseated spoonbill. There are many canals to explore. You may see a few redfish tailing in the shallow water. Along the flats you may see porpoise eating mullet.