Paddling in Pittsburgh

This past Saturday afternoon I took my Night Heron on the Three Rivers. I had really been looking forward to this.

For the uninitiated non-Pittsburgher, this terms refers to the confluence of the Allegheny River descending out of the North and the silty Monongahela River arriving from the South.

They meet at "The Point" right by the point of Pittsburgh's Golden Triangle where they join hands to become the mighty Ohio River. So, it's two rivers but three names... hence the Three Rivers.

It was a gorgeous day, mid 70's and not too windy. I had scouted out an excellent launching point, not pretty but very convenient and to boot "kayak-friendly" as professed to me by the resident marina operator. Free parking so close to down-town certainly was a plus. This marina is located right behind a couple of warehouses off of Beaver Avenue on Pittsburgh's North Side - on the Ohio River a bit beyond the West End Bridge.

My plan was to paddle up the Ohio toward Downtown and then north on the Allegheny past the Convention Center, the Heinz Plant, all the way to Washington's Landing, the Three Rivers Rowing Association and around the island (formerly known as Herrs Island) and back.

Right after I launched and started paddling in the Ohio toward the Point, it became clear that the river current was considerable. Making progress was not as hard as paddling against a 25 knot wind, but nevertheless, it required a bit of an extra effort.

Okay, I was there for a nice workout and I was in for it and or up to it - as you like.

Visitors always rave about Downtown Pittsburgh, coming through the Fort Pitt Tunnels and being welcomed by a truly stunning sight of Downtown... while others exclaim over the exquisite view  of the City from Mt Washington. Well, the appearance of the skyline is no less spectacular from sea-level - as it were.

Early May is the peak Warbler migration season and I was delighted to hear and see a myriad of these feathery migrants visiting around Washington's Landing.

All told I only paddled about nine miles but the first half of the trip took twice as long as the return even though I paddled more leisurely.

I've been working on my paddle stroke and think that I am making some progress. 

There are other parts of the Allegheny I look forward to exploring.

Sycamore Island (now managed by the Allegheny Land Trust) will be my next destination.

Of course, I'll have to launch further up the Allegheny River.







For a better perspective of the Three Rivers, I am adding a picture of The Point some months before when I would not have wanted to go paddling and at any rate, the Night Heron was not yet ready.