Happy New Year! to our 1200+ readers, and best wishes for an enjoyable and safe 2016. Your info and support makes the IWTA Newsletter relevant, so please make a resolution to keep it coming.

It’s January, the start of “Show Season”–indoor events of interest to Water Trails supporters, paddlers, and other outdoorsy folks. The usual Iowa events kick off with the Jan 16 ICNC Paddle Day in Cedar Rapids, followed by the Feb 5-7 Paddle & Pedal Expo in Indianola, a new Feb 7 Winter Water Fun Fest in Camanche, and the renamed Apr 2 Outdoor Adventure Fest in Waterloo/Cedar Falls. We encourage you to support these events and their organizers, learn about trips/gear/skills, and spend time with folks who share your interests.

We’d also like to remind you that January is the traditional time to renew your memberships in the paddling, photography, and environmental or advocacy groups which rely on our support.

Mother Nature has shared some unusually warm weather through the latter part of 2015, but we seem to be returning to “normal winter Iowa.” In either case, hypothermia is still a very real risk, and ice conditions remain “iffy” across the state. The prerequisites of proper training, necessary gear, a paddle plan, and the buddy system are especially important for winter paddling. Cold weather, cold water paddling is a unique challenge and experience, but the risks must be managed. Be careful out there.

If you have just discovered our website, we encourage you to share in the fun and learning of Water Trail events, ideas, experiences, & more, by subscribing to the free, monthly email IWTA Newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/IWTASubscribe

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We continue to welcome info and dates for 2016 events. Please contact us with your ideas, questions, concerns, or corrections: iowawta@gmail.com