One dog and 28 students will have a unique opportunity this weekend to canoe 100 miles down the Connecticut river as a part of the Sophomores from the Source canoe expedition.
Today and tomorrow, 27 members of the Class of 1999, one member of the Class of 2000 and one pet dog belonging to students will depart on a trip from 100 miles upriver, arriving back home on Sunday. The annual trip, which is also the Ledyard Canoe Club's biggest weekend trip this summer, will be led by Amanda Eaken '99 and Dustin Rubenstein '99.
Despite the expedition's name, Eaken said the river's true source in Canada is far from the trip's starting point 100 miles upstream. The leaders do not know the trip's origins, but Eaken said it has taken place through Ledyard for a number of years.
Approximately half of the participants will leave tonight while the remaining half will depart tomorrow, Eaken said.
Although many participants are missing two full days of classes to paddle 30 or more miles each day, Eaken stressed the trip is "accommodating people who can't miss Thursday commitments. We told everyone on the trip to talk to professors; this is not a priority over classes."
As a result of various limitations, the trip could only take 28 of the students who applied to go, she said.
According to Eaken, the group will rely upon a guide to the Connecticut river and swimming ability to reach their destination. The trip's application also emphasized creative water fighting and an unlimited capacity to have fun as essential abilities.
Participants, including Dave Sussman '99, have high expectations for the trip.
Sussman wrote in an e-mail message that he originally became interested in the trip during his first year at Dartmouth. "It sounded like one of those great Dartmouth experiences that just had to be done."
Although the group has selected preferred campsites along the route, Eaken said the entire trip is very flexible for all levels of paddling, and expected mileage to each campsite is reasonable.
She recalled from experience that the last stretch is not very difficult, involving canoeing for about a mile and floating down the rest of the way.
The only other major annual trip is the Trip to the Sea for seniors, which goes all the way to the end of the Connecticut River, Eaken said.
