school trip canoe accident

History Through Our Eyes: June 13, 1978, canoe trip tragedy

Twelve boys and one young-adult leader died when a school canoe trip went horribly wrong on Lac Temiscamingue.

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In June 1978, a group of 12- to 14-year-old students set out on an end-of-year canoe trip, along with four young-adult leaders. The boys attended St. John’s, an Anglican private boarding school in Claremont, Ont., near Toronto, that stressed the importance of outdoor education in building character. They were travelling in four 22-foot canoes.

The trip began — and ended — on Lac Témiscamingue, on the Ontario-Quebec border, 350 kilometres north of Ottawa. The winds had been light when they began their voyage June 11. But the winds changed later in the day, and the students’ heavily laden canoes capsized in the high winds. Twelve of the boys and one adult died. The lake was 4 degrees C and “at that temperature the average person would not survive more than 40 minutes,” we reported.

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The 18 survivors were rescued the next day after being spotted by a passing helicopter. They were taken to a nearby outfitter’s lodge.

On June 13, they were brought by float plane or helicopter to the nearby town of Ville-Marie, Que. to meet their parents. This photo by Len Sidaway, published in the Montreal Gazette the following day along with our extensive coverage of the heartbreaking tragedy, shows survivor James Doak being helped upon his arrival there.

“As the skies cleared and cold winds fanned the lake, grief-stricken survivors were escorted through a waiting crowd on the government dock to police cars and taken to the centre for reunions with parents and friends. Many cried, happy to have survived, but saddened by the loss, a school-appointed spokesman said,” we reported.

Despite the tragedy, parents rallied around the school, which continued in operation for another decade before closing.

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Lyme Bay tragedy: Parents describe their pain 25 years on

On March 22, 1993 four teenagers lost their lives on a school trip

• 08:23, 22 MAR 2018
• Updated 11:20, 24 MAR 2018

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Twenty five years ago Sylvia and Noel Dunne were at home watching the news, when the activity centre they had sent their eldest son to on a school trip suddenly appeared on the headlines.

He was supposed to be having the time of his life at St Albans Centre, an adventure holiday camp at Lyme Regis. But Simon, along with three of his friends, never came home.

Knowing something was seriously wrong, Sylvia and Noel were told to go to Southway Community College, where their 16-year-old son attended sixth form.

When Simon's name was called out by a teacher in the school hall, Sylvia was taken into another room and the news was broken to her that Simon had drowned in a canoe trip.

At the same time, Noel, who had gone back home to check the answer phone machine for any news, saw a police car pulling up outside their home, knowing then - spending so long in the police force himself - that could only mean one thing. His son was gone.

Both their lives sunk into darkness and "pandemonium" followed.

They were driven by an officer to a hospital over 70 miles away, where it "was like a scrum", with press scrambling outside the front doors for any update on the tragic events - events that rocked not just Plymouth, but the whole country.

Sylvia and Noel were taken in the back entrance to avoid any intrusion. When things had calmed down, Noel turned to the officer who had driven them there and asked how many students had died.

Recalling the events 25 years on, Noel said: "I asked, 'Were there other children involved?' and he said, 'I can't tell you Noel'. I asked, 'How many more, one, two, three?' and when I got to four he said, 'I didn't tell you that'."

It later transpired Dean Sayer, aged 17, and 16-year-olds Claire Langley and Rachel Walker also died in the disaster.

Pupils Emma Hartley, Joanna Willis, Samantha Stansby and Marie Rendle, teacher Norman Pointer and instructors Karen Gardener and Anthony Mann were rescued. But Simon, Dean, Claire and Rachel, who would have celebrated her 17th birthday two days later, were swept away.

Survivors later said Simon joked and sang songs to keep his friends' spirits up as they battled to stay alive. Simon, who was well known as a prankster with a wicked sense of humour, led other victims in a chorus of “eight red canoes sinking in the water” to the tune of “10 Green Bottles” during their agonising wait to be rescued.

But just hours later, Sylvia and Noel were in the same room with their dead son. And reality hit.

Thinking it was a tragic accident that had taken their precious boy, it wasn't until the months that followed that the true events of that day started to unravel.

It was no accident. It was corporate manslaughter. And the owner of the company would be jailed.

Now, 25 years on, Sylvia and Noel have moved to Buckland Monachorum. Their two younger children are grown up and they have six of their own children between them.

But they will never forget Simon, who was taken from them in truly unfair, tragic and avoidable circumstances.

Sylvia said: "It's been 25 years. A lot has happened in that time, but if I think of it as Simon, it's no time. I can't believe it is 25 years, because the feeling is quite raw.

"It was horrible being told [your son had died]. You just zone into this horrible blackness and horrible noise, and I realised it was me making it.

"It was awful. It is your worst nightmare. I can remember everything from that day, minute to minute, but the two weeks after I remember nothing. It's just blank."

Over the years that darkness has faded, and the pair live by Simon's own words that he would not want them suffering if he was not there.

Sylvia explained: "Just before Simon went away, he had gone to visit some neighbours who had lost a child years before and he came home asking why they were very sad all the time, and negative about everything - there was no light at the end of their tunnel.

"I said, 'I don't know Simon, I don't know what it is like to lose a child' and he said, 'Their son wouldn't want them to be like that, life is too short, life is for living'.

"These are his words, so when I'm down, we've got to get on for him. It's so amazing that he said that before he went away."

Many things changed after Simon's death, not least because specific legislation is now in place to prevent tragedies such as this.

Noel said: "After it happened and they died, we got a lot of attention. We couldn't go shopping; you'd be walking around Tesco and people would recognise you. But the most important thing was getting the act into place, so hopefully it will never happen again.

"My daughter came to me when her own daughter wanted to go on an activity week asking, 'What do I do dad'? and I replied, 'She goes'.

"You can't wrap kids in cotton wool; you've got to let them get out and do things.

"[Back then], if you had a few thousand pounds and you liked outdoor activities then you could set up an activity centre by yourself. You didn't need any qualifications to open an activity centre, you just opened it.

"But as time went on there was a number of incidents where children died, and what brought it home to us was when Simon went away to what we thought was a safe place, a safe environment, and it wasn't.

"There was a trial as well, which brought it even more into the public eye. People were shocked to find out there was such a lack of people actually qualified to take people out. The people that took our kids out were 'one star' [a level of instructor], which wasn't much better than the children themselves.

"You send your kids out to school in the morning and don't expect to get a phone call saying, 'Sorry, your son died today'. But that's what happened with us."

Lyme Bay tragedy: What happened?

The events that unfolded on March 22, 1993 sent shockwaves across the UK.

The weather was fine, with just a force four wind and a slight swell on the sea.

But trouble began immediately. Teacher Norman Pointer rolled over numerous times within minutes and was violently sick. Student Dean Sayer capsized while still close enough to the shore to stand.

When 23-year-old instructor Tony Mann asked if he wanted to go back, Dean said he could make it. Mr Mann considered returning but as he tried to help the teacher, he looked up and where previously, 30 yards away, had been the nine other members of the party, there was now just sea.

Within 20 minutes, despite the efforts of the other instructor, Karen Gardner, all but one canoe overturned and began to sink, leaving the pupils clinging to the last craft in seas just 9C above freezing.

The centre’s handyman was due to meet the party at Charmouth. At 12.25pm he reported the children missing to Joseph Stoddart, the St Albans manager.

A fishing boat, Spanish Eyes, spotted a red kayak bobbing two miles south-east of Lyme Regis. The skipper radioed the Portland Coastguard – the first sign of a tragedy unfolding.

Seven minutes before the call, the last canoe sank and the children were left helpless, their life-jackets becoming waterlogged.

Mr Stoddart searched the shoreline for half an hour in a rescue boat, and drove along the shore. In desperation, students Samantha Stansby and Emma Hartley began to swim towards the coast for help.

Others slipped into unconsciousness from hypothermia and fatigue – eight miles from their intended destination.

June Mowforth, the acting headteacher of Southway Comprehensive, received a call just before 6pm from teacher John Ellis, who was at the St Albans Centre. He mentioned ‘a problem’ with the trip, but reassured her that the pupils were being picked up by helicopter. Within minutes, after telephoning Dorset police, she learned that one child had died.

Mrs Mowforth, who has since retired, went immediately to the school. Britain's worst canoeing disaster had unfolded as the last survivors were winched aboard rescue helicopters.

Back at the school, the list of eight canoeists were in their hands – but they didn’t know who had died. Just after 9pm came the confirmation that Simon Dunne was one of the dead, and that three others were in a critical condition.

Mrs Mowforth called in the sixth-form tutors and prepared to break the news to parents.

Two hours later, a fax arrived from the police with the list of the dead, identified by the head of sixth form, Norman Pointer, who survived the seven-hour ordeal. After a sleepless night, Mrs Mowforth arrived back in school at 7am, told the 57 staff what had happened and took assemblies in year groups to break the news to 940 pupils.

“There were three gaps in the A-level English class, something everyone found hard to come to terms with,” she said in the aftermath of the tragedy.

Legal changes that followed loss of life

Following the tragedy the activity centre manager was jailed and the law changed to make companies and their employees criminally responsible for causing similar deaths.

Parents of the students supported then Devonport MP David Jamieson in getting the 1995 Activity Centres (Young Persons’ Safety) passed as law. The Corporate Manslaughter (England and Wales) and Corporate Homicide Act (Scotland) 2007 came into force on April 6, 2008, making it easier to convict irresponsible companies.

Mr Jamieson said in 2013, 20 years after the tragic events: “The parents contacted me shortly after the disaster. Enormously to their credit they did not want to point the finger of blame, but at a time of huge personal grief they wanted to ensure it could never happen again. The tragedy sent a huge shock wave through the city, and the country.

“What made it worse was it was just down to a matter of minutes that made a difference between some of them dying and all of them dying.

“I still think about it now, I can still see their faces. They were the same age as my sons and daughter.

“We clocked up about 15 things, where if any one of them went right they all would have survived. Maybe a red flag, or if they had been taught how to use their safety jackets.

“The school did everything it could – what more could it do? – but it sent shock waves through all schools.”

Following the incident, St Albans Centre’s parent company, OLL, was prosecuted. Peter Kite, the activity centre manager, was jailed for three years in 1994, though he was freed after 14 months.

Devon County Council’s report into the

tragedy stated it “quite simply, should not have happened”.

There was fear of the law being abolished in 2011, with proposals to scrap the legislation in favour of a voluntary code of practice.

“What has concerned me is the coalition [then the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats] have been saying the law is unnecessary red tape,” Mr Jamieson added at the time. “If they take that away people will stop taking part in activities.

“I have great worries about the Government trying to unpick the legislation. It will be worse for children’s safety. After Lyme Bay the whole industry took a major hit because parents and teachers didn’t know if they were putting lives at risk. I was a great believer at the time, and I am now, it’s good for youngsters and for team building and character building, but the checks on safety should never be taken away.”

Breakdown of events in Lyme Bay tragedy that killed four Plymouth pupils

Six teenage girls, two boys and a teacher from Southway Comprehensive leave the St Albans Venture Centre at Lyme Regis with two instructors to canoe to Charmouth.

The party fails to arrive in Charmouth and the manager of St Albans Centre, Joe Stoddart, takes a boat out into the bay – but finds no trace of the canoeists.

A single red canoe is picked up by the fishing vessel Spanish Eyes five miles south of Lyme Regis and the alarm is raised.

Lifeboats are sent out after Portland Coastguards are alerted that a party of youngsters is overdue and presumed missing at sea after not turning up at Charmouth.

The Rescue Co-Ordination Centre in Plymouth is notified of the incident and helicopters from RNAS Portland, RAF Chivenor and warship HMS Beaver are alerted.

All the remaining canoes are picked up.

Eight people are plucked from the water by helicopters.

Two others are found washed up on a beach at Bridport and taken to Weymouth Hospital.

Portland Coastguard is notified that eleven people are in the party and one is still missing. Two helicopters and the lifeboats go back out to sea to continue the search.

The last missing person is picked up from the sea by a Sea King helicopter.

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Survivor of BWCA canoe accident recounts deadly ordeal

Brother of 2nd bwca missing canoer talks to fox 9.

The brother of a canoer who went missing in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) speaks with FOX 9’s Maury Glover about the search, ultimately finding his remains, and how they plan to carry out his legacy.

IRON LAKE, Minn. (FOX 9) - Erik Grams says he and his brother Reis had been going to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) for more than 30 years.

But now the setting of so many happy memories is a source of sorrow.

"My brother was my best friend. He was my business partner. So I'm still going through the grieving process and there's a hole that can never be filled completely," said Grams.

Grams says he and Reis were in a canoe at his brother's favorite fishing spot, Curtain Falls near the Canadian border on May 18, when a canoe carrying two of their friends capsized near the top of the falls.

Grams says Kyle Sellers went over the 30 foot cascading drop, hanging onto his boat, while Jesse Haugen tried to swim to the Grams' canoe.

But as soon as he got there, the current pulled all three of them over the waterfall as well.

"This was basically kind of an impossible save attempt, but we weren't going to leave our brother stranded there on the falls," said Grams.

Grams says the next thing he remembers is being 10 feet underwater and swimming towards daylight, before being pulled under twice more, eventually making it to shore.

He heard Sellers on an island a bit downstream, but there were no signs of Haugen or his brother.

"It sounds strange, but I was almost grieving under the water and I knew how dire of a situation it was immediately," said Grams.

Grams says it was like Groundhog's Day for the next two weeks, hoping and praying for a miracle, until search crews found Haugen's body on Friday and Reis' on Monday.

But Grams says the families of both men are grateful to get the closure they desperately need.

"This isn't something that will ever go away, but we're going to do everything we can to bring positive light out of this situation. And I'm going to honor my brother and Jesse for the rest of my life, as best as I can. Every day. Every minute," said Grams.

Grams fractured his pelvis in 3 places during the ordeal, while Sellers suffered a broken leg. 

A GoFundMe has also been set up to help the families of both men who died. Grams says both his brother and Haugen were dedicated to their families, churches and communities.

In fact, Grams says his brother was planning to go on a mission trip to Mexico this fall to build houses for the homeless.

Now Grams and his wife will go in Reis' place. 

Tragic litany of holiday disasters

Craig Norsworthy, 15, from Edinburgh, was killed when a coach carrying 38 youngsters careered off a road near Paris last August.

The driver, Adrian McDonald, was charged with involuntary manslaughter after allegedly falling asleep at the wheel.

1997, Alpine coach crash

Three children on a school trip to France were killed when their coach left a road near Albertville in the French Alps. Nichola Moore, 16, Robert Boardman, 14, and Keith Ridding, 14, were in a party of 16 pupils from St James high school in Bolton, Lancashire.

1996, rape and murder

Caroline Dickinson, a 13-year-old pupil at Launceston College in Cornwall, was raped and murdered in a Brittany youth hostel.

In 1999, her mother, Sue Dickinson, lost a claim for damages against Cornwall County Council after a court dismissed her case that teachers on the trip should have done more to protect her daughter.

1993, Lyme Bay drownings

Four teenagers lost their lives in 1993 when a school canoe trip off Lyme Regis, Dorset, went tragically wrong on March 22. A party of 23 children from Southway comprehensive in Plymouth was on an excursion to St Albans adventure training centre when the group was split up and blown out to sea.

The managing director of Active Learning and Leisure, Peter Kite, was jailed for three years for manslaughter. The company itself was convicted of corporate manslaughter and fined pound;60,000.

John Patten, education secretary at the time, introduced a four-point plan, which included a survey of activity centres, followed by Health and Safety Executive inspections, guidance for schools and councils, and changes in schools’ governing articles to make explicit the legal duty of care concerning health and safety. The regulation was enshrined in the Activity Centres Act 1995. The Act requires all providers of “high risk” adventurous activities for young pople under 18, whether for educational purposes or for activity holidays, to apply for a licence to run a commercial operation which is open to inspection.

1993, crash on the M40

A motorway accident which claimed the lives of 12 schoolchildren and a teacher from Hagley Roman Catholic high school in Stourbridge led to changes in

minibus regulations.

Seat belts were made compulsory on all school transport vehicles. Also, those who get their driving licence after January 1997 must take a special minibus test in order to drive one carrying schoolchildren.

“However, there is an exemption for volunteer drivers and it is currently not clear whether teachers driving on out-of-hours trips are covered,” said Kevin Clinton, Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents spokesman. There are still no regulations concerning the time teachers spend driving.

1988, Alpine fall in Austria

Four British teenagers from Altwood Church of England secondary school in Maidenhead, Berkshire, fell more than 250ft to their deaths while on a school trip in the Austrian Alps.

That year, new guidelines to safeguard pupils on school trips were issued by the National Association of Head Teachers and a revised version of the Department for Education and Employment booklet, Safety in Outdoor Pursuits, was issued.

1985, drownings at Land’s End

Four boys from Stoke Poges middle school, Buckinghamshire, drowned during a school trip to Land’s End when they were swept out to sea while exploring rocks.

Alec Askew, the headteacher, resigned after the tragedy.

An inquiry into the accident was highly critical of party leader Mr Askew and teacher, Robert Harrington, who also resigned.

The inquiry made 22 proposals for organising future trips. New safety guidelines from the National Association of Head Teachers were widely adopted by education authorities after the tragedy.

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Community remembers retired teacher killed in canoeing accident

Former colleagues, students and friends of a Prince Albert man who died in a canoeing accident on a remote northern lake are remembering his contribution to athletics, education and the community.

David Dice, 66, was taking one of his annual canoeing trips with his wife, Enid, 62, on Kinosaskaw Lake near Pinehouse, Sask. last week. The retired chemistry teacher and his wife took canoeing trips every summer. Dice often blogged about his travels and outdoor adventures on his personal website.

But on this year’s canoe trip, the Dice’s canoe overturned. David’s body was found near the capsized canoe on Tuesday, eight days after he was first reported missing by one of his two sons. Enid was located by a search and rescue team soon after, by a fire and waving down the pilots of a rescue plane. She was uninjured.

David retired seven years ago after teaching for 30 years at Carlton Comprehensive High School. The school’s current principal Dawn Kilmer remembered his passion for everything he did. Kilmer knew David for about 26 years.

“It’s hard to describe what his impact was, but I learned so much from him and grew so much as a person from … who he was,” Kilmer said.

As a teacher, she said David always had high expectations for people. “He knew they could learn. And he knew he could help guide them to that learning and understanding. He was way ahead of his time, and he … was an excellent, excellent teacher.”

One of his former students, Tara Harrison, was in his Grade 11 and 12 chemistry class in 1993-94. She remembered David told her she wouldn’t be able to do the course because she was taking her first year of university at the same time and would have to miss classes.

She ended up getting the highest mark in the class.

“He almost apologized, I guess, for saying I couldn’t do it, so I mean, him being a great teacher also, you know, attributed to that.”

David handwrote her a note after she completed his class and wrote that she would make a brilliant scientist.

“I did want to tell him that I did finish my science degree and used it and all that kind of stuff and I never did,” Harrison said. She took an agriculture degree, majoring in animal science and is now a professional agrologist that deals with animal nutrition.

David was also a mentor to colleagues such as Ron Poetker, vice-principal at W.P. Sandin School in Shellbrook. He said David would mentor subtly.

“He would drop hints to get you involved in something he believed you could do and you could do well.”

But David was also passionate about track, both as track official and someone who helped make the Harry Jerome Track at Prime Minister’s Park a reality.

“He was the primary focus behind getting that track built and he was very passionate about that and to do a good job, so we could host meets and do it well.”

That same passion and dedication was evident in one particular instance that Poetker recalled.

David invited Poetker to go on a camping trip with himself and one of his sons during one Christmas break. The trip would include a walking tour of a waterfall. It was around -30 Celsius out, Poetker said.

“I chickened. I said it was way too cold for me. Then Dave was so committed, he went. You know, he went, and that was just the kind of guy he was.”

Poetker said David returned with “gorgeous” pictures. David was an avid photographer, who both produced and distributed stock photographs.

He described David as a good canoeist, who did many canoe trips and trips up north. That includes a paddling trip across the province a couple of years ago, Poetker added.

Bob Coffin, too, knew David as an educator while he himself worked at Carlton as a vice-principal. He said David loved the North and canoeing, as well as track and field.

“His face would light up when you … started talking to him about the trips and that. He loved the north, he loved the wilderness, and the peace and quiet that goes with canoeing,” Coffin said.

But David was also known within the community for his dedication to working with athletes.

Bob Reindl, executive director of Saskatchewan Athletics, knew David for 30 years and said he was always willing to give back to the community and be there for the athletes.

“David was genuine … his commitment, his involvement, his passion as a teacher, and his passion for sport and helping out his community.” Kilmer said David’s death would be a hole in the community.

When she found out that he died, she was shocked and saddened.

“He so believed in the track and field community and he … volunteered tirelessly for things and made things happen. And our track facility and the things that we’ve done in track and field in the city. I mean, when you scrape down … he doesn’t run to the front of the parade, but someone has to put on the parade, and David is that. Dave is that.”

David is survived by his wife Enid and two adult sons Geoffrey and Graeme.

[email protected]

On Twitter: @thiajames  

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3 high school educators on leave after students left behind on field trip

BARNSTABLE, Mass. (WBZ) - Three high school staff members from Massachusetts may lose their jobs after two students were left behind during a field trip.

The Barnstable School Committee is considering a recommendation to fire Alik and Hope Taylor and Raffaella Almeida. All three high school staff members have been on administrative leave since April, shortly after they took 22 students to a Belle of the Ball event in Boston. The non-profit provides free prom dresses and accessories to students in need.

When the bus left to head back to Barnstable, some 70 miles away, two students were left behind. Workers at the event ended up driving the students home.

After an investigation, the district’s superintendent recommended the Taylors and Almeida be fired.

However, community members have rallied around the educators and pushed to save their jobs, saying this is a teaching moment.

Arianna Roberts, the sister of one of the students left behind, spoke out at a recent school committee meeting.

“I do not think firing them is the right decision at all,” she said. “But I think there needs to be training, and people need to be held accountable for their actions and their mistakes.”

Others have echoed her words, saying they want the school district to provide better training, so this type of incident does not happen in the future.

The Taylors’ daughter says her parents have taken responsibility for what happened and deserve a second chance.

The superintendent says a resolution to the incident will come, but it will take time.

Copyright 2024 WBZ via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.

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Dripping Springs linebacker Luca Picucci recovering after serious accident in Cancun

All-Central Texas linebacker Luca Picucci is recovering from an undisclosed accident he recently had during a vacation trip in Cancun. He was on his senior trip with family and friends when he needed emergency surgery to repair his L1 vertebrae.

Following surgery, he was transported back to Austin and is recovering at Dell Seton Hospital. On Monday, he had additional surgery.

Picucci sustained no neurological damage, but has "a very long road to recovery ahead," said April Requard, who has organized a GoFundMe page for the Tigers football player. He should be released from the hospital next week, but will require about six more weeks of inpatient rehab followed by months of outpatient rehab.

"Luca's tough, a fighter, but the prognosis is good," Dripping Springs football coach Galen Zimmerman said Thursday.

As of Thursday afternoon, 735 donors had raised more than $120,000 for the fund. The goal is $300,000.

Picucci earned District 26-6A co-defensive player of the year honors in 2023 after contributing 99 tackles, six sacks and one interception.

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Makah Tribe will again be allowed to hunt gray whales off WA coast

SEATTLE – Not since the spring of 1999 have members of the Makah Tribe filed into a cedar canoe and paddled off Washington’s coast to legally harpoon a gray whale, trailing its body back to shore for celebration and ceremony.

Even that hunt – controversial at the time – was the tribe’s first in more than seven decades.

But that’s about to change. Officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration granted the tribe a waiver of the Marine Mammal Protection Act on Thursday, handing the Makah people a victory they’ve sought for a generation.

The waiver represents the end of decadeslong frustration and stress, said TJ Greene, chairman of the Makah Tribe. It’s a cultural and historic success that belongs to the entire community, he said.

“This relieves a lot of tension,” Greene said in an interview with the Seattle Times. “We have a generation of people that didn’t have that opportunity and that takes a toll on us.”

Officials with NOAA said they share the tribe’s frustration over the drawn-out waiver process but celebrate its end. There are those who remain steadfast in their opposition to the hunt, though, and they do plan to keep fighting.

The earliest the tribe would be able to hunt is likely this fall, said Michael Milstein, a NOAA spokesperson. The tribe will have to apply for a permit to conduct each hunt, and as part of that process the administration will have to verify the population of gray whales and hold a public comment period.

Greene said hunters from the tribe will undergo a rigorous training process to ensure they only hunt whales approved under the waiver and do so safely. They plan to use the traditional cedar canoes and harpoon the whale but then use a firearm – likely a large-caliber rifle – for a quick and humane kill.

The tribe’s connection to the whales stretches back millennia and the tribe’s 1855 treaty with the federal government explicitly recognizes the right of members to conduct the hunts.

Not only is the hunt an important part of the tribe’s cultural and spiritual identity, Greene said, but the whales were also once a crucial portion of the community’s diet.

“This is a food sovereignty issue. This is part of our traditional diet that was ripped away from us,” he said. “We are needing that back into our lives, so we can be a healthy, vibrant and thriving community.”

In all, the waiver will allow the tribe to hunt up to 25 gray whales over a 10-year period. The total number of gray whales that can be hunted globally won’t change, however. The current quota, regulated by the International Whaling Commission, splits the number of available whales between the Makah Tribe and the Chukotkan Natives in Russia, Milstein said. Under the waiver, the Makah Tribe will tap into the number of whales that had been previously transferred to Russia, and no more than two or three would be allowed to be hunted each year in U.S. waters.

While gray whales were once listed as an endangered species, their populations recovered enough for the federal government to take them off the list in 1994. They are still protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, however.

Generally, the population of gray whales along the West Coast is quite healthy, said Chris Yates, assistant regional administrator with NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region. There are around 19,000 of them right now.

So the tribe’s right to hunt 25 whales over 10 years would effectively be an “undetectable” loss to the greater population, he said.

The hunts are opposed by the Animal Welfare Institute, said D.J. Schubert, a senior scientist with the nonprofit.

Other gray whale populations aren’t as numerous, some groups only have hundreds remaining, and Schubert expressed concern that a whale from the wrong pod could be killed.

In addition, climate change also threatens the whales, either directly or by cutting into their food sources, Schubert said, and the hunt would act as an added stressor to their populations.

He did acknowledge the tribe’s cultural connection to the process but spoke out against the hunts as a way of speaking on behalf of the whales.

“There is no easy solution here,” he said.

Yates said “extreme precautions” will be in place to prevent the killing of endangered groups of whales, and Greene said the tribe plans for its own processes to be even more rigorous than those required by the federal government.

Still, the Animal Welfare Institute plans to oppose the permits when the tribe applies, Schubert said, and the organization is open to exploring other legal avenues should that strategy fail.

The tribe is no stranger to the scrutiny. During the 1999 hunt, it had to close down the reservation because people called in bomb threats to tribal schools, Greene said. Ultimately, the National Guard had to be on standby.

“We don’t want to see those things happen again,” he said. “But there’s a likelihood that they could, so we’re prepared for that.”

Additional controversy erupted in 2007, when five tribal members illegally hunted and killed a gray whale; the animal was killed, but the hunters were detained before the whale could be brought to shore. Two of those members served time in jail for the incident.

Now that the hunt is once more legal, the tribe will develop security measures and work closely with law enforcement to make sure its people are safe throughout the process, Greene said.

Details will be worked out in the months ahead, Greene said. For the moment, the victory belongs not only to this generation, the chairman said, but to everybody that came before them, including those who fought for the right to hunt back in 1855.

Hydropower is ready to step up to the plate against summer heat

Summer is nearly here and the Northwest has sprung to life as the days have grown longer and warmer.

Ukraine-Russia war: Putin to deliver speech after US and Ukraine agree major 10-year security agreement - and Russia suffers 'astronomical' losses

Vladimir Putin will make a speech at Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs meeting today after the US and Ukraine signed a 10-year security deal. Meanwhile, a NATO official has told European Pravda Russia likely suffered losses of almost 1,000 people a day in May.

Friday 14 June 2024 08:57, UK

• Putin due to deliver speech after US and Ukraine agree security deal
• Russia suffered 'astronomical' losses during Kharkiv offensive - report
• Big picture: Everything you need to know about the war right now
• Your questions answered:  Are there any signs of an underground resistance in Russia?
• Live reporting by Bhvishya Patel

An explosion has been heard in the region outside the capital of Kyiv during an air raid alert to warn of a possible Russian air attack, according to Reuters witnesses.

It is unclear if the explosion was the sound of air defences engaging a target. 

Public broadcaster Suspilne also cited local residents saying they had heard explosions in the western region of Khmelnytskyi.

Since the beginning of the year, airstrikes between Ukraine and Russia have increased with both sides trying to push through a reported stalemate.

We brought you reports yesterday that US  journalist Evan Gershkovich, who has been jailed for over a year in Russia on espionage charges, will stand trial.

Here is what we know right now...

The Wall Street Journal reporter will have his trial in the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg, according to the authorities.

An indictment of reporter has been finalised and his case was filed to the Sverdlovsky Regional Court in the city, about 870 miles east of Moscow, according to Russia's prosecutor general's office.

There is still no word on when the trial will begin.

What happened to Evan Gershkovich?

Mr Gershkovich, 32, is accused of "gathering secret information" on orders from the CIA.

He was detained while on a reporting trip to Yekaterinburg in March 2023 and accused of spying for the US. The reporter, his employer and the US government denied the allegations, and Washington designated him as wrongfully detained.

Russia's Federal Security Service, or FSB, alleged after arresting Mr Gershkovich that he was acting on US orders to collect state secrets but provided no evidence to back up the accusations.

The US state department spokesman Matthew Miller slammed the development, saying there was "absolutely zero credibility to those charges" and adding that the US government would continue to work to bring Mr Gershkovich home.

The Ukrainian military has said it downed seven of 14 missiles and all 17 drones launched by Russia in an overnight attack.

The Ukrainian military shot down the targets over seven regions.

The governor of the Zaporizhzhia region said a missile struck an open area, with no damage and casualties immediately reported.

The air force also destroyed five drones over the Dnipro region, its governor said, with no reports of damage or casualties.

Hundreds of Cubans and tourists boarded the Russian frigate Gorshkov, part of the war fleet that carried out military manoeuvres in the Atlantic yesterday.

Cuban and Russian authorities agreed to allow citizens access to this flagship, which arrived the day before accompanied by nuclear-powered submarine Kazan and two logistic ships, the oil tanker Pashin and the salvage tug Nikolai Chiker.

The chance to board ships of different nationalities arriving in the Bay of Havana is quite usual.

Last week Cuba's government announced that a royal Canadian navy ship was also set to arrive soon.

As for the Russian fleet, Cuban authorities confirmed that it would be docked in Havana until Monday.

The Russian defence ministry reported that the exercises conducted by its fleet were aimed at simulating missile attacks against other ships.

US officials downplayed the danger of the visit but said they would closely follow every move of the Russian military vessels - while the Kremlin yesterday insisted the West should not "worry" about the move.

Debris from a downed Ukrainian drone damaged an unused reservoir at a fuel depot in Russia's southwestern Voronezh region today, regional governor Alexander Gusev has said.

In a statement on Telegram , Mr Gusev said "an attempt was made to attack an oil depot with Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles from an ultra-low altitude".

There were no casualties or fire, and the drone was one of six downed by air defences over the region, he added.

Separately, the RIA news agency cited Russia's defence ministry as saying that 70 Ukrainian drones had been downed overnight over the southwestern Rostov region, and 17 over other regions.

Vladimir Putin will make a speech at Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs meeting this morning– the first time he has appeared at the meeting in three years.

The Russian leader's speech - which is due to take place at around 9am UK time - comes after it was announced last night that the US and Ukraine have signed a major 10-year security agreement (see our 18.35 post from yesterday).

It also follows an emergency phone call that was held yesterday by senior officials of South Korea and the US over a possible impending visit by Mr Putin to North Korea in the coming weeks.

To add to the backdrop to his speech, a series of Western nations have recently agreed that their weapons can be used to launch strikes inside Russia - provoking angry responses in Moscow.

And it comes ahead of a Ukraine summit that will be held over the weekend. 

Around 90 states and organisations have confirmed their participation for the conference in Switzerland on 15 and 16 June that aims to create a pathway for peace in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will use the talks to build support for Ukraine's position on three key themes: food security, nuclear safety and the release of all prisoners and deportees.

Welcome to our live coverage of the war in Ukraine. 

Yesterday was a major day for diplomacy as a G7 summit in Italy focused on how to intensify financial pressure on Russia. 

G7 leaders announced a $50bn support package for Ukraine which will use frozen Russian assets as collateral.

But perhaps the bigger news was the signing of a 10-year security agreement between the US and Ukraine. 

It establishes that the two governments will meet within 24 hours at senior levels to discuss any response in the event of an armed attack against Ukraine.

The deal is also thought to be a precursor to Ukraine's eventual membership of NATO. 

Speaking at a joint news conference with Volodymyr Zelenskyy afterwards, Joe Biden said it was a "reminder" to Vladimir Putin that the US is not backing down. 

Here are more updates from the last 24 hours... 

• Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Chinese president had told him Beijing would not sell weapons to Russia;
• Ukraine and Japan signed a security agreement worth £3.5bn;
• Germany said Mr Putin's plan to wait for the world's support to stop has failed;
• Russia suffered "astronomical" losses during its Kharkiv offensive, an anonymous NATO official told European Pravda;
• Moscow was accused of a plot to influence the election in Moldova this coming October;
• American journalist Evan Gershkovich will stand trial in Russia after being accused of spying for the CIA;
• The Kremlin insisted that Russian warships which have arrived in Cuba for an exercise are no threat.

The map below shows the territorial picture in Ukraine...

By Nicole Johnston, Asia correspondent

Alongside who is attending the Switzerland summit, keep an eye out for who is not.

Russia won’t be there (it's not invited) and China has taken a controversial wide pass. Pressure to urge China to attend only seems to have driven it deeper into the arms of Russia.

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue on 2 June, Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, accused China of "working hard" to prevent countries from participating in the Switzerland summit.

China pushed back. Its foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning told reporters: "Not attending it does not mean not supporting peace."

Ukraine believes China has leverage over Russia and could impose conditions to force Vladimir Putin to end the war. But for China this expectation is too much, it has not bought-into the Zelenskyy-led peace formula, so China has walked away.

The country was already facing stinging criticism from the West for backing Russia. Without China's booming trade with Russia, it grew by 60% last year to $240bn, President Putin would not be able to continue his war in Ukraine.

There are reports of Russian elite arranging Mandarin lessons for their children, turning to the East while Western sanctions turn Russia into a fortress.

With two wars to deal with in Ukraine and Gaza, the US is bogged down and unable to focus on Asia. That plays to China’s advantage.

It is forging new friendships with countries in the Global South and many of them see the world differently.

As India's external affairs minister, S Jaishankar, said two years ago: "Europe has to grow out of the mindset that its problems are (the) world’s problems." 

That's all for our coverage for this evening. 

Scroll back through this blog to see the day's updates. 

A high-profile Ukrainian combat brigade has allegedly captured dozens of Russian soldiers amid fighting in the Kharkiv region. 

Footage shared by Ukraine's 3rd Assault Brigade appeared to show the soldiers sitting in a school conference room. 

The Ukrainian brigade said the troops were taken prisoner during combat operations around the northern Ukrainian town of Vovchansk. 

Social media figures had previously reported substantial numbers of Russian troops surrendering in the area last week after counterattacks by Ukrainian infantry assault units. 

The Khortitsiya Regional Command also claimed more than 60 Russian soldiers had been captured in the area in less than a week. 

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The School Canoe Tragedy: Tragedy leaves school in shock: Spring flowers express pupils' grief for lost classmates

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THE MOOD at Southway Comprehensive School in Plymouth was bleak as weeping parents and children walked through the car park throughout the day carrying bunches of spring flowers.

By late afternoon 60 bouquets had accumulated on the school steps. A bunch of red carnations had a note attached: 'To Simon, Claire, Dean and Rachel. You'll always be remembered'. Another message with a bunch of pink tulips read: 'To all of you although we never knew you well. You are in our memories'. Faxes of sympathy also arrived from nearby schools.

Staff at the comprehensive were hoping to get lessons back to normal today. Yesterday one pupil said they had been warned not to talk to the press. As they left the building at 3pm, two policemen escorted them to school buses. Many were crying, while others stood in huddled groups comforting each other.

Simon Reeves, 12, who knew Dean Sayer, said: 'The whole school was in tears this morning. The accident was shocking. I don't know why it had to happen to us.'

John Wright, Devon County Council's deputy chief education officer, said the leader of the party, John Ellis, had spent a weekend at the centre a year ago examining facilities and taking part in activities. He had been satisfied with the set-up. He said Mr Ellis, who is now at home in Plymouth, 'was a man of much experience who had been leading parties of this kind for many years. He is a man in whom everyone in the school and the educational community has the utmost confidence.' Three pupils, Joanne Willis, Samantha Stansby and Maria Rendle were last night 'stable and comfortable' in Weymouth hospital while Emma Hartley, 16, was said to be critical but improving. The remaining pupils who went on the trip are now back at home.

Mr Wright told a press conference: 'It is the centre itself which is responsible for the young people. It is, however, not uncommon for young people of sixth-form age to go out unaccompanied by staff.

'The school has a duty of care in making sure the centre is appropriate. It went further by making sure two members of staff were present.'

Dennis Camp, chairman of the school governors, said: 'We are all totally devastated. But this is a community and we will all be able to pull through together and give as much help as we can to whoever needs it.'

(Photograph omitted)

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Paddling the Wolf River

There are many ways to experience the Wolf River, but paddling in a canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddle board arguably provides the most immersive experience and the greatest connection with nature. Approximately 75 miles of the Wolf River is open for paddle craft. Learn more about paddling on the Wolf River in this section and refer to the events calendar for upcoming paddling trips. We nearly always have a first Saturday paddle trip, and we would love for you to join us!

Activity Calendar

The Endangered Whorled Sunflower and Conserving Native Plants

Family Fun Paddle on the Wolf River

Project WET Water Workshop

First Saturday Paddle - July

First Saturday Paddle - August

Greenway Soiree

Discover the Greenway 5K+

First Saturday Paddle -Germantown Pkwy to Kennedy Park

Frog Chorus Walk

Paddle the Greenway

Mother’s Day Paddle on the Wolf River

May First Saturday Paddle - Lost Swamp

Drink a Beer Save a River - May

City Nature Challenge: Bioblitz at Epping Way

Earth Day on the Wolf River Greenway

Landfills, Waste, and Recycling

River Paddling FAQs

• Blues City Kayaks  | 901.762.1133 |   [email protected]
• Ghost River Rentals | 901.485.1220 | [email protected]
• Kayak Memphis Tours | 901.482.2942 | [email protected]
• Wolf River Canoe Tr ips | 901.877.3958
• Ghost River Rentals provides shuttle services along the Wolf River.  Contact Mark Babb or Don Hailey at 901.485.1220, or visit their website: ghostriverrentals.com
• Wolf River Canoe Trips provides shuttle service in Fayette County.  Contact Sarah or John Wilburn at 901.877.3958 for more info.
• Blues City Kayaks provides tours and rental kayaks in Shelby and Fayette Counties. Visit their website for more info: bluescitykayaks.com

There are 12 boat access points on the Wolf River from Michigan City, MS to the Mississippi River. Explore the interactive map to help find a section right for you.  The map highlights each river section and shows all of the boat access sites including a Google Maps link for each.

Interactive Map

Safety on any paddling trip depends on the paddler’s planning and preparation.  Before beginning a paddle trip on the Wolf River, please review and carefully consider this important Safety Information .

For a first trip on the Ghost River section of the Wolf, a guide is essential for inexperienced paddlers and very helpful to experienced paddlers.  Sections below the Ghost section can be negotiated without a guide, though it is best not to go alone.  The Wolf River Conservancy provides experienced volunteer trip leaders on planned monthly paddle trips on the Ghost River and other Wolf River sections, helping to arrange equipment rentals and shuttle services.  See our Activity Calendar for upcoming trips.

While the entire Wolf River is a Class I stream (no whitewater), it does have many obstacles and unpredictable currents that often send unprepared paddlers through dense shrubbery and fallen tree branches. Even during its slow flow, the Ghost River section requires use of moderate canoeing/paddling skills to safely negotiate some of its obstacles.  The trip is moderately strenuous, and, in the event of a medical emergency, significant difficulties can be encountered in aiding or evacuating a victim.  The section between Germantown Pkwy. and Walnut Grove Rd. does not offer many obstacles and is the best section for beginners.  During high water conditions (over 8 ft. on the nearest river gauge), any section of the Wolf can be dangerous.  Please review our Safety Information .

The Ghost River trip from LaGrange to Bateman Rd. takes about 6 hours, including a short lunch break.  This section should never be started later than 7 hours before sunset.  The Bateman to Moscow trip takes about 3 hours.  Germantown Pkwy. to Walnut Grove Rd. normally can be traveled in about one hour.

For the Ghost River section, fuel up with a high-carbohydrate breakfast before setting off.  Take at least one-half gallon of water per person, a lunch (which may have to be eaten in the canoe in high water), sunscreen, life jacket (wear it), Epi-Pen or inhaler for those with severe allergies or asthma, supplies and a mobile phone.  Please review all Safety Information .

Remember: In the event of a medical emergency, significant difficulties can be encountered in aiding or evacuating a victim.  Don’t take anything in the boat that you can’t afford to lose or get wet.  Dress in layers in cool weather so you can adjust for the temperature.  Bring a change of clothes and a small towel in a dry-bag or large Ziploc plastic bag.

Yes, as the Wolf River provides them a perfect habitat, and most are harmless water snakes.  The venomous cottonmouths, aka water moccasins, rarely bother people who don’t bother them first.

Pinecrest Camp and Retreat Center in La Grange, TN offers camping by reservation only.  See more information on camping at Pinecrest at this link.

The only public access overnight camping near the Wolf River is in the Holly Springs National Forest, which is less than a 20-minute drive from the Michigan City boat launch.  Please follow rules for dispersed camping on National Forest lands.  All other public land in the Wolf River watershed is day-use only.

Short River Hikes

Whether you want to go for pleasant after-work stroll or bike ride, or follow a boardwalk into a wild natural area which preserves some of the mid-south's most beautiful habitat, the wolf river has something to offer.

This list does NOT include the Wolf River Greenway trail itself, but several of the trails below intersect the Greenway - For information and updates on the Wolf River Greenway Project, click here.

John F. Kennedy Park (4575 Raleigh LaGrange Rd.) is the fifth largest park in Memphis at 260 acres.  Built in the mid-1990s by the Conservancy and volunteers, this 1.25 mile trail (one way) begins atop a hill at a gravel trailhead parking across from the Alzheimer's Center.  Walk down the hill following yellow signs and enter the forest where the trail winds through big trees.  The trail becomes a boardwalk for a quarter mile through a high quality bottomland hardwood forest. The trail then zigzags across the Wolf River Greenway and along the banks of the Wolf River.  You can make it a loop trail by walking the park roads back to the gravel trailhead parking.

For a map of John F. Kennedy Park, click here.

Started by an boy scout troop in 2019 and finished to the beach by volunteers on MLK Jr. Day in 2020, this unpaved hiking and mountain biking trail connects to Phase 9 of the Wolf River Greenway at 2630 Epping Way Drive, Memphis, TN.  The 2-5 ft wide path squeezes between the river and the Conservancy's 20-acre lake for over 0.5-mile to a large beach in a major bend of the river.  The total out-and-back distance from the parking area at Epping Way cul-de-sac to the beach and back is roughly 1.7 miles. Wolf River Conservancy is planning to extend this trail all the way around the lake to connect back with the Greenway for a nice loop trail.

Designated in 1988 by Wolf River Conservancy and local partners, Lucius Burch SNA is located in Shelby Farms along the Wolf River and is accessed from: Walnut Grove Road near the bridge over the river, near Germantown Road and Walnut Bend at the paved parking area or at the gravel parking area at the Raptor Center.  The northern section can also be accessed on foot or bike via the Shelby Farms Greenline, Unpaved hiking and biking trails afford good river views.  Old channelized streams and exotic invasive plants, such as privet, illustrate some of the effects of channelization and urbanization. Conversely, pockets of high quality bottomland hardwood forest with a state-listed species are found along the trails as well.  For a map, see the trails in the dark green areas in the south and western portions of Shelby Farms Park:  click here for rough trail map.

The Germantown Greenway is a 4-mile paved trail in the Wolf River Nature Area, which can be accessed from Wolf River Blvd. between Kirby and Riverdale, between Riverdale and Germantown Pkwy., or from Germantown Pkwy. at the Chik-Fil-A parking lot. The trail includes interpretive signs, benches, butterfly gardens, and wetlands. Thanks to the efforts of WRC and community leaders, the Germantown Greenway now connects to the Wolf River Greenway.  One day there will be a continuous trail extending 15 miles west to the Mississippi River and 15 miles east to Collierville-Arlington Rd.

For a map of the Germantown Greenway and surrounding area, please click here.

The trailhead for this short unpaved trail is located on Kimbrough Rd just south of Wolf River Blvd. Look for the kiosk next to a gravel parking lot. Recently, TDEC Division of Natural Areas removed exotic invasive privet to restore the habitat.  For a complete description and a map, click here.

Overton Park is an amazing ecological refuge within the heart of Memphis and lies within the Wolf River watershed.  Enjoy old growth hardwood forest on the many paved and unpaved trails within the park and natural area. Overton Park Conservancy stewards and manages this park in partnership with city of Memphis.  DIRECTIONS  For more information on the park and Overton Park Conservancy, visit overtonpark.org.

Peterson Lake Nature Center encompasses a 0.7 mile long boardwalk from Peterson Lake, a natural oxbow,  through forest and wetlands to the banks of the Wolf River. At the end of the boardwalk, you can see part of the Wolf River restoration project, i.e., one of the  rip-rap weirs created by the U.S. Corps of Engineers to stop the degradation of the river caused by channelization. Deer and other wildlife are frequently seen along the boardwalk, and there are abundant cypress, tupelo, and other trees. DIRECTIONS to Johnson Park, follow Bill Morris Pkwy. (385) to Byhalia Rd., go left or north, and stay on Byhalia Rd. which will dead-end at Johnson Park.  Keep driving past the play areas and the lake. The road makes a small loop and becomes a parking lot.  Look for the Peterson Lake Nature Center sign and the beginning of the boardwalk.

For more information, visit the Collierville Parks website.

A large park north of Collierville contains over 2,000 acres of woods and wetlands along both sides of the Wolf River. The 5-mile crushed limestone trail is open 7 days a week from dawn to dusk and can be accessed at the Collierville-Arlington Rd. bridge where there is a gravel parking lot on the north side of the river. The park can be accessed at its western end from Bethany Rd. Eventually, the trail will extend for 8 miles to Houston-Levee Rd. The farm fields north of the woods are now open for hiking and biking. The map below shows a trail on the farm roads. There are two parking areas off Collierville-Arlington Rd.,one on the north side of the bridge, and one farther north at the main trailhead. On the map, TR-1,2,4,5,6 all represent the tributary weirs. There is no hunting and no ATV (four-wheeler) use allowed.  Day-use only. The County sheriff’s deputies have begun checking the parking areas after dark.

Wolf River Wildlife Area Map

A short unpaved trail along the Wolf River leads from the parking lot to a boardwalk through a first-class wetland with tupelo and cypress trees. The entrance to the Clark Preserve is .25 miles north of the Wolf River Café and Rossville Square. Go over the bridge and turn into the parking lot on your right. The Clark Preserve is owned by The Nature Conservancy.  For a complete description and a map, click here.

Clark Preserve information from The Nature Conservancy.

The area around the boat ramp was protected by Wolf River Conservancy in 2016 and 2018 and is now part of Ghost River State Natural Area. This boat ramp at Bateman Bridge offers access to the Wolf River. There is no trail, but wading is possible here because the bottom of the river is sandy and the river is usually fairly shallow. Shoes are recommended. Take Hwy 57 east through Moscow and take a right onto Bateman Rd. DIRECTIONS.  For a map of the area, click here.

The 0.5-mile Mineral Slough trail and boardwalk traverses a fine stretch of bottomland hardwood swamp characteristic of the Wolf River floodplain. The Ghost River is a section of the Wolf River in which the river seems to disappear, widening into a broad, vegetation-filled swamp. It is a popular destination for paddlers and has been named one of the best wetland canoe trails in the country. DIRECTIONS. To read a complete description and for a map, click here.

This is a beautiful hike to the source of the Wolf River, a large spring-fed pond about .25 miles from the trailhead, in the hills of Benton County, Mississippi. Look for natural springs trickling out of the earth and the unique purple sands along the stairs on the trail.  Click here for DIRECTIONS:  on Hwy 72 heading east, ff you cross the Tippah County line, you've gone too far. Turn right or south at the small brown sign for Baker's Pond onto Tower Rd., and bear right where the road forks. Look for the Baker’s Pond trailhead parking area on the left.  The trail used to connect to Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, but a large tornado destroyed that portion of the forest and has overgrown the trail.  Restoration efforts are being made to repair the trail.

Baker's Pond Map

Safety Information

Paddling the Wolf River in a canoe or kayak can be a wonderful experience. The quality of that experience, however, will depend largely on your training, planning, and follow-through.

The Wolf River Conservancy recommends always paddling in groups of two or more, regardless of your skill level or experience. The level of skill you need to paddle the Wolf River depends on your physical condition, prior training and experience, and the paddling conditions of each river section. If in doubt about your skills or how to find appropriate training, or for any other questions, please contact a Wolf River Conservancy Volunteer River Guide, a local outfitter or paddling retailer, or the American Canoe Association, of which the Wolf River Conservancy is an affiliate.

Your trip will be much more enjoyable, comfortable, and certainly safer if you bring along appropriate clothing, gear, and other items, including a change of clothing in the event of a capsize, emergency gear, medications, and a first aid kit. Any river trip involves an element of risk, and it is necessary to be prepared for emergencies. Please read this Safety Information and consider these rules and recommendations carefully in planning your trip.

Participants in Wolf River Conservancy float trips will be required to wear an approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) while on the water. These are provided by the outfitters along with boat and paddle for those renting. Paddlers arranging their own trips are required by state law to have an approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD, or life jacket) for each person on board; children 12 years old or younger are required to wear a PFD at all times while on the water.   Click here for more information on Personal Flotation Devices .

The Conservancy recommends that everyone wear a U.S. Coast Guard Approved life jacket (PFD) while onboard any kind of human-powered, natural-powered or motorized boat, on any body of water, at all times. Remember, a life jacket (PFD) must be properly fitted and sized to the person wearing it and must be worn correctly to work!

Although the Wolf is rated as a class one river (no whitewater), conditions can rapidly change. It is imperative that paddlers realistically evaluate their experience and abilities in regard to an anticipated trip, especially if considering bringing children along. If in doubt, ask a Conservancy River Guide. Paddlers of any skill level should check both weather conditions and water level prior to departure.

No paddler, regardless of experience level, should paddle alone. Beginners are advised to seek out some type of formal training before paddling; afterwards, paddle only with highly experienced guides for the first few trips. The Conservancy membership trips are well-suited for beginners, depending on the river section, because they are led by experienced paddlers familiar with the route who provide limited basic instruction at the beginning of the trip. Please do not paddle with children as passengers unless you are an experienced paddler yourself.

Always check weather conditions and water level before your trip. Do not attempt a trip if the forecast indicates severe weather such as a thunderstorm. Do not attempt a trip during flood conditions. For weather conditions and forecast, use this link . The Conservancy recommends not paddling any section of the Wolf River if the USGS River Level Gauge closest to the section being paddled reads 8 feet or above for most paddlers. Use the following links to check water levels:

Gauge at LaGrange

Gauge at Rossville

Gauge at Collierville

Gauge at Germantown Pkwy

Gauge at Hollywood St

Gauge at Mississippi River

Our Interactive Map provides a description for each of the accessible sections of the Wolf River, helping paddlers to choose the section that best meets their needs.

Always bring plenty of drinking water, regardless of the season. We recommend a half gallon or more per person for all-day trips.

Always bring necessary allergy medications and emergency supplies such as a first aid kit, prescription medications you might need, a change of clothes to carry with you in the boat, flashlight, whistle, compass, rain gear, cell phone, sunscreen, insect repellent, snacks, etc., and a waterproof “dry” bag to hold these items. Local outfitters are a good source for other suggestions as well as ready-made kits and supplies; these can also be found online.

Have a float plan. Always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return.

Always wear clothes and shoes suitable for conditions. Denim and other types of cotton clothing are not recommended to be worn in or around water or while boating at any time of the year. Fast-drying synthetic polyester materials, which can be layered for cold weather conditions, are preferred. Shoes which fit securely are recommended. Avoid crocs and flip flops can easily slip off the foot when wet, and waders or rubber boots which could fill with water. Water shoes or some form aquatic “bootie” are highly recommended. Protect your feet at all times.

Cold weather clothing suggestions: Neoprene booties, synthetic (e.g., fleece) or wool fabrics worn in layers, a hat, gloves. Avoid cotton clothing. During cold weather, it is essential to bring a full set of rain gear and at least one change of clothes in a dry bag in the boat with you to prevent possible hypothermia.

Warm weather clothing suggestions: Neoprene booties or water shoes which fit securely, layered clothing, including synthetic fabrics, and a hat with a brim or visor. A change of clothes in a dry bag is recommended. Be sure to bring sunscreen and insect repellent as well.

Other items to consider:  Food and snacks, binoculars, camera, field guides, cell phone, sunscreen, insect repellent. Again, if you want to keep it dry, store it in a waterproof bag.

This is dangerous if a boat capsizes and not advised for the Wolf River.

Familiarity with basic boating safety rules is strongly advised, especially for those arranging their own trips. More information can be found on the TWRA Boating website and TWRA Paddlesports Laws .

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US widens sanctions on Russia to discourage countries such as China from doing business with Moscow

Emma Burrows

Associated Press

The United States widened its sanctions against Russia Wednesday as G7 leaders prepared to gather in Italy for a summit where the top priorities will be boosting support for Ukraine and grinding down Russia’s war machine.

Wednesday's package targeted Chinese companies which help Russia pursue its war in Ukraine and raised the stakes for foreign financial institutions which work with sanctioned Russian entities.

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It also targeted Russia’s financial infrastructure, in an attempt to limit the amount of money flowing in and out of Russia. Shortly after the sanctions were made public, the Moscow Exchange announced it would suspend transactions in dollars and euros.

The U.S. has sanctioned more than 4,000 Russian businesses and individuals since the war began, in an effort to choke off the flow of money and armaments to Moscow, whose superior firepower has given it an advantage on the battlefield in recent months. Nonetheless, new companies continually pop up as Russia attempts to rework supply chains.

“We have to be very honest with ourselves that Putin is a very capable adversary who is willing to adapt and find those willing collaborators,” Aaron Forsberg, the State Department’s Director for Economic Sanctions Policy and Implementation, told The Associated Press.

Sanctions against Russia, he said, are therefore a “dynamic affair.”

That includes listing addresses for the first time in a bid to crack down on companies reopening at the same address under a different name.

While sanctions have not stopped the flow of illicit goods, the aim is to make it harder for Russia to source crucial technology as well as drive up the markup on the goods. Wednesday's package targets more than $100 million in trade between Russia and suppliers for its war.

More than 300 new sanctions are largely aimed at deterring individuals and companies in countries including China, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey from helping Moscow circumvent Western blocks on obtaining key technology. They also threaten foreign financial institutions with sanctions if they do business with almost any sanctioned Russian entity, underscoring the U.S. view that the Kremlin has pivoted the Russian economy to a war footing .

Russia’s military is “desperate for access to the outside world,” said Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

The announcement came shortly before President Joe Biden arrived in Italy where he and other G7 leaders are urgently looking at aiding Ukraine, including turning frozen Russian assets into billions of dollars of support for Kyiv.

Seven Chinese and Hong-Kong-based companies were targeted Wednesday for shipping millions of dollars of material to Russia, including items which could be used in Russian weapons systems.

U.S. officials say China is the leading supplier of critical components to Russia, supplying both Chinese and Western technology.

On Wednesday the U.S. sanctioned a Chinese state-owned defense company which officials said had shipped military equipment for use in the Russian defense sector.

The move sends the message that the U.S. is “willing to wade into more treacherous territory” by increasing the pressure on the Chinese government, said Benjamin Hilgenstock, senior economist at the Kyiv School of Economics.

“We will address (China's) support for the Russian defense industrial base. And we will confront China’s non-market policies that are leading to harmful global spillovers," White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters Tuesday.

China did not sanction Russia after President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine, and Putin ended a visit to China in May by emphasizing the two countries' burgeoning strategic ties.

“The Chinese leadership is not interested in making these sanctions a success,” said Janis Kluge, a Russia sanctions specialist at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin (SWP.)

Beijing, Kluge said, is reluctant to stop a valuable trade that is worth large amounts of money and it does not want to “add to the pressure on Putin in this war."

Imports from China are vital to Russia because Beijing is a major producer of critical components, including for Western companies. Chinese companies also act as intermediaries for the sale and shipment of Western components to Russia.

But while Chinese technology has been found on the battlefield in Ukraine, most of the components still come from Western nations including those which are “overwhelmingly” found in high-tech drones and ballistic missiles, said Hilgenstock.

As well as China, the U.S. targeted businesses in Turkey and the United Arab Emirates which officials said sent high-priority items to companies in Russia, including to businesses which were already sanctioned.

In December, the White House said foreign financial institutions could be sanctioned if they worked with entities in Russia's defense sector. Wednesday's expansion of sanctions now means that those institutions could face such measures if they work with almost any sanctioned Russian entity.

U.S. President Joe Biden’s top foreign policy adviser, Jake Sullivan, told reporters on the way to the G7 that the message to China and other countries was that they are “at serious risk of running afoul of the Treasury Department and falling under a sanctions regime.”

The fear of triggering secondary sanctions is an effective threat, analysts said.

While President Xi Jinping may not want to facilitate Western sanctions on Russia, “Chinese banks have always been very careful not to become a target of secondary sanctions because it would be very costly,” Kluge said, pointing to cases where Chinese banks have ended relationships with Russian customers.

The package also aims to hobble the development of Russia’s energy sector and future sources of cash , including Arctic liquified natural gas projects which have been shipped critical LNG technology by a Chinese company.

In addition, the package targeted people involved in the forced transfer and deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia. Five people in Russia and Russian-occupied Ukraine were sanctioned after participating in the forced militarization and reeducation of the children and providing them with Russian passports.

AP White House Reporter Colleen Long aboard Air Force One contributed to this report

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

U.S. reporter Evan Gershkovich, jailed in Russia on espionage charges, to stand trial

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U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich , who has been jailed for over a year in Russia on espionage charges, will stand trial in the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg, authorities said Thursday.

An indictment of the Wall Street Journal reporter has been finalized and his case was filed to the Sverdlovsky Regional Court in the city about 870 miles east of Moscow, according to Russia’s Prosecutor General’s office.

Gershkovich is accused of “gathering secret information” on orders from the CIA about Uralvagonzavod, a facility in the Sverdlovsk region that produces and repairs military equipment, the Prosecutor General’s office said in a statement, revealing for the first time the details of the accusations against him.

The officials didn’t provide any evidence to back up the accusations. There was no word on when the trial would begin.

World & Nation

U.S. journalist marks a year in a Russian prison as courts keep extending his time behind bars

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich marks a year behind bars Friday following his arrest by Russian authorities who accuse him of espionage.

March 28, 2024

Gershkovich was detained while on a reporting trip to Yekaterinburg in March 2023 and accused of spying for the United States. The reporter, his employer and the U.S. government denied the allegations, and Washington designated him as wrongfully detained.

The Federal Security Service, or FSB, alleged at the time he was acting on U.S. orders to collect state secrets but also provided no evidence.

Uralvagonzavod, a state tank and railroad car factory in the city of Nizhny Tagil about 60 miles north of Yekaterinburg, became known in 2011-12 as a bedrock of support for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Plant foreman Igor Kholmanskikh appeared on Putin’s annual phone-in program in December 2011 and denounced mass protests occurring in Moscow at the time as a threat to “stability,” proposing that he and his colleagues travel to the capital to help suppress the unrest. A week later, Putin appointed Kholmanskikh to be his envoy in the region.

Putin has said he believed a deal could be reached to free Gershkovich, hinting he would be open to swapping him for a Russian national imprisoned in Germany. That appeared to be Vadim Krasikov, who is serving a life sentence for the 2019 killing in Berlin of a Georgian citizen of Chechen descent.

Russia extends detention of U.S. reporter Evan Gershkovich on espionage charges

A Moscow court has ordered Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich to remain in jail on espionage charges until at least late June.

March 26, 2024

Asked last week by the Associated Press about Gershkovich, Putin said the U.S. is “taking energetic steps” to secure his release. He told international news agencies in St. Petersburg that any such releases “aren’t decided via mass media” but through a “discreet, calm and professional approach.”

“And they certainly should be decided only on the basis of reciprocity,” he added in an allusion to a potential prisoner swap.

Gershkovich faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

He was the first U.S. journalist taken into custody on espionage charges since Nicholas Daniloff in 1986 at the height of the Cold War. Gershkovich’s arrest shocked foreign journalists in Russia, even though the country had enacted increasingly repressive laws on freedom of speech after sending troops into Ukraine.

The son of Soviet emigres who settled in New Jersey, Gershkovich was fluent in Russian and moved to the country in 2017 to work for the Moscow Times newspaper before being hired by the Journal in 2022.

Moscow court rejects Evan Gershkovich’s appeal, keeping him in jail until at least June 30

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich will remain jailed on espionage charges until at least late June.

April 23, 2024

Since his arrest, Gershkovich has been held at Moscow’s Lefortovo Prison, a notorious czarist-era prison used during Josef Stalin’s purges, when executions were carried out in its basement.

The Biden administration has sought to negotiate his release, but Russia’s Foreign Ministry said it would consider a prisoner swap only after a verdict in his trial.

U.S. Ambassador Lynne Tracy, who has regularly visited Gershkovich in prison and attended his court hearings, has called the charges against him “fiction” and said that Russia is “using American citizens as pawns to achieve political ends.”

Since sending troops to Ukraine, Russian authorities have detained several U.S. nationals and other Westerners, seemingly bolstering that idea.

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