HARLINGEN — The boats are ready to launch.
The Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge near Alamo is preparing to welcome the new year with a kayaking event on its Headquarters Pond.
Kayaks will be provided, along with life preservers and paddles. Novice kayakers will receive some training before launching.
“They’re tandem kayaks, they’re all two-seaters, and it’s usually a great event and we get a lot of people,” said Chris Quezada, the 2,088-acre refuge’s ranger. “There’s not a fee for the event, only the entry fee which is five dollars.
“A lot of people bring their kids, and we get a lot of couples who come by,” he added.
The kayaking begins at 8:30 a.m. and continues until 1:30 p.m. this Saturday.
“We supply everything, and give a quick course for anybody who has no experience kayaking,” Quezada said. “The water is very shallow, maybe three feet at its deepest point, so that helps our visitors to not get too discouraged when they get into deeper areas of the pond.”
As for the weather, things are looking up for the weekend, with an expected high on Saturday in Alamo in the low to mid-60s.
“That’s a good thing, and I was hoping for a little warmer temperature,” Quezada said. “It should be a nice, winterish day in the Valley.”
If You Go
WHAT — Kayak Head-quarters Pond at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge
WHEN — Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
WHERE — 3325 Green Jay Road, Alamo
COST — Free after paying $5 refuge entry fee
