Missinaibi River Live Blogging, Part III

[Jay called in this evening. Said it was sprinkling a little up there but stopped for a while, and he wanted to make the call before the rain started again.]

Sunday, July 19, Day 9: We were slow breaking camp this morning. It rained at night but only gray this morning. At 9 am we were packed up, and rain on the river by 9:45. The rain finally stopped by 2 pm, cooler and windy, headwinds but not bad. This was a slow section of the river with only 1 class 2 rapid right after leaving camp, and a class 1 where we stopped for lunch. By 3 pm we were in camp at rapid #30, which I later learned is called First Lake Rapid. It’s a class 1 and camp we camped on the island next to it. We covered 25km, a relatively easy day. It’s 5 p.m. and we’re relaxing at a scenic spot with 9 days behind us and 4 to go. Everything is hanging out to dry; it’s now mostly sunny with a northeast breeze. Monday will be another quiet day. On Tuesday we’ll encounter many rapids in final stretch to Mattice.

Monday, July 20, Day 10: A beautiful morning. The sky was finally clear. Although the temperature was 46 to start, it reached 80 by afternoon. Today was an easy paddle with slow steady current, tail winds and one class 1 rapid. We stopped at old logging bridge but there was no activity or vehicles. We reached Two Portage Falls and camped. We all took turns bathing and lying on the warm rocks. We covered 31km in 7 hours today, but didn’t paddle very hard to do it. We could have easily cut an hour off but took frequent breaks just floating on the river in the sunshine. Tomorrow we begin our push to Mattice.

Tuesday, July 21, Day 11: We broke camp at 8 am, finished portaging around Two Portage Falls, and ran the bottom class 1. The “Devil’s Rapid” series was next. We portaged around Pond Falls and Devil Cap Falls. We ran 1k-long Devil Shoepac Rapids, which was class 1 and 2. We ran Devil Base Rapids, a class 1, and the right side of Devil Base Falls, a class 2. We ran Z-Drag Rapids far left, after portaging our gear. After lunch, considering the continuing sunny warm weather with tail winds and current, we decided to push on to Big Beaver Rapids. We ran Upper Albany Rapids, a class 1, and Sleeping Beauty Rapids, no problem. At the bottom of Lower Albany Rapids, a class 2 ledge flipped Dan and Mary, and after the yard sale, the loss was one sock and a fishing pole missing. We rolled into Big Beaver Rapids by 5 p.m., a long day but not excessive. We can now lay over tomorrow and swim and relax without breaking camp. Covered 39km today.

PS: Big Beaver Rapid is raging whitewater at this level. It’s Class V, an awesome sight. It will be fun to explore tomorrow.

Wednesday, July 22, Day 12: it’s noon, this is our layover day and we are all relaxing. We had a slow breakfast, hiking and exploring, fishing and reading, and conversation without having to pack and unpack. Weather is great, bugs not bad. The only downside is we discovered an ATV access trail when portaging yesterday. Locals have cut a path through the woods from a road on the west side of the river down to Big Beaver Rapids. It joins the portage trail and they are driving ATVs down the portage trail to the canoe launch. Right on schedule after breakfast, an 8-wheel Argo ATV showed up with a canoe strapped on top. Two men and a boy got out, unloaded the canoe next to our campsite, left the ATV and went fishing. I took pictures of the ATV, the trail, and the serial number. I will contact Missinaibi Park Headquarters when I return to the states. ATV access has already trashed Glassy Falls near Mattice and the thought of people trashing this place too is sickening. Big Beaver Rapids is pristine. These guys fishing didn’t leave any trash, but with access it could be the next party hangout by less responsible users. I hope this can get stopped.

I will call again for the last time on Friday when we reach Mattice.

Live Blogging from the Missinaibi, Part II

[Editor's note: Jay was a day late calling in because it was raining too hard on Tuesday night to come out of his tent and use the satellite phone.]

Day 5, Wednesday, July 15: We stayed at Barclay Bay campground in the provincial park last night. Left this morning at 9:30 am–we had a slow start getting things together. We paddled the rest of Missinaibi Lake to the source of the river, which was 12km, 3 hours. So it took us 2 days and 9.5 hours of paddling to cross Missinaibi Lake. We had excellent weather to make this huge open water crossing. Reached the source of the Missinaibi River, water was slow draining out of the lake. A little bit downstream from the source is first rapid, a class 2, which we ran after scouting. The next two class 1s we boat scouted and ran. We camped at Flying Post Creek. Bugs were bad in daytime, but at camp in the evening they were surprisingly good. Even though we were way back in woods, we were able to cook dinner and sit around in camp. Suddenly at bedtime the bugs found us again, so everybody dove for the tents at 10 pm. Total of 28km: 13km on the lake, 15km on river.

Live Blogging from the Missinaibi River

[Jay called in on the satellite phone around 7:00 this evening with a trip progress report, which is posted below. -Loretta]

Friday, July 10: we left Lansing and drove as far as Alona Bay on Highway 17 in Ontario. Car camped for the night near the highway and Lake Superior.

Saturday, July 11: we drove the rest of the way and launched on Hawk Lake at 11 a.m. Paddled only 1.5 hours before being blown off Manitowoc Lake by high winds around 1:30 p.m We were windbound for 3.5 hours and got back on the water at 5 p.m. Made it to camp at the Stony Falls portage at 8 p.m. Stony Falls was our destination for that day, so we were on schedule even though we had down time. Paddled 30km total, late day but had time to get to camp.

Sunday, July 12: we broke camp at 8 a.m., finished portaging Stony Rapids, back on the water at 9:15 a.m. Traveled only 6km, by 11:45 we were blown off the lake again. Tried again at 2 p.m., winds still too high so we bush camped. We lost the whole day and were 22km behind schedule.

Monday, July 13: OMG, we made it all the way to Missiniabi Lake today. Light winds pushed us all day. Launched at 8:40 a.m. Passed town of Missinaibie by 9 a.m. Passed the previous campsite we were supposed to reach yesterday evening . Had headwinds in p.m. but still made great progress. We wanted to stage for Missinaibi Lake the next morning, and we made up almost all of our time.

Tuesday, July 14: we started at 8 a.m. crossing Missinaibi Lake. The lake was dead calm. Rounded Fairy Point, no wind. Lunched at Whitefish Falls, still no wind. Reached the provincial park campground at 4 p.m. We had planned to camp tonight on an island but it was already occupied so decided to not keep pushing on.  We found a group site out of way of other people. Paddled 24km today, still a couple km short due to slow travel days because of the wind. We’ll be on the river tomorrow.

Weather: a few sprinkles but nothing significant, hovering in 50s at night, high 60s to low70s during the day, close to 80 today.

Bugs are horrible, all mosquitoes. There are a few deer flies and no black flies, but the mosquitoes are out in force.

Saw a moose this morning, and saw black bear swim across the narrows of Lake Missinaibi yesterday.

Will call in again Friday evening, July 17.

Trip Report: Au Sable River 2008

Ever wanted to paddle the Au Sable River from the headwaters near Grayling all the way to Lake Huron at Oscoda? Canoe racers in the annual Au Sable Marathon do it in 14 hours, but mere mortal paddlers take somewhat longer, so this year we’ve broken it up into four weekends. Part I of the trip took place this past February 23-24 as the 27th Annual Au Sable River Overnight. Part II of the journey went from Parmalee to FR 4001 on April 26-27, and Part III went from FR 4001 to Five Channels Dam on May 10-11. Part IV will go from Five Channels Dam to Oscoda on June 21-22. Click “keep reading” for story and photos.

TRIP REPORT: Big South Branch of the Pere Marquette River Overnight

The 2nd Annual BiSBotPeMRO took place as scheduled on Saturday, March 29. The promise of sunny skies and 40-plus degrees came true for the nine paddlers that rendezvoused for this little adventure. The presence of a fair amount of snow still covering the ground was surprising for those of us who have not been up north in the last month. We had been trying to get used to spring downstate.

The previous month’s Au Sable trip had the primary element of winter cold to deal with, otherwise the actual trip on the Au Sable is fairly straight forward. Not the BiSBotPeMRO. It is seldom paddled and is a relative unknown. That makes for lots of deadfall in the river and portaging when you can’t find a way to claw through the natural obstacles.

Many of the paddlers were only in it for the day, and just prior to the final stretch to camp they pulled off the river. The remaining four of us camped on a nice spot with a view of the surroundings. Night came with clear skies and the temperatures quickly dropped into the 20′s, but the weather changed around 2:00 a.m. and the wind came up with overcast skies.

Wildlife was active with sandhill cranes in abundance, along with the many ducks. Owls started chiming in at dusk and when we were all tucked in the coyotes let us know they were nearby. We saw beaver, muskrats and mink on both days in the daytime.

Sunday morning was a little warmer but windier so I think the chill factor balanced out. There was a little sleet like tiny styrofoam beads but nothing more and it didn’t precipitate the rest of Sunday.

Saturday’s portaging was physically draining but Sunday’s was a little easier. However, by the time we got to the last bridge and the slow, marshy section we were still having to jump out or limbo through the deadfall. Even 100 yards from the mainstream of the Pere Marquette River, we had one more portage to do.

The BiSBotPeMRO is not for the faint of heart. It is a tough little river that demands a high price of admission. However, you won’t find a more rewarding experience on a very wilderness feeling river in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan

Jay Hanks, LOAPC President

Shiawassee River Event in May

WilliH2O has asked LOAPC to publicize this upcoming trip. The Shiawassee River group is very active and has done a lot of work to make the public aware of this great river.

May 18, 2008 Shiawassee River Paddle Event If don’t own a boat – Heavners Canoe rental will be on site !!

Compete against other adventure racers in a 7 mile Paddle Race,
or do the leisure paddle with friends and family after racers depart.

Put-In = WaterWorks Park on Broad Street (Milford Rd) in Holly,MI
Take-Out = Strom Park in Fenton,MI

A river in Oakland County many have yet to paddle !

http://www.headwaterstrailsinc.org/images/ShiawasseeRiverMap.jpg

http://www.headwaterstrailsinc.org/images/SE_Michigan_Inset_Map.jpg

Highly Detailed map – Mileage markers
http://preview.tinyurl.com/22fg6e

Icebreaker Paddle

From: Douglas Lanyk

Subject: Ice Breaker Paddle.

Hi All: I’d like to organize a paddle down the Shiawassee From Holly to Fenton,
on Sunday the 16th of March. The river will be very high and the water
quite brisk. The end of the trip may have some Ice on the Fenton Mill
Pond, so we may have a short walk across the ice. I’d like to launch at
11:00 AM from Waterworks Park in Holly. It will be a 3 to 3 1/2 hour
paddle. Just in case I’m bringing a chain saw and other emergency gear.

Headwaters Trails Inc. is putting a down payment on the future public
access point in Oakland County. We have 7 months to raise the next 10K
to buy the property. So I will be doing a sales pitch as we pass the
property. I’ll even throw in some goodies donated by concerned
businesses.

Give me a shout.
Douglas Lanyk
248-634-4551

Douglas Lanyk

2nd Annual Big South Branch of the Pere Marquette River Overnight

The 2nd Annual BiSBotPeMRO will be held Saturday, March 29 through Sunday, March 30, 2008. We plan on meeting at 9:00 a.m. Saturday morning at Custer Bridge on the mainstream of the Pere Marquette River. We will run shuttle from there upstream to launch at 16 Mile Road and Dickinson Avenue.

We intend on camping on public land downstream with no established facilities. You will need to bring everything you need to be self-sufficient for the weekend. However, unlike the February Au Sable trip, we will not be required to float our own firewood down. The snowpack should be gone by then so we can forage for our own firewood.

There are numerous access points along the route, so if someone wished to only paddle for Saturday we could accomodate them by leaving their vehicle at the last bridge before we camp. Anyone wishing to only paddle on Sunday will have to either launch early from the upstream bridge or wait for us at the next downstream bridge. Those locations will be arranged when we run shuttle.

Suffice it to say that wilderness trippers jealously guard the locations of their favorite campsites, and this is no exception. We have a spectacular place to camp with high ground, ample deadfall, plenty of space, great views, easy access to water, and no road access.

Sunday we will float out to join the mainstream and takeout at Custer Bridge. It is prudent to mention that there are numerous logjams on the stream that require portaging. There are more portages on Sunday then Saturday, but the ones on Saturday are more adventurous. Last year I got trapped upstream above a logjam and had to scramble out onto the pile while my boat got vertically stuck in the river. I had to stare at the surreal sight of my canoe vertically bobbing in the current before I could collect myself and recover it.

Although the weather should be nicer then the February Au Sable trip, this is not a beginner trip. Everyone is expected to bring their own equipment and know how to use it Hypothermia is still a very real danger, and people who over-rate their abilities not only put themselves in danger, but put everyone else they are paddling with in danger. There are plenty of opportunities in the summer to learn how to wilderness trip in a canoe or kayak safely.

Jay Hanks

TRIP REPORT: 27th Annual Au Sable River Overnight

We had another excellent weekend on the Au Sable River, with twelve boats and seventeen paddlers participating. Many paddlers were veterans of previous trips, but there still were a few people who were new to this trip, although not new to paddling.

The weather was marvellously cooperative with clear skies and temperatures rising from -10 degrees Friday night to a high of 24 degrees on Saturday. Light winds contributed to the pleasant feeling and it felt very Spring-like.

27th Annual Au Sable River Overnight

The 27th Annual Au Sable River Overnight will be on February 23-24, 2008. We rendezvous in Grayling, MI at the Big Boy Restaurant at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 23. After breakfast we run shuttle down to Parmalee takeout and launch from Ray’s at M-72 and the Au Sable River by 11:00 a.m. Camping is overnight at White Pine State Forest Campground and there is no access from the roads for this campsite. Everything you need for the weekend must be taken downriver such as sleeping bag, tent, food, and firewood.

I mention firewood because it is incredibly difficult to forage for standing dead timber in a State Forest Campground in the wintertime, and the ground is covered with snow. I usually bring a bundle of leftover building 2×4′s or other clean, dried wood not normally considered vulnerable to Emerald Ash Borer. Most of us have scrap construction wood laying around or can acquire it cheaply.

Anyone participating in this weekend paddling trip must acknowledge the risk of cold weather paddling and the risks of hypothermia and/or injury or even death in the event of a capsize and/or swim. Everyone is expected to provide their own equipment, and is therefore considered by everyone else to be self-sufficient for the weekend. THIS IS NOT A BEGINNER TRIP!!!!!!!!! Only those prepared to accept the risks inherent in cold-weather paddling should participate.

Jay Hanks – LOAPC President