Some people like to golf, and that’s okay. But instead of joining a golf league, here’s how our informal group of whitewater kayakers (numbering anywhere from 4 to 14) enjoys spending every Tuesday evening at our local whitewater venue, the Red River near Gresham, WI, flowing tonight at about 400 […]
Category: rivers
First-time paddlers try whitewater
Northeast Wisconsin Paddlers’ (NEWP) annual student whitewater outing on the Red River took place this past Saturday. Each year this event gives students from NEWP-led kayaking classes in Appleton, Green Bay and Fond Du Lac the opportunity to practice skills they learned during indoor pool classes. For some it was […]
How to Saturday: Kayak the Wolf at 1250 CFS
Here’s video of a beautiful Saturday morning and a nice high CFS on Wisconsin’s Wolf River today. Derick spins at Hansen’s. We rinse and repeat at Gilmore’s.
Pesh Fest 2019
With the Peshtigo River running at a high level of 28 inches (about 1700 cfs), paddlers enjoyed excellent conditions this past weekend for the 4th annual Peshtigo River Festival, AKA “Pesh Fest.” Hosted by Kosir’s Rapid Rafts, the event is a mashup of paddling, music, food and partying with various […]
Finding Flow in SE Wisconsin
Early season whitewater kayaking has turned into a birthday tradition for me these past few years. However, the rivers in northern Wisconsin are still iced in (up?) so on Wednesday I drove down to the Grafton and Cedarburg area to meet up with my O.W.K.M. (Original Whitewater Kayak Mentor) Rob […]
SRO for Steve Baskis at Canoecopia 2019
Here’s a video of the Steve Baskis presentation on Saturday at Canoecopia 2019, the world’s largest paddle sports expo. We had a good crowd Friday evening too, but the next day it was standing room only to hear Steve’s inspiring story about his life and the Grand Canyon kayak expedition […]
Grand Canyon — Day 12: Homeward Bound
Wednesday, September 12 Last night I was up as late as I ever have been on this trip — until 9:30! It was our final night on the river so everyone was in a joyous mood, which raised our music-making and revelry to a new level. Despite the jollification, I’m […]
Grand Canyon — Day 11: A Sense of Accomplishment
Tuesday, September 11 Today is one of our longest days on the Colorado River — 29.5 miles of mostly flat water — giving us time to talk, laugh and think about how much we’re going to miss this Grand Canyon experience. During this hot, slow section some paddlers choose to […]
Grand Canyon — Day 10: Lava Falls
Monday, September 10 This morning the mood is different. There’s the usual friendly banter over coffee and breakfast. But as we pack the rafts and kayaks the tone is quieter, more subdued. Each of us is thinking about the giant rapid waiting for us. Before we launch from our campsite […]
Grand Canyon – Day 9: Havasu Creek
Sunday, September 9 It’s day 9 of our Team River Runner Grand Canyon kayak trip. Today is a new day and it’s time to get moving. This morning after a tasty breakfast of fried tortilla shells cooked with eggs inside (which I’m told are called “migos”) we are on the […]