In the span of one week this June, I led two annual Northeast Wisconsin Paddlers (NEWP) events that showcased opposite ends of the paddling spectrum: a four-day sea kayak camping trip to Rock Island and our annual Student Whitewater Outing on the Red River. One involved loaded sea kayaks, island […]
Category: kayaking
Kayakers’ First Time on Wolf River Section 4
Two whitewater kayakers joined me on Section 4 of the Wolf River for their first run on this challenging stretch. With technical rapids, powerful currents, and plenty of opportunities to test skills, Section 4 delivered exactly the kind of adventure they were looking for. The day included a little bit […]
Between Swims and Strikeouts
Recently I had one of those conversations that sticks with you. Our son Tom helps coach youth baseball and softball teams, including the ones his son and daughter (our grandkids) play on. Earlier this month we were in Texas to watch our 10-year-old grandson play in a big tournament. After […]
Yellow Bridge Rapid on the Pike River
Just downstream of Barker Road near Amberg, WI, where a once-iconic yellow iron bridge gave this rapid its name, the Pike River gathers itself for one of its most action-packed drops. It begins with a quick rightward bend over a slanted, uneven ledge into a large eddy on river right. […]
Wolf River at 2,000 CFS!
Three of us set out to take on 10.5 miles of the Wolf River’s long Section 3 at a level that demanded respect. With flows topping out at 2,000 CFS, familiar lines turned bigger, faster, and far more consequential. What followed was a mix of controlled chaos and clean runs, […]
Season Opener on the Pesh
For my first whitewater run of the season, I paddled the Roaring Rapids section of the Peshtigo River in Wisconsin at 37°F with a strong 15″ bridge gauge level, just under 1,000 CFS. I’ve been on it at higher flows but the waves on Horserace Rapid (starting at 2:35 in […]
Leadership on the Water: Who’s Responsible?
What are your thoughts about responsibility when friends get together to paddle? Have you ever found yourself in an uncomfortable or even dangerous situation when there was no clear leader? I spend a lot of time in leadership roles on the water. I lead sea kayak trips on the Great […]
Why Whitewater Kayakers Should Try Sea Kayaking
Whitewater paddlers are a unique species: part athlete, part river wizard, part chaos enthusiast. You thrive on unpredictability, hydraulics, boofs, and the unspoken thrill of “Will I flip here?” But even the most loyal river junkie can benefit from stepping into a different world; a world with grand horizons, sea […]
Team Tupperware Tackles the Middle Salmon
Paddling the Middle Fork of the Salmon River is no ordinary float. It’s an exhilarating expedition deep into Idaho’s rugged Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. Revered as a bucket-list adventure among whitewater enthusiasts, the river dishes out an ever-shifting blend of Class III and IV rapids that […]
Kayaking Alaska’s Nenana River
On our recent trip to Alaska, we visited my nephew, Sam, and his family, who invited us to go rafting and kayaking on the Nenana River, one of Alaska’s most popular whitewater routes. The river starts at the Nenana and Yanert glaciers and flows north to join the Tanana River, […]