I had the opportunity to lead two whitewater kayakers down 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 […]
Tag: kayaking
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, […]
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 […]
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, […]
Ocoee River with Team River Runner
Cohen R. and I recently drove to North Carolina for our first visit to the annual #TeamRiverRunner SE Rendezvous. We were treated to good food, new friendships and two days kayaking the Nantahala River followed by a day on big water of the Ocoee. It was a tremendous event with […]
Honing Sea Kayak Skills on Rock Island
I had the honor of leading a great group of veterans and volunteers for our Team River Runner National Sea Kayak Clinic, Aug. 21-26. Five nights on beautiful Rock Island State Park in Lake Michigan off the northern tip of Wisconsin’s Door Peninsula with lots of instruction and good times. […]
Return to the Verde
Last year I paddled Arizona’s Verde River in my TRAK folding kayak. This year I returned to the Verde, this time with Mary and our friends Renee and Dan, each of us in rented inflatable kayaks provided by Verde Adventures. From the river access at Clear Creek to the take-out […]