[Rhodes22-list] Memorial Day Plans

[Steve Alm]

Roger,

I'm sure you're seeing the same thing I am.  We're getting some pretty
crappy weather here in MN with vast areas under flash flood warnings--some
areas not really known for flooding, but because the ground is already
saturated.  Of course it'll be in MI in 36-48 hours.

Slim

> 
>> Hi Everybody,
>> 
>> Well, my two sons & I have a long 4 day weekend.  We're invited to a wedding
>> on Saturday, so we couldn't go away for the entire time.  Originally, we were
>> going to take Dynamic Equilibrium & explore a section of Michigan's Inland
>> Waterway from the Lake Huron coast at Cheboygan, MI traveling inland west to
>> about Indian River, MI.  This section of the Inland Waterway includes the
>> Cheboygan Lock, the Cheyboygan River, Mullett Lake, Burt Lake, & the Indian
>> River.  A lot of this trip would be motoring with the only sailing being on
>> Burt Lake & Mullett Lake.  GBI's single-handed mast raising system would have
>> gotten a workout, raising & lowering the mast to get under the various low
>> bridges & other low clearance obstacles.
>> 
>> Then, we got all this rain in the last couple of weeks.  In fact, May, 2004
>> is
>> turning out to be setting a new record for rainfall here in Michigan.  There
>> is a 28.5 mile stretch of the Pigeon River that empties into Mullett Lake
>> that
>> provides some of the best whitewater in the lower penninsula at any time of
>> the year.  With all the heavy rain we've had this month - well surfs up baby!
>> With the high water in the Pigeon River, this is a totally unique opportunity
>> & we decided to leave Dynamic Equilibrium at home in order to do an overnight
>> kayak trip.
>> 
>> Our float plan calls for launching the 3 kayaks at the Sturgeon River Valley
>> Rd. Bridge about 10 miles east of I-75 & Vanderbilt, MI on Sunday.  We will
>> have all our camping gear on board the 3 kayaks in dry bags.  Since this is a
>> one way river trip, we will have 2 vehicles.  Prior to launch, we will
>> position one of the vehicles at the 1st night's stop at a primative
>> campground
>> in the Pigeon River State Forest near the Red Bridge @ Webb Rd.  Having a
>> vehicle available at the midpoint of the trip gives us more options.  If one
>> of us gets hurt, one of the kayaks gets damaged, the weather is lousy, the
>> river is just impassible due to high water, fallen trees, floating debris,
>> etc; then, we have the option of bailing out after the 1st day.  Assuming we
>> stay Sunday night, we will load the camping gear into the vehicle & carry
>> just
>> the inflated dry bags in the kayaks for floatation on the 2nd day.  We will
>> have to shuttle vehicles around so one of the vehicles is spotted at the
>> take-out point at the Clement Rd. Bridge about 16.5 river miles downstream
>> from our camp site.  The Clement Rd. Bridge is just south of where the Pigeon
>> River empties into Mullett Lake.  The "best" whitewater occurs on the section
>> of river we will encounter on the 2nd day.  This is why we don't want the
>> extra weight of the camping gear in the kayaks & why we do want the extra
>> floatation from the inflated dry bags.  Nearly all of this trip will be
>> within
>> the boundaries of the Pigeon River State Forest.  Normally, the Pigeon River
>> State Forest is pretty popular with morel mushroom hunters at this time of
>> year.  But, it's been so wet that most of the mushroom beds will be
>> underwater.  This is a pretty isolated, wilderness region & we don't expect
>> to
>> see anyone else all weekend.  We do hope to see some wild elk.
>> 
>> Roger Pihlaja
>> S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
>> 
>> 
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