[Rhodes22-list] Memorial Day Plans

[Roger Pihlaja]

Steve,

Well, the really heavy rains seem to have stalled out over Wisconsin
overnight.  This weather is now forecast to arrive here by tonight &
continue thru Memorial Day.  Therefore, change of float plan!  Instead of
attempting an overnight kayak trip on the Pigeon River, we're thinking about
getting in a quick day trip on the Rifle River.

Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium

----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Alm" <salm at mn.rr.com>
To: "Rhodes" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Saturday, May 29, 2004 11:44 AM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Memorial Day Plans


> 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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> >
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