[Paddlewise] Mississippi River

To answer questions re my recent posts:

> Do you paddle against the current very far, or generally follow the current?  How late in the year?

The Mississippi has a reputed 4mph current, so plan to go with the flow.  You can paddle against the current, but it is a lot of work and the limited progress gets depressing.  Once I had two experienced paddlers revolt when I suggested paddling back up the channel  and around a large island to look for the mouth of a feeder stream.  On the other hand, there are sometimes expansive  backwaters where the current slows and upriver paddling is not a problem.

You can paddle the Mississippi right to freeze-up, which usually occurs in late November or December.  Some of the best paddling is done when areas of current are still open but the backwaters are developing a crust of ice.

>Should the canals be avoided or can you safely deal with the tugs and barges
>in these restricted waterways?  I'm not sure how many of these are along the
>river, we have a major one, (Chain of Rocks Canal) in our area.

We don't have  canals up here, so I'm not able to comment.  I have yet to see a tug or barge create a wash that a sea kayak can't handle.  Sometimes we like to "play" in the wakes of barges just to get some excitement.  But that's on open water; I have no idea what  would happen in a narrow canal.

>Can you handle the locks or is it better to portage around?

Don't try to portage.  Most of the dams are configured so that it would be difficult to take out and your portage will be unacceptably long and difficult.  Fortunately, locking through is one of the joys of paddling the Mississippi.  The lockmasters have to accommodate all craft, and I have often passed through the locks alone or in the company of just one other kayak.  At other times, I have taken my place among 20 or more power boats in the locks.  Commercial traffic has the right of way, so you have to wait at times.   On occasion, when a double barge is coming through from downriver, we have disembarked and walked to a nearby restaurant to kill the time.  Before you lock through for the first time, I suggest you read a pleasure boater's manual for procedures.  They're really very simple.  The most important safety precaution:  Inside the locks, they usually ask you to grab a rope suspended from the top of the wall in order to hold your place.  Since the water is dropping, you must NEVER let that rope get tangled with your kayak or paddle; also remember to let it slip through your hand, or you will upset your boat.

>The river level can change rather rapidly, is there a good source for
forecasts when you are planning on camping on islands?

Just use your weather radio.  The river does rise and fall, but it isn't subject to flash floods.  You'll have time to react to changes in water levels.

> I've canoed some of the Wisconsin River section you mention, beautiful
>scenery but can get a little shallow in the summer.  In fact one such trip
>caused me to buy the Sawyer Cruiser I still paddle.  The water was low and
>we were using a borrowed aluminum canoe.  After a couple of drags off sand
>bars the sun screen washed off my calves and the aluminum reflector oven
>deep roasted my ankles and lower calves.  Didn't turn red, went straight to
>purple.

Bob, I've paddled the Wisconsin several times every summer since 1972.  It's simply the most beautiful river I know.  When I first went there, I paddled 60 miles on a Memorial Day weekend and saw only one small fishing boat during the entire time.  Now, liveries spew canoes onto the river like a catfish oozes eggs, but once upon a time it was "my" secret spot for renewal -- 60 miles of incredible wilderness  that no one knew about or used.    Seen the Wisconsin  from so low  that I spent as much time dragging the canoe or kayak over the sand as paddling . . .to so high that you couldn't duck under the bridges.  I have laid back in the shallow current and let the water-borne sand scour my body of the day's grime  while facing the setting sun and daydreaming that submersion in this river is is truly how I would like to return to the earth someday.  I've camped through storms on the sandbars and slung a jungle hammock in the woods along this river.  I've seen a morning rainbow in the west from its banks and been lost in its early fog.

I do love the Wisconsin. . .so much that I wish no one else would ever go there!  But I'm glad you did.

Rick


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