re: [Paddlewise] missouri river trip

Hi Buddy,

I live in Omaha and have considered the same sort of trip, but haven't
looked into it.  I think the Army Coor of Engrs would be the place to
get most of the information that you need, or at the least, refer you to
where the information can be found.  You may have to spend a few bucks
on toll calls, to find the right person, in the Coor, that can provide
or direct you to the river info.  Other paddlewisers will likely know
more than I do.

Regarding a rudder: go to the mariner kayak site and read the
information on paddle technique for paddling without a rudder. 
http://www.marinerkayaks.com/  Then go out to a lake with 25mph winds
blowing and see if you can manage a straight coarse, at most headings,
by paddling on both sides of the boat. That should tell you whether or
not you need a rudder.  You might not have to worry too much about side
winds as there would likely be a valley effect with the wind whistling
down the river, in most places.  I wonder if you could take a kayak
paddle apart and use half of it as a canoe paddle (for days with high
crosswinds)?

I would want some kind of radio to let you know if there are flood
conditions developing, and there would no doubt be a ph number to the
coor of engrs that would have the best info on this.  So if conditions
got scary, you could walk into a town and call the flood number and
better access the danger of the river.  I would guess that the weather
channel on a vhf would give you the local weather as well as
communication with barge traffic, but I don't know for sure.

Are you thinking about paddling all the way from central MT?

Mike McNally, mmcnally3_at_prodigy.net


> Date: Sun, 26 Mar 2000 14:31:15 -0600
> From: Knox <knoxb_at_lvnworth.com>
> Subject: [Paddlewise] kayak trip information

> I recently purchased a Folbot GII with a trip DOWN the Missouri River in
> mind.  I live near Kansas City and would like to fly the boat north and
> float home.  This is my mid-life adventure...it was this or a Harley.

> Surely someone has done this since Lewis and Clark...I was wondering what
> information might be available out there.  I've never kayaked and I was
> born and raised in West Texas where water was for drinking, not floating
> upon.

> I camp, hike, and fish, so I understand about food, water, PFDs, etc.
 
> What am I missing?  What could I do stupid that would endanger my life or trip?

> What special equipment should I consider?  A foot rudder?

> I'm not smart enough to know what to ask.

> Thanks,
> Buddy Knox
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