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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Group Forum: Solo Tripping was going to post in general, but thought id try it here first. |
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07/09/2012 10:10PM (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
im 99% sure im going to buy a royalex wildfire on wednesday...setting myself up for more creek/river type trips.
i live in the twin cities and am interested in taking a WW paddling class of sorts. class I/II type.
suggestions?
i live in the twin cities and am interested in taking a WW paddling class of sorts. class I/II type.
suggestions?
07/09/2012 10:44PM
Honestly, I'm not sure you need a class if you're only looking at Class I/II. Just hit a river and start having fun. You could try contacting the Minnesota Canoe Association to see if they know of any though. You might be out of luck for this season - it looks like a lot of these sorts of things are done in May and June. See:
University of Minnesota - Duluth: Recreational Sports Outdoor Program
Rapids Riders
University of Minnesota - Duluth: Recreational Sports Outdoor Program
Rapids Riders
07/10/2012 09:14AM
Tony's right, Class 1/2 rapids are pretty much just about reading the river to pick a line to avoid rocks and keeping your boat pointed downstream and in control. Not sure where you can take a class, but if you want, I'm planning on canoeing the Namekagon and Upper St Croix Rivers soon and you're welcome(or anyone else here) to join me. I haven't been on the Namekagon for a number of years, but I remember it as simple class 1 rapids and some cool scenery. Here's what I'm thinking:
Timing: July 21 or 28th weekend trip. Drive up to Grantsburg, WI on Friday afternoon and leave vehicles at outfitters and have outfitters shuttle boats/people up to Hayward or Cable. Do a short paddle that afternoon/evening so can get an early start on Saturday. Saturday and Sunday will be full paddle days to get to Highway 70 @ St. Croix River(near Grantsburg and our vehicles).
Trip Length: 100- 120 river miles depending on put-in location. 50-70 miles on the Namekagon and 50 miles on the St. Croix.
Group Size: Like to keep it relatively small since there alot of miles to paddle.
Timing: July 21 or 28th weekend trip. Drive up to Grantsburg, WI on Friday afternoon and leave vehicles at outfitters and have outfitters shuttle boats/people up to Hayward or Cable. Do a short paddle that afternoon/evening so can get an early start on Saturday. Saturday and Sunday will be full paddle days to get to Highway 70 @ St. Croix River(near Grantsburg and our vehicles).
Trip Length: 100- 120 river miles depending on put-in location. 50-70 miles on the Namekagon and 50 miles on the St. Croix.
Group Size: Like to keep it relatively small since there alot of miles to paddle.
07/10/2012 10:12AM
Or check out the Rapids Riders here in town. Looks like they offer some classes later in the year.
"It is more important to live for the possibilities that lie ahead than to die in despair over what has been lost." -Barry Lopez
07/10/2012 01:39PM
I learned by trial and error. But the most helpful thing I can offer to a beginning river paddler.
When the river current wants to carry you into a rock or undercut bank full of downed trees and hanging branches, you must paddle faster than the current to stay in control. Also, as said above, constantly read the current/water to see what's coming, an have a plan where you want to go. The earlier you turn to avoid an obstacle, the better. If in doubt, get out and walk the bank to scout a tricky area, then choose the best route, or portage it.
Classes will help, but you'll be fine on a class I/II river.
Once you get acclimated, head on down to my neck-o-the-woods for some Ozark river tripping. Yeeee-Hawww!
When the river current wants to carry you into a rock or undercut bank full of downed trees and hanging branches, you must paddle faster than the current to stay in control. Also, as said above, constantly read the current/water to see what's coming, an have a plan where you want to go. The earlier you turn to avoid an obstacle, the better. If in doubt, get out and walk the bank to scout a tricky area, then choose the best route, or portage it.
Classes will help, but you'll be fine on a class I/II river.
Once you get acclimated, head on down to my neck-o-the-woods for some Ozark river tripping. Yeeee-Hawww!
07/12/2012 11:48AM
i learned ww paddling with the mn canoe asso. and ymca camps. i did years of ww before i had any classes though. contrary to conventional wisdom it is often better to use a controlled back ferry rather than trying to outspeed a fast current. this takes quite a bit of skill and practice, but once mastered it puts you in solid control rather than being at the mercy of the current. bill masons book path of the paddle has excellent instruction on controlling a canoe in whitewater.
in the twin cities their is no better river than the kinnikinnick river in river falls, wi, to practice your fast water paddle strokes. unfortunately the take out point is under construction and that necessitates a longer trip ending at the st. croix river and a portage up the bluffs over lake st croix. still it is worth it.
for your new bell canoe the kinnikinnick river is canoe heaven.
in the twin cities their is no better river than the kinnikinnick river in river falls, wi, to practice your fast water paddle strokes. unfortunately the take out point is under construction and that necessitates a longer trip ending at the st. croix river and a portage up the bluffs over lake st croix. still it is worth it.
for your new bell canoe the kinnikinnick river is canoe heaven.
07/12/2012 12:22PM
quote tonyyarusso: "Honestly, I'm not sure you need a class if you're only looking at Class I/II. Just hit a river and start having fun. You could try contacting the Minnesota Canoe Association to see if they know of any though. You might be out of luck for this season - it looks like a lot of these sorts of things are done in May and June. See:
University of Minnesota - Duluth: Recreational Sports Outdoor Program
Rapids Riders"
+1 for the U of MN Duluth program. My son took the class a few years back and said it was a great learning experience. He really enjoyed it.
Watch out for that rock!!!........ Oooo.... That's going to leave a mark...
07/12/2012 06:22PM
I have kayaked for years. Paddled a lot of rivers here in KY before I took my first class. I was amazed that I learned (ACA class 1 and 2).
There is more to kayaking then just staying in the boat through a class 1 or 2. If you are in a crossover or sea/touring kayak, you really need to know how to do a wet exit and reentry. There is also knowing what to wear as you are bound to turn it over in pretty short order (most do so just getting in a kayak for the first time).
Do it right. . .go on line at ACA and look up an outfitter that offers classes and take a class 1 and 2 combo. . .that gets you up to class II rapids. You will not regret it.
There is more to kayaking then just staying in the boat through a class 1 or 2. If you are in a crossover or sea/touring kayak, you really need to know how to do a wet exit and reentry. There is also knowing what to wear as you are bound to turn it over in pretty short order (most do so just getting in a kayak for the first time).
Do it right. . .go on line at ACA and look up an outfitter that offers classes and take a class 1 and 2 combo. . .that gets you up to class II rapids. You will not regret it.
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