Damned If I Do, Damned If I Don’t

It might seem like a long way off but Memorial Day weekend will be here before I know it. That’s a significant weekend during any year, but this year especially as it’s the weekend of the first ever South Dakota Kayak Challenge. The planned trip consists of 72 miles, starting in Yankton, SD and ending in Sioux City, IA, traveled during an estimated 36 hours by some of the most hardened and seasoned paddlers in the region. It’s a trip I’ve wanted to take ever since I moved back to the Dakotas in 2006.

So what’s the problem?

I’ve always envisioned the trip taking place on a warm sunny day, with a small cooler of beer between my legs and maybe a fishing pole hanging off the gunwale. No deadline. No sweat. A trip down South Dakota’s Missouri River in May could prove to be quite the opposite. The month of May, at least in the upper mid-west, is quite often cold, windy and rainy. Factored with the big water of the Missouri River, paddlers could be faced with… less-than-desirable conditions.

So here’s my dilemma: Do I make the trip knowing that chances of poor weather and tough paddling are very high? Or do I sit this one out and let my first experience on the Missouri be a more pleasurable, relaxing one? You know how these things go. If I stay home, I’ll regret it. If I go, I may regret it. Damned if I do, damned if I don’t.

Word of the Month: Ferry

Ferry: A method of crossing a current without washing down current. The boat faces up current, at an angle to the current. It is paddled up current with sufficient effort to overcome the down current drift of the boat due to the current. The force of the water on the side of boat pushes it to one side. In a back ferry, the boat faces down current and the paddler or paddlers use a backstroke.

These Bad Boys Are Getting Anxious!

Two Dagger Delta’s collecting dust in subzero temps

The South Dakota Kayak Challenge

An exciting new kayaking event is coming to the mid-west. Thanks to all of the organizers – we hope it’s a huge success!

The South Dakota Kayak Challenge is the first marathon-endurance paddling race in the state.

Racers will face 75 miles on the Missouri National Recreational River, starting in history-rich Yankton, S.D., and ending in less than 36 hours in Sioux City, Iowa.

The SDKC portion of the Missouri National Recreational River varies greatly, from narrow channels between islands to areas where the river is more than a quarter-mile wide. Views from Google Earth or even Google Maps can give you an accurate view of the area.

As a first time event aimed at a wide range of paddlers, the SDKC timeframe is 36 hours for all participants. As registrations come in, we hope to develop a series of cut-off times for racing veterans and offer cash prize incentives.

Visit the official site for more information:
http://www.sdkayakchallenge.org/

Lowhead Dams: A Slow Death

I just got back from the 2009 canoe and kayak regatta, held on th Big Sioux River north of Flandreau, SD. At the halfway point, we had to portage a lowhead damn… Surefire deathtraps if your not prepared. This is a shot of the damn.

Canoe and Kayak Regatta

The 2009 Canoe and Kayak Regatta is being held tomorrow, April 24th, on the Big Sioux River. The weather will be less than perfect with rain and wind in the forecast, but the water level is high so the river will be fast. I’ll be glad for my rain gear and chances are good that the pics I bring back won’t depict a bright shiny day like last year (below).

There’s A Canoe In My Garage

I’ve been looking for a gently used canoe for quite a while. I decided it was one of those things I didn’t really “need” so was willing to wait until I stumbled onto one. Well, that finally happened a couple of weeks ago when I ran into a business colleague who happened to have one for sale. After seeing the pictures, I knew it was perfect for what I had in mind: overnight camping trips on the river, or just cruising around with the family. A new canoe can cost well over $1000, but all I need this thing to do is float and get me from point A, to point B. And it’ll do just that. I’m pretty pleased with my find…

Word of the Month: Class I

Class I: Fast moving water with riffles and small waves. Few obstructions, all obvious and easily missed with little training. Risk to swimmers is slight; self-rescue is easy. Local examples: All flatwater; most of the Delaware. Waves may be up to a foot high.

Getting The Bug

It’s April 5th. The lakes and rivers are clear of ice. We just got several inches of snow, which means the rivers will be rising and currents will be swift. My kayaks are hanging in the garage and my rack is in the attic… I think it’s time to dust them off and put them to use.

Harney Peak 360°

A quick 360° view from the top of Harney Peak. No kayaking on this trip though.

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