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Upper Peninsula rivers take some finesse. Most are mostly impassable. The runnable ones (and stretches) are well covered in Jerry Dennis’ and Craig Date’s 3rd edition of Canoeing Michigan Rivers. The two authors did their field research as young men in the mid-80s. This latest edition is an...

Air quality in the UP is “Very Hazardous” and wind is supposed to be from the NW most of next week. So much for Sylvania Plan B. We need about 3 days of drenching rain across the whole of Ontario and MN. If it clears by mid-August, I have another permit for BWCA. My alternative plans for...

Anyone know whether there are navigable upriver portions of the Black River near Bessemer? Any other paddling suggestions that aren’t whitewater or waterfalls in the vicinity of the Black River Harbor Campground? Working on plan B for next week. Thanks.

I don’t understand the e-bike craze. 10 year olds riding those things. No wonder we live in an obese culture. Some restaurants have nothing green on the menu at all, yet 4 different fried sides. Our culture seems to be allergic to healthy choices. I recently got back on the road after a 3...

I know they don’t mean anything, really. Dark sky reserves are way down the ladder of priority when it comes to policy making. I don’t even have a yard light, to the dismay of one neighbor. So they matter to me. I can’t remember any sight that affected me spiritually more than the Milky Way...

Hello Folks, Anyone do fly-ins with your dog? I have some ear muffs I’m offering to anyone who needs them. Bogan was only a year old when we used them, so they’re small for him now. We used them for the one and only fly-in (and out) we’ll ever do, so they’re in good shape. PM me if you need...

As some here may recall, I had a bicycle mishap in 2023 involving a teen driver and a cell phone. It certainly took years off my backcountry tripping career. Doc said I can’t fall anymore, and if I do fall, I shouldn’t put my arm out to catch myself. Well, now I’m considering a new bicycle...

We picked up the new trailer and I was excited to try some old Yakima canoe cradles on the square crossbars. I had to trim the round rubber flaps out and the resulting square holes were perfect. Carrying a 3rd canoe will come in handy on my trip this month. Wife and I went to the factory in...

Having a cable and cadaver parts in my shoulder, I’m a little worried about a fall in the backcountry. My surgeon said, “Don’t fall, and if you do, don’t extend your arm to catch yourself.” It is an involuntary reaction to extend your hand to catch yourself, so that’s just minutiae. My camp...

Im looking for ideas to convert a homemade portage yoke designed for threaded anchor gunwale inserts to one that will grip standard Northstar carbon fiber gunwales without damage.

This is the uppermost landing on the Little Miami River, just south of Clifton Gorge. Seasonably navigable with augmentation from only one village sewage plant on a tributary. Several low level dams to negotiate. I would struggle to get my tandem Tformex boat down to the water, and the...

After a couple shake down trailer runs, I’m thinking of camping north of Armstrong near Little Caribou or Caribou lake. Anyone familiar with boondocking opportunities up there? I’d like to get close to the water and away from other camps unless a commercial campground is the only option...

We’re hoping to make it to Ted Roosevelt NP. The LMR is likely to be low in October, but I’m wondering if there are some shorter sections that might be navigable for daytrips.

Im trying to remember my wife and my favorite campsites. The one that stands out is a state campground in the UP of Michigan on the Manistique River, south of Germfask, the Seney Wildlife Sanctuary is on the opposite shore. Local outfitter was happy to shuttle. Don’t know if that still...

It’s been a frustrating search for trailers. I’ve decided to look at the crawl in models to avoid the need for a new carport. I eliminated the bird nest issue by taking off the end trim and the front gable siding. I’m also moving the front cross support up to increase the clearance to 7’2”...

I like to collect river oriented merch. Coffee mugs are my favorite. Here are my Rhine River and Ohio River mugs. If you’ve got tacky or cool river merch I’d like to see it.

Wife and I are considering a small camper trailer. We looked at several, and most are poorly made and priced like cars. We found a couple used NuCsmp TABs/TAGs online, which seem to be well made, but also seem too small for two people. We’re driving to Columbus to look at new NuCamp trailers...

I’ve been loading my heavy canoe by using a step ladder. I only need to carry the canoe up two rungs before transferring it to the crossbars. It occurs to me that this is a risky technique, especially when alone. A steep ramp, possibly with a level top would be safer I think, wider than the...

I made this cherry yoke for a Prospector 14 that I recently sold. The thumb bolts are 27” O/C. If you can use it let me know. Price is negotiable.

Is it me, or is wind a bigger factor for canoeing over the last few years? I think I missed the best opportunity this week, and it’s still over 10 mph, headed back to the high teens and 20s. I’ve been watching the weather in parts of MN and Ontario too, and it just seems the fronts tend to be...