This section should be clear, but we will be prepared to do portages, if necessary. USDA Forest Service river permits are required from 5/24-9/2 for 2013, so not yet. We will do our own shuttle, instead of relying upon TAPC reimbursement.
I can meet others for a carpool from Blair Township Hall on 633 south of Grawn at 8:45AM, if interested. Otherwise, we'll unload boats & gear at Dobson about 10AM, ready to shuttle by 10:15ish. We will plan to be on the river for 4-5 hrs, from approx 11 AM - 3:30 PM, including a short lunch break. This is a challenging, 14-mile section of the Pine, with some of the fastest current in NW Lower MI, some tight bends & sweepers. It is slower upstream where narrower, so a little more time to react, though more downed trees block the river, and wider downstream where faster, so more room to manuever.
All paddlers are required to wear PFDs, should be dressed in appropriate clothes for the weather, have bow & stern lines, bailer, dry bag of warm clothes, snack for extra energy, and skills to manuever across river quickly, to avoid obstacles, including logjams & rocks. Kayakers should have a skirt for their boat. There are vault toilets at the Dobson Bridge put-in, midway at Peterson Bridge, and at the Low Bridge take-out. Parking permits are required, $5 for each car, paid at the access, unless you have a National Forest annual or senior pass.
If cold rain, this trip may be cancelled.