No others signed up as of 9AM Monday & 70% chance of cold showers , so moved to Tues 10/4.
The Sturgeon River is one of the most challenging in NW Lower MI, narrow with fast current, tight bends with many obstacles, logjams, rocks, riffles & shallow, narrow gravel bars. Each paddler must be able to manuever on their own, since it is not possible to watch over everyone in the group with so many tight horseshoe turns so close together. We have rescued many paddlers on this river, who did not have the necessary skills, and had to abandon their trip.
This is a 11-mile, 4 hr paddle from the park in downtown Wolverine (northwest side of the bridge) to Fisher Woods, just south of Indian River. We will meet approx 10:00AM, unload boats, then shuttle 10:15-10:30AM. We will stop along the way for lunch. All paddlers should wear PFDs and be dressed in appropriate clothes for the weather. Make sure you also 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 sweepers, stumps, rocks & overhanging branches. Kayakers must have a skirt for their boat to keep warm & dry.
Here are meeting times & places for carpool: Chums Corner Walgreens at 8:00, East Bay Roadside Park across from Bayview Inn at 8:20, or Rapid City turnoff at 8:40 AM. My favorite drive there is to Boyne Falls, then right (east) on Thumb Lake Rd, for gorgeous golden tamaracks in fall.
If inclement weather, call me before you leave home since trip could be cancelled.