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RE: Let's Get On the Rivers!

gutwrencher — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 22:49:54 GMT

A little more about the Madison County rivers. They are my fave rivers in the area, and the North River may be my all time fave. Usually, the North is only doable once or twice a year. It drains fast. You can't run it too high.....or too low. It has to be perfect. There is no guage on either, so visually is the only way.

Any river that runs under or near the bridges of Madison county.....you know will be worth the trip and car shuttle. The North is simply....MAGICAL.

This first pic is of the North, above the put-in, and after a heavy night of rain. You see how skinny it looks. Now imagine how small it must feel when you are flying down river at 4 to 5mph without paddling.. This day.....I turned around and went home. Notice the killer sweeper branch on the right. DANGER. Look ahead to the small canyon wall. Here you take a right turn.....and the next left is a set of Class II rapids:

More North River eye-candy:

.....and a few pics from Middle River:

RE: Let's Get On the Rivers!

gutwrencher — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:50:58 GMT

WOW! Thanks for the PM's and it now looks like at least 2 DN posters will be along for the Panora to Redfield float in 3 weeks. We will overnight/camp near the halfway point. A ClassII section of whitewater is invloved.....but nothing to get panties a twist about. GREAT!

I have two other paddles prior to this planned. Anyone interested in doing the AWESOME South Raccoon run from Nation's Bridge(near Stuart, Iowa) to the P69 Bridge, just holler. You won't believe you are in Iowa at some points along the route. A 100 yard strip of spashy ClassII rapids are fun as hell and you will most likley wish to run it a few times just for smiles.

Here is my personal fave section along the South Raccoon:

And me ready to put-in at Nation's Bridge:

A North River(Madison County) trip is pending. This is for EXPERIENCED paddlers only. It ratchets up to about 13.8 feet per mile in gradient half way through the trip. Serious whitwater, fast, twists and turns and snags and downed trees can wreak havoc. Barbed wire is sometimes stretched out across the river in at least one section. Good eyesight and boat skills are required, unless you have a death wish.

LAST thing for today......check out the link to the video, River Stewards Rock. You'll find a link to the video near the bottom of the page. It's best to right click and "save as target", meaning download it, then watch it....as opposed to doing the buffer thing. Of course if your speed is good....do it however, just watch. Seewhat people do to the rivers and land that God gave us? BUMS! IDIOTS!! LAZY GOOD FOR NOTHING....ARGGHHHH!!!! Just look and see what these freaks have tossed into your MAIN river. Go ahead, look. and I challenge 5 DN posters to STEP UP and do something really good BEFORE the next Bulldog season begins. Bring yer kids....they LOVE this kind of thing and will have a blast. We also get fed for free.

Follow the link below and go to the page needed. I'm rolling a tire across a sandbar and my wife has the red kayak. CRANK IT UP as a nice U2 tune will start playing along with the video.

We were just 2 of about 200 who cleaned up the mess. You are welcome!!!!

Garbage Grab

Let's Get On the Rivers!

gutwrencher — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 13:40:20 GMT

OK, usually, my paddling season starts a little sooner in the year. The Bulldogs run combined with nasty weather has caused a big delay. I had already run 73 miles by this time last year. So now, it's catch-up time.

I'm shooting for 1000 miles paddled this season. I'd love to meet some Nation folks and do a trip or two. Actually, you can join me on any of my trips unless it's too cold, like this Wednesday, and you don't have the right cold water gear.

If you feel like it, post any experience or desires you have. Canoe, kayak? Do you run whitewater or just a relaxing stream? I love wildlife filled streams with sections of class II waves for playing....and eden type spots for sandbar camping. Don't think there is any whitewater in Iowa? Think again. We can go right down to Walnut Woods off 63rd and play all day on class I and II waves, at the right water level. Lizard Creek, North River(Winterset area and under covered bridges) and the Yellow River are experienced paddlers only need apply.

So far I have 2 members of the forum that will be going out with me within the next month or so and a Bulldog player who I will name later after it's confirmed....would also like to go when he returns to Des Moines. Hope it works out....he told me to call him on a certian date so.......

TIME TO PADDLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go to paddlingiowa.com and check out "trip reports" for some of mine from last season. I'm under "Gutwrencher" there also. I also have a paddling blog starting up at the Register in the outdoor sections.

SYOTR!!(see ya on the river)