As a Midwest native, the North and South Shore’s of Lake Superior have always held a special place near and dear to the core of who I am today. Any boater who has experienced the bond among the boating community in that neck of the woods and the quality of whitewater, has surely walked away with a few stories to tell. Home to some of the largest whitewater in North America, and a surprisingly large concentration of quality runs in such a small area, the season is generally only about a month long, but its ever growing popularity has paddlers coming back year after year for more memories! ~Jesse-IR
Team member Andy McMurray sent in this re-cap of the 2011 spring in the Superior Region, it sums it up nicely:
The 2011 season could only be described as outstanding as the rivers of the Lake Superior region provided our relatively small paddling community with yet another spring of fantastic whitewater.
Fueled by annual snowmelt and teaming with long bedrock slides, ledge drops, and vertical waterfalls, many paddlers foreign to the area are surprised that such reputable whitewater exists in an region not otherwise known for it’s rivers and creeks. Tradition rich, small crews of local boaters wait patiently in upwards six months through very cold winters for our waters to once again come alive, giving a whole new meaning to the term, “off the couch.”
The runs of the Northwoods carry a uniqueness unlike any where else. Concentrated on the North and South shores of the lake, in the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, inland rivers make their final plummet in upwards of several hundred feet per mile into one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world. To be immersed in such aquatic chaos only then to paddle out into a giant sea of calm is an experience second to none, complete only with the traditional roll in the icy waters of Lake Superior.
This season, I traveled from the opposite end of the country to get back on the home creeks. Like many others that make the annual spring pilgrimage, I was awarded with great flows, cold weather, and one of the most friendly kayaking communities around. For us here in the Midwest, the kayaking is all about fun, reuniting with friends, and getting back on our beloved creeks.
Here’s some point of view footage from the season. Enjoy!
A.McMurray
