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Newsletter of the Prairie State Canoeists
May 1, 2001  - Vol. 33 # 4

From the Chair: 

PSC web site: http://www.psc.ctsserver.com

A long time project of the Club, creation of an archive of all Club documents including newsletters, membership directories, and trip reports has now been completed. Thanks to the Tennysons for providing copies of their early newsletters and to Peg Strobel for working with Northern Illinois University. NIU now has the official PSC archive in its Regional History Center, which emphasizes recreation and environmental concerns for the northern Illinois area. 

We had our first in several years trip leader training session on April 28th. A good turnout - about a dozen individuals who came to find out more about leading trips for the Club. Several individuals were involved in organizing the event but a special thanks to Christina Taylor for initially raising the idea and following through with implementation. 

See you on the river,
Bill



Web Site, PSC Items for Sale, Canoes for Sale


PSC Web Site 
http://www.psc.ctsserver.com. The members only password is e-mailed to all members whose e-mail address is in the PSC Membership list which is maintained by Bob Kane. If you want the password please get y our e-mail address in our directory. Please note that the newsletter editor does not maintain a membership list and that requests for the password cannot be honored by Rick Fleming. Hot line for late trip postings: call Bob Kane at (815) 744-8129 if you are planning a last minute river trip and would like us to put an entry on the web for you. Include the details of when and where, with your name and a phone number to contact you. Send, address change to Bob Kane, sign-in to Vic Hurtowy, trip reports to Rick Fleming, 23 N. Emerson St., Mt. Prospect IL 60056, 847-253-9383, fax -5216, rfleming@ netconsulting.com (e-mail preferred). Trip leaders do not have to use the pre-stamped envelopes for trip reports - e-mail if you can.

PSC Items for Sale 
PSC T-shirts ($10) and sweatshirts ($20) are available from Christina Taylor at 708-445-0871; E-mail: peace4368@ aol.com. Christina can bring your shirts to a trip or send via UPS.

Canoes For Sale

• Perception Mirage - 13' whitewater kayak, floatation spray skirt, $225 
  Don White, 847-698-2303. 

• Aquatera Chinook - 16' sea kayak, yellow.  Never been in the water. $750. 
  S.Vilardo svilardo@netzero.net 

• Bell Wildfire, black and gold, kevlar/graphite $800. 
  815-729-0713 Bill Dethlefsen wecanoe@aol.com. 

• We-no-nah 16' Solo Plus, (solo or tandem) 50 lbs, teal, paddled 1 season. $1000 ($1600 new) 
  Noreen Long 847-486-0752. 

• Mad River 16' solo large vol tripping fiberglass, $300. 
  Alum john boat 10' $250
  raft, white water, rubber 8' & 6' $150 & $75. 
  Sawyer 17'9" cruiser fiberglass $675 
  Bob Warren 630-739-6040. 

• Wood strip solo canoe, 12'-10", made for my daughters who have out grown it. The canoe is 25" wide and 10" deep. It is intended for a person up to 100 Lbs. $350. 
  Dave Johnson 815-634-2811. 

• Grumman 18' shoe keel, $400 
  John Fiorio 847-699-2895. 

• Mad River Explorer, Special Ed. Kevlar, 16'4" 50-lbs. white w/blue near perfect condition. $1,300. 
  Dagger Rival Whitewater canoe 12.2 ft. 40-lbs. w/matching Aqua color full size floatation $650 for both canoes..
  Budrys 847-735-0810.

Newsletter Issues and Deadlines:

Trip Announcements:

Trip #40a Memorial Day Mon May 28
Pecatonica R. IL Beginner
Joan Taylor taylorjrs@aol.com 630-495-1565
For those who can't get away for the weekend, here's an opportunity for a pleasant paddle. Take Bus. Route 20 just west of Rockford to Route 18 and go north to Pecatonica. The put in is in the park area. Put in is 10 a.m.

Trip #41a Sat June 2
Eagle Spring Lake, WI Advanced Beginner
Jerry Kolar 847-336-1187
About 25 miles southwest of Milwaukee, we will launch into Eagle Spring Lake. A channel will lead us to Lulu Lake and then into Crooked Creek. Lunch will be on a scenic overlook where we can gaze at a pristine lake and Crooked Creek. Parking and lunch site are tight. There is a boat limit.

Trip #42 Sat June 2
Mackinaw R. Advanced Beginner
Jim & Alice Deck 309-467-2085
This trip will be done with the Mackinaw Canoe Club, paddling from East of Tremont, IL to I-155. We will be paddling approximately 8 miles with several nice gravel bars to look for fossils, etc. there may be some sweepers. Carshift at 9:30. Take Rt 9 east of Tremont, IL approximately 2.5 miles, turn right on white Oake Grove Rd. and continue to the "T" in the road. Turn left (east) and turn at right bend in road continue to North side of put-in at bridge 1/2 mile.

Trip #43 Sun June 3
Kishwaukee R. IL Cleanup, Adv Beg
Joan Taylor taylorjrs@aol.com 630-495-1565
Bob & Linda Alwitt 847-480-9477
Call for details, as we will be scouting this out prior to the trip. Section of river in Mc Henry county. 

Trip #44 Fri-Tues June 8-12
Pine, Ltl Manistee ... MI Adv Beg
Bill Kessler ksir@aol.com 847-317-9438
Joan Taylor taylorjrs@aol.com 630-495-1565
...and the Boardman Rivers in Michigan.
Hope you can join us for a fantastic five days on the most beautiful, clean rivers in our area. We will spend at least two days on the Pine, maybe three, one on the Little Manistee and one on the Boardman. We will decide as a group. It is okay to come for part of the time. Sorry no dogs allowed in the campground. Take I-94 east to I-196 north on MI 37 to Paddlesports Center and Campground, (just south of the Pine River) 616 862-3471, prpc@michigancanoe.com. Put in drive begins each day from the campground. Please let one of the leaders know when you are coming.

Trip #45 June 9-10
Pere Marquette MI Beginner
Barclay/Strobel 708-386-1371
Mike Budrys 84-735-0810
The Pere Marquette is one of the most beautiful rivers in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. It is a fairly gentle river that winds between sandy and wooded banks with one short Class I rapids. Wildlife include deer, turkey, blue heron, beaver, etc. From Chicago take I-94/I-196 to Grand Rapids. Take MI 37 north 65 - 70 miles to North Avenue (1 mile north of Baldwin MI.) Turn right for 1 mile and then left at Putnam's. Sites will be reserved for PSC. (Alternate route: from Chicago take I-94/I-196 north to Holland; then take MI 31 north to MI 10, near Ludington. Go right (east) on MI 10 to MI 37 and then right (south) to North Avenue and left to Putnam's.) On Saturday the car shift from the campground will be at 9:30 AM (Chicago time). The Pere Marquette is part of the wild and scenic river program and paddlers are required to obtain permits. You must contact the leaders at least two weeks in advance to assure permit availability; there is a new $2/day permit charge. 

Trip #46 Sat-Sun Jun 9-1-
Whitewater Open Canoe Workshop
Sandon Bate 847-587-7623
This workshop will be an ACA registered event for club members interested in learning whitewater canoeing skills. Attendance is limited to eight (8) students, so call early if you are interested. There is a $15 per person fee for the workshop (ACA members receive a $5 discount). The workshop's purpose is to build on the skills learned at the Open Canoe Moving Water Workshops (or equivalent). The more you know, the more you will enjoy the sport, We will be paddling on whitewater this time so that you can practice what you have previously learned and add some new skills. The agenda for the workshop includes: outfitting your canoe, entry and exit, trim, moving forward and reverse, stopping, spins, sideslips, bracing, use of eddies, ferries, surfing, running ledges and negotiating rock gardens. We will be paddling in Northeast Wisconsin. Participants need to supply their own equipment. Boats are to be outfitted with extra flotation. Helmets and PFDs must be worn at all times on the river. Your homework is for this class is reading Bill Mason's Path of the Paddle in its entirety. Check your library or purchase this book. To assure that we adhere to ACA requirements on the ratio of students to instructors, you must register by June 1st, 2001. Call Sandon if you would like to register for this program.

Trip #47 Sun-Thurs Jun 10-14
Buffalo R. AR. Intermediate River Camping
Ed Nelson elncanoer@yahoo.com
Contact trip leader.

Trip #48 June 16-17
Kickapoo R, WI
Joan Taylor taylorjrs@aol.com 630-495-1565
Call trip leader.

Trip #48a Sat June 16
Hennepin Feeder Canal, IL Beginner
Jerry Kolar 847-336-1187
South of Sterling/Rock Falls, the Feeder Canal will take us to aqueduct # 9. Here the Feeder flows over the Green River. It took fifty years to approve this system and seventeen years to build. The canal closed in 1951 and became a State recreation area in 1970. About a century after construction, we will do about a 12 mile no shuttle trip. 

Trip #49 June 16 & 17
Fawn & Pigeon, IN
Paul & Alice Clifford 815-886-2554
Steve Shapiro 847-253-5875
Once again we will be canoeing the Fawn & Pigeon Rivers through an Indiana Wildlife area. This is a great family trip. We will be camping at Riverside campground near Shipsewana. Those who are interested may join the leaders for an Amish Dinner Sat. Night. Take the Indiana Toll Road east to Indiana Route 13, Middlebury exit. Go south about 2 miles to Route 120. Go east on route 120 about 9 1/4 miles to road 450 West. Go north (left) about 1 mile to Riverside campground. Bring dump clothes, PFD's and lunch for both days. Carshift at 9:15 both days.

Trip #50 Sat-Sun June 23-24
Beginning Whitewater in WI
Bill Barclay 708-386-1371
Kim Parsons 414-764-2827
This is the second of our trips designed for paddlers learning the art of whitewater canoeing; a good chance to apply all those moves you learned in the white water clinic.. We will paddle rivers in northern WI, with the choice of rivers dependent upon water levels and the groups' interest/experience. Likely candidates re again the Pike (excluding Yellow Bridge Falls), Oconto, Wolf, Sections I and/or II, Peshtigo Section II, etc. There will be no rapids rated above Class II on this trip. This is a chance to build skills and confidence with support of other paddlers. Call the leaders for details regarding camping, meeting places, etc.

Trip #51 Sun June 24
Lower Fox R. IL Beginner
John & Barb Shaw 630-961-3479
This is a beginner trip and includes "the Dells" section of the Fox. The put-in may be either at Sheridan or at Route 52. Call the trip leaders for directions. The carshift will be at 9:30 and will have to pay a parking fee of $3.00 at Ayer's Landing. As always PFD'S are required for every person and dump clothes are always recommended, bring your lunch.


Trip #57 Mon-Fri Jun 25-29
Root R. MN Canoe & Bike Adv Beg
Carol & Tom Gorman 630-469-0070
Marge & Harve Keil 847-526-8890
Normally we plan this trip for the first week of June, but the last three years we have run into problems like last year's 100 year flood. So we're planning on the LAST WEEK on June this year. Anyway, its a beautiful area, a great paved bike trail and a very nice river to paddle. We plan two days on the North branch and one day on South Branch if the water level permits. Then we will do 2-3 days on the bike trail. Take I-90 north, thru LaCrosse, WI. Cross the Mississippi, exit at Rt.43. Go south to Rushford. Turn right west) onto Rt. 16. Go to Lanesboro, at Rt. 250 turn right (towards 
town center) about 1/4 mile is Lanesboro City park on right. Turn into park, follow road to campground in back. It has electric, flush toilets and hot showers. Travel time is about 7 hours (330 miles from Chicago area). We will 
base camp there. Campsites cannot be reserved, but please call either leader if coming. We will be in camp Sunday afternoon (June 25).

Trip #53 Thurs June 28
Yellow R. Advanced Beginner
Joan Taylor taylorjrs@aol.com 630-495-1565
Tony Spanley 219-867-2461
This is a wooded, winding river with some logjams and possible fast water. From Chicago area take 94 east to Rt. 49. Go south to Rt. 30 and east about 26 miles to Rt. 35, go south about 6 miles through Knox and turn east on Rt. 8 about 8 miles to Rt. 17. On 17 go south about one mile to the river. Put in is 9:30. (This is a distance to travel in the morning. If you were able to go up on Wed., hiking and camping at Indiana Dunes State Park would be a good option.) Please call a leader to check on water level.

Trip #54 Sun July 1
Du Page R Beginner
Charles/Zack Flagg 630-231-9085
Car shift at 9:30 from Riverside Parkway Canoe Access (Plainfield Township Park District) located off Frontage Rd. off interstate 55. Entrance to Frontage Rd. is in the s/w corner of 55 and Caton Farm Rd. Caton Farm Rd. is located 2.5 miles north of RTE.52 on RTE. 59. Go east from 59 on Caton Farm Rd. to get to interstate 55. We will paddle to Shepley Rd. Bring lunch, PFD.

Trip #55 Sun July 1
Salt Creek, IL Advanced Beginner
Raymond Ziemer rgziemer@worldnet.att.net
Depending on water conditions, this could be either an easy float or an exciting ride through the west suburban forest preserves, from Graue Mill near Oak Brook to Plank Road Meadow on the DesPlaines River. From I-294, exit at Ogden Ave westbound, near Hinsdale. At York Road turn north 1/4 mile to parking lot downstream from the mill. Carshift 9:30. Call or e-mail leader for updates.

Trip #55a Wed July 4
Surprise Trip Advanced Beginner
Joan Taylor taylorjrs@aol.com 630-495-1565
Mark Rothman paddle@adhoc-solutions.com
Surprise trip close to Chicago. Call or Email after June 15th. 

Trip #58 Sun July 8
Bark R. WI Advanced Beginner
Joan Taylor taylorjrs@aol.com 630-495-1565
Christina Taylor peace4368@aol.com 708-445-0871
Nice quiet, narrow river to paddle with some twists and turns. Wild life sightings possible with downfalls to make it interesting. Take SR 31 north from McHenry to US 12 north. Follow US12 in Wisconsin towards Elkhorn where SR 67 joins US 12. Follow SR 67 north through Dousman to SR 18. Turn left on SR 18 (west). Go a little more than a mile to the park on the left for the put in. (Be aware that there are two turn offs.) Look for cars with canoes! Carshift at 10 a.m. Please let one of the leaders know you are coming.


Trip #56 note date change Sat-Sun July 7-8
Little Manistee Beginner & Intermed Trips
Barclay/Strobel 708-386-1371
Paul & Alice Clifford 815-886-2554
This is a surpassingly beautiful river in lower Michigan not yet (and maybe never) in the Wild and Scenic River program (between the Pere Marquette and Pine Rivers off highway MI 37); crystal clear water, more wildlife than people. The first day is a beginner trip; the second day is an intermediate trip because of fast water (no rapids) and tight bends. Paddlers will need ability to back paddle, ferry, draw, pry and eddy to do the second day. We will stay at Bear Track Campground. Take Rte 31 north from Ludington to Freesoil Rd; go right (east) on Freesoil Rd to Campbell Rd (approx 8 mi); go left (north) on Campbell Rd to Riverside Rd (4 - 5 miles); go right (east) on Riverside Rd. to the campground (approx 4 miles). Call the leaders for a map and additional details. 

Trip #57 Wed July 11
Fox River, IL Advanced Beginner
Jerry Kolar 847-336-1187
This trip starts and ends in Chain O' Lakes State Park. It is on a Wednesday because motor boats should be rare and we will be mostly in no wake zones. This will be a leisurely trip to see and smell lotus beds which are coming back. We will enter the edge of Grass Lake and paddle upstream for lunch. 

Trip #59 Sat-Sun Jul 14-15
Mecan R. WI Advanced Beginner
John & Marilyn Ziegler 847-742-7316
The Mecan is a small spring fed river with a sandy bottom and a steady current. Numerous downfalls and twists in the river can make for interesting paddling. We will be camping at Mecan River Outfitters at the primitive
group site. All campers must stop at the lodge to check in. Tell them that you are with Prairie State Canoeists. Call leaders for more info on the campground. Mecan River Outfitters 920-295-3439 is located 3 1/2 miles west of Princeton on Hwy 23 or 6 1/2 miles east of Montello on Hwy 23. Please call leaders.

Trip #60 Sun Jul 22
Kishwaukee R. IL Beginner
John & Barb Shaw 630-961-3479
Take I-90 toward Rockford. Be alert for milepost 61. Exit at U.S.20. Go a short distance to the Belvidere exit. Proceed east on Hwy 20 a half mile to the Cherry Valley exit. At the first stop light turn right and proceed to the first intersection (stop sign). Turn left. Cross the bridge to the first street on the right. Turn right into Bauman park. The boat launch is located on the first road on the right after the playground. Car Shift will be at 9:30. PFD'S required, dump clothes always recommended and bring your lunch.

Trip #61 Fri-Sat Jul 27-28
Wildcat Creek IN
Joan Taylor taylorjrs@aol.com 630-495-1565
Call trip leader.

Trip #62 Sat-Sun Jul 28-29
Paddle In The Park
Al Pilgrim 847-328-0145
Call trip leader.

Trip Reports

See Web page for trip reports.

Where to send (e-mail preferred)

Trip Reports
Rick Fleming
23 N. Emerson St., 
Mt. Prospect IL 60056, 
847-253-9383, fax -5216, rfleming@netconsulting.com

Address Changes
Bob Kane
305 Westshore Drive
Shorewood IL 60431
815-744-8129
Paddler@cbcast.com

Sign-In Sheets
Vic Hurtowy
10408 M Todd Tr #GW
Glenview IL 60027
847-803-4575
vicccb@voyager.net


Prairie State Canoeists Application for Membership, Year 2001

Dues: $15. Make checks payable to Prairie State Canoeists. 
Complete, sign and mail to Bob Kane, 305 Westshore Drive, Shorewood IL 60431. 

___Check if this is a new address
Read and Sign Below
I agree that I will take part in Prairie State Canoeists activities at my own risk. I will not hold Prairie State Canoeists, it's officers, trip leaders and/or members responsible for any injuries or property loss I may incur while taking part in club activities. I UNDERSTAND PADDLING IS AN ASSUMED RISK SPORT AND I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR MY SELF/FAMILY. I AM 21 YEARS OR OLDER. ALL ADULTS MUST SIGN.


signed date____________________________________

signed date____________________________________

Last Name, First Name_________________________________________________________________

Spouse Last Name, Spouse First Name___________________________________________________ 

Street Address City State ZIP____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

First names of children under 21. Include age.______________________________________________ 

Telephone E-mail Address______________________________________________________________ 

Print Name/Address in Directory? Y___  N___ 
Print E-mail Address in Dir? Y___  N___



Prairie State Canoeists
c/o Bob Kane
305 Westshore Drive
Shorewood IL 60431

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