Canoeing the Mississippi

Episode Number Eight: From Grand Rapids down to Jacobson Campground.

The weather starts to cool down as the river doubles in flow thanks to the Prairie River. I buy a new tent in Grand Rapids due to water leakage issues with my last one.

Episode Number Seven: Grand Rapids

I travel from Schoolcraft state park to the city of Grand Rapids, birthplace of Judy Garland. Minnesota Power and Light provides me with a free portage, while the city treats me to some urban delights and a few days off the river.

Episode Number Six: Crossing Lake Winnebigoshish

I make the long trip around Lake Winnie while discovering that many of the state camp grounds in northern Minnesota have already closed for the season.

Episode Number Five: Lake Bemidji to Cass Lake

I leave the first city on the Mississippi and make my way to Cass Lake. This is the beginning of the lake region where the Mississippi river travels through a series of very large lakes.

Episode Number Four: Bemidji, the first city on the Mississippi river.

I say goodbye to the “wild” portion of the Mississippi river and glide into Bemidji, where kind people, good food, culture and a warm bed await.

Episode Number Three: Out of the Wetlands, at Long Last!

Episode Number Two: From Wetlands to Beaver Dams

Tom has finished the second episode, in which Karl shares the first wild—and surprisingly shallow—miles of the Mississippi, encountering challenging wetlands, fellow adventurers, and, to his chagrin, many beaver dams. Enjoy! If you missed the first episode, you can find it under the “videos” category on the left.

Episode Number One

One man, one canoe, one camera

Tom has finished episode number one, documenting the start of the trip, from leaving St. Louis, driving to Lake Itasca, and finally putting the canoe in at the headwaters. Enjoy!

Here’s some great footage that Tom shot while we were practicing canoeing at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers in the Columbia Bottom Conservation Area.  There are normally ten separate pools spread across this conservation area.  However, due to the rivers being above flood stage all of the pools were connected, and we had a great time paddling around.  The waterfowl that we observed was incredible.  Tom did a fabulous job capturing the moment on video.