Canoe Tripping 101

 

This class will be conducted on the Big Manistee River along the stretch that runs from the Old US 131 State Forest Campground, downstream to the M-115 Bridge at the town of Mesick, MI.  The distance traveled on the river will be approximately 40 miles.  This equates to 10 hours of paddling over 2 1/2 days.  You can do this!  The class will begin with a rendezvous on a Friday night at the Old US 131 State Forest Campground, and finish around noon the following Monday at M-115.  Saturday morning we will shuttle your vehicles to the take out so your departure Monday afternoon will be efficient.  This class is for the novice canoeist and camper with a desire to expand their comfort zone in a wilderness setting.  You will provide all your own gear and food for this class.  (Lists provided below).  The cost will be $250.00 per person.  We may have some Kruger boats available for some classes, however this will be at an additional charge of $100.  Payment of the $250.00 in full will be required prior to the start of the class.

Current class schedule for Canoe Tripping 101 in 2008 is:

May 30,31, June 1  June 13,14,15  July 4,5,6  Sept 26,27,28.

Contact Jack Cramer - jackcramer@yahoo.com or dial direct at 231-392-2617 for more info or to schedule your class. Make checks payable to Kruger Canoes, LLC and send to Kruger Canoes, P.O. Box 92, Irons, and MI 49644. 

 

Your instructors:  Jack Cramer (left) & Mark Przedwojewski.  Photo taken in Iowa on the shore of the Mississippi River, June 2007.  The green boat was a gear barge we towed during a Peak Camp trip.  See friends link page.

 

 The Canoe Tripping 101 class will cover the following topics:

On the Water Safety:

• ·         Your PFD

• ·         Safe Boat handling skills on a river

• ·         Safe Boat handling skills on a lake

• ·         Proper safety gear and usage

• ·         Weather

 Shore Safety:

• ·         Fire Safety

• ·         Cooking safely

• ·         Dangerous plant awareness

• ·         Deadfall awareness

• ·         Historical river level awareness

• ·         Hike out planning

 Clothes:

• ·         What to wear, when…

• ·         Accessibility

 Trip Planning:

• ·         Info source

• ·         Maps

• ·         Distance

• ·         Camping

Traveling on the Water:

• ·         Packing your gear

• ·         Packing the boat

• ·         Setting up your comfort zone in the boat

• ·         Food

• ·         Hydration

• ·         Pace

• ·         Navigation

• ·         Voiding body waste

 Camping:

• ·         Water level

• ·         Site selection

• ·         Site preparation

• ·         Tent orientation

• ·         Water filtering

• ·         Efficient food prep

• ·         Gear usage

• ·         Clean camping

• ·         Voiding body waste

 After the Trip:

• ·         Clothes in the vehicle

• ·         Gear management

• ·         Loading and securing the boat

• ·         The Burger & Beer reward.