Bushwhacker
Challenge 2008
May 17th - May 24th
150 miles on the Pine River and Chippewa River or The 40 Mile Bushwhacker
Cruise or
The 10 Mile Bushwhacker Sprint
Visit
www.verlenkrugermemorial.org
to see how the racers are doing. Click on Bushwhacker Racer Update
link.
(To print any of the forms, use your browser print key.
Set Recipe Entry & Challenger Donation forms to landscape)
The Verlen Kruger Memorial was
set up shortly after Verlen’s passing in 2004. Our goal is to have a statue of
Verlen sculpted and bronzed and placed in Thomson Park next to the Grand River
in the town of Portland Michigan. We are happy to report that the sculpture is
done and we are near half way in raising the needed funds to get it bronzed and
complete this project. We have made available the purchase of
personalized bricks that you and your family or
organization can buy that will be placed around the statue. We are also selling
T-shirts, recipe books and videos. These things
are bringing in donations, but we now want to offer a way for you to help that
brings all of what we are doing back to the place it started, back to the water.
In line with the true Spirit of what Verlen was all about we are introducing the
Bushwhacker Challenge. This is a 150 mile canoe and kayak race to not only raise
money for the Memorial project, but to help raise awareness of local waterways.
We believe that by getting more people in and around some of the waterways
Verlen so cherished, we can help foster a better understanding of how and why
Verlen loved paddling so very much. There are many ways for anyone and everyone
to participate in this Challenge. Whether you get involved as a paddler or a
shore volunteer your effort will be greatly appreciated and will go a long way
in helping foster awareness and conservation of Michigan Rivers.
The Bushwhacker Challenge will begin about 10 miles upriver of the town of Alma
Michigan on the Pine River. The Todd Cesar family has graciously donated the use
of their beautiful river shore property (Cesar Crossing) for our event. There is
plenty of room for camping and race prep right on their property and they have
offered it free for all those that want to camp before, during and after the
event. Outhouse facilities and a big campfire will make it the best campground
within 100 miles!
From here we head down the Pine River about 40 miles through the towns of Alma
and St. Louis to the mouth of the Pine River. There are 2 short portages around
small hydro dams in this first stretch. The first is in the town of Alma and is
on the right bank, the second is in the town of St. Louis and is on the left
bank. At the confluence of the Chippewa River and the Pine River we turn and
head upstream 65 miles or so through the town of Mt. Pleasant to Gilmore Rd.
Here we take out of the Chippewa and start our 7 mile over the road portage
heading back to the Pine River. Once the portage is over and we are again
sitting in our boats we paddle downstream another 40 miles to the finish line
right where we started.
The Bushwhacker Sprint will also start at Cesar Crossing and follow the Pine
River down to the town of Alma. This is a quick 10 miles with the finish on the
right bank. Canoes can be rented for this challenge from
Pine River Outfitters. Contact them by calling
989-681-2559 or via e-mail at
info@pineriveroutfitters.com
The
Bushwhacker Cruise
For those that wish to do a little more paddling than 10 miles, but do not
have the time to push for the 150 miles we would like to invite you to do
the Bushwhacker Cruise. The Cruise will start Saturday morning along with
the Sprint and 150, but instead of ending in Alma, will go 40 miles to the
first checkpoint located at the Chippewa Nature Center. We are asking that
each Cruiser gather $50.00 in donations as an entry fee. Please feel free
to make this an overnight trip and enjoy the beautiful Pine River.
Donations to the Kruger Memorial
Each paddler in the 150 mile Challenge will be asked to raise at least
$100.00 in donations that will be counted as their entry fee into the
event. Each boat entered in the Sprint will be asked to raise at least $20.00 in donations that
will be counted as their entry fee into the event. Paddlers can keep track of
donations with the Challenger’s Donation Form. We
will be giving out awards at the finish of the Challenge for not only the
quickest paddlers, but for the paddlers that raise the most money. If you do not
personally know a Challenger but still want to donate please do so with the
Individual Donation Form.
We would like to say thank you to those
Challengers that bring in a little extra money for the Memorial. All
participants in The Sprint, The Cruise and The 150 Challenges will be
awarded a 4x8 brick for raising $150 total in sponsorship and donations
and a 8x8 brick for raising $250 in sponsorship and donations. The brick
will have the Challengers name with Bushwhacker 2008 printed on it and
placed on the courtyard surrounding Verlen's statue.
Rules for the 150 Mile challenge
The 150 mile Challenge and the 10 Mile Sprint will start at 8:30 am on May 17th.
All human powered watercraft are invited to participate.
In the spirit of fun, adventure and safety we invite paddlers to use land
support if needed, but all river miles and portage miles must be completed by
the Challenger under their own human power. At no time can forward progress of
paddler or boat be given by land support crew.
Portage wheels are allowed for the overland section of the route. Land support
can carry portage wheels for the Challenger.
There are 2 checkpoints along the route that will require a stop. The first will
be at the Chippewa Nature center at the mouth of the Pine River, the second at
Gilmore Rd. Challengers will be required to enter name, date and time that they
arrived at the checkpoint.
There will be a mandatory Captain’s meeting that all Challengers and land
support must attend Friday evening, May 16th at 8 pm.
The 150 mile Challenge and the 10 Mile Sprint will start at 8:30 am on May 17th. You will have until 2 pm
on May 24th to finish the 150 Mile Challenge. Awards Ceremony will follow at 3pm.
Rules for the 10 Mile Sprint
All human powered watercraft are invited to participate. 10 mile sprinters are
required to attend the Captain's meeting at
8 pm Friday night. If you are unable to attend
Friday night we will be holding a shorter Captain's meeting Saturday
morning at 8am for all sprinters that could not attend the first
meeting.
The 150 mile Challenge and the 10 mile Sprint will start at 8:30 am on May 17th.
The deadline to finish the 10 Mile Sprint is 2
pm on May 17th. Awards will be given immediately following the race at the Alma Boat launch.
Registration
Registration forms and entry fees must be turned in prior to the start of
your event. We will need all
waivers and release forms signed by the Challenger prior to the start of the
Challenge. Any participants under the age of 18 must have a parent or legal
guardian sign their release forms.
Spaghetti Dinner
The great cooks of the Memorial Board will be offering a delicious spaghetti
dinner on Friday evening starting at 6 pm.
Cost for this all you can eat carb load super meal will be $7 for adults and $3
for kids under 8. Dinner includes spaghetti, mixed vegetables, garlic bread and
a drink. Please bring the entire family and all the neighbors as all proceeds go
directly to the Memorial Fund.
Please let us
know an estimate of how many family and friends you plan on bringing to the
yummy spaghetti dinner so we might better estimate our food needs.
Important Numbers
Start/Finish
Cesar Crossing, 7195 W. Polk Rd. Alma, MI 48801
N 43 19’16 W 84 45’32
Alma Dam
N 43 22’30 W 84 39’41
St. Louis Dam
N 43 24’44 W 84 36’24
Checkpoint 1
Chippewa Nature Center
N 43 36’19 W 84 17’44
Checkpoint 2
Start of Portage
Gilmore Road
N 43 33’85 W 84 55’64
End of Portage
Pine River and Pleasant Valley Road
N 43 30’43 W 84 59’61
For any questions and or comments please get in touch with Mark Przedwojewski at
Mark@KrugerCanoes.com
Please include Bushwhacker Challenge in subject line.
We are putting together a camp cook book and we would
like to include your favorite outdoor recipe. To get your recipe included please
fill out the form and send it to:
Kruger Memorial P.O. Box 533, Portland, MI
48875.