CASKA: Chicago Area Sea Kayakers Association

MWRD Discharging Sewage Into Lake Michigan: Beaches Closed

According to news reports the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago has been discharging sewage into Lake Michigan since 1:20 a.m. this morning (Friday).  Chicago and Evanston beaches will be closed through at least Saturday.

What should be of concern to the Chicago area paddling community is the MWRD's apparent failure to adequately communicate to the public when it is putting sewage into Lake Michigan.  As of right now the MWRD's website home page makes no mention of the fact that the MWRD has made Lake Michigan unsafe for swimming and paddling. (The home page helpfully offers up rain barrels, however!).  When you drill down to the "Newsroom" there is no mention of the discharges into Lake Michigan.

The MWRD does have a system where you can sign up to be notified of combined sewer overflow (CSO) events.  This service notifies you by email when the MWRD is putting sewage into a local waterway without treatment.  You then access a map showing what waterways are affected.  My experience has been, however, that the emails can come hours after the MWRD has opened the locks and started sending sewage out into Lake Michigan.  For example, the email I got this morning came 5 hours after the MWRD started putting sewage into Lake Michigan.  Had I been paddling off of Evanston this morning or joining an early class at Geneva Kayak Center Lakeshore in Rogers Park I might have paddled through the plume of effluent as it gushed into Lake Michigan through the locks at Wilmette Harbor.

By copy of this email I hope that Jill Horist, the MWRD's Manager of Public Affairs, will tell us how the MWRD currently communicates sewage discharge information to the public and any plans it might have to improve that communication (e.g., Twitter).  As many readers on this Yahoo group are Lake Michigan paddlers we would welcome MWRD adding this group to any Lake Michigan CSO notification list the MWRD might have.

The issues of stormwater/sewage management and the MWRD strong and extremely costly opposition to proposed IEPA rules that would require MWRD to disinfect sewage before discharging it into area waterways are beyond the scope of this post.  Nevertheless, its work is central to the quality of the water on which--and in which--we paddle.

In the meantime, the many paddlers who plan to be on Lake Michigan this weekend will be finding themselves paddling their way through the condoms, tampon tubes and other unpleasant detritus that fill Lake Michigan when the MWRD discharges sewage into Lake Michigan.  Of course, with the amount of rain we are getting we may be cleaning out our basements instead.

Tom Bamonte

Fox River Temporarily Closed to Paddlers at I-88 Bridge

From the Illinois Tollway website:

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. – The Illinois Tollway will temporarily block travel on the Fox River under the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) beginning Thursday, June 18, for demolition of the westbound Fox River Bridge as part of the I-88 Rebuild & Widen Project between the Aurora Toll Plaza and Orchard Road. 

Barges will be in place all the way across the Fox River for bridge demolition activities scheduled to be complete in early July.  Paddlers are advised to either enter the river downstream from the work zone or be prepared to portage around the construction zone.  The designated portage location will be on the west side of the river upstream of the Tollway project area.  Boaters and other recreational users should use the Fox River Trail West parallel to the river and re-enter the river south of the bridge at the designated location.  This will require paddlers to carry their boats up to 1,000 feet to re-enter the river.  The Tollway will post signs along the river and at public river access locations.  Signage and buoys will direct canoe and kayak traffic toward portage areas and away from the demolition area.  Upon completion of the demolition work paddlers will be restricted to the west side of the Fox River due to the installation of a temporary construction bridge on the east side of the river.

* * *

Download Fox River Warning Sign

Burnham Expedition: More Media Coverage

The Burham Expedition got some nice media coverage in a Chicago Tribune article.

This is in addition to other coverage listed at the end of this post.

MORE ON BURNHAM EXPEDITION

Picking up where the first report on the Burham Expedition left off. . .

The last leg of the first day was equally harrowing, as our route hugged a huge industrial peninsula whose seawall border reflected the chop. 

Frank paddled the full distance in a recreational kayak

We barely dodged a barge steaming out of the wharf. When we finally arrived at Jeorse Park in East Chicago, the marina welcomed us ashore with hotdogs, snacks and beverages. We loaded our kayaks on the trailers and shuttled a few miles down the shore to Marquette Park in Gary.

Near Portage, Indiana

Now, I think you'll agree that as paddlers, we are used to receiving less than cordial welcomes when we stumble ashore dripping water, tracking sand, and smelling like the Black Lagoon. All we seek is fluids, carbs, and, if possible, indoor plumbing! But most of the time, the hospitality we encounter ranges from "You might be able to land down the way" to "Get out."

So on this trip it was more than a little surreal to be greeted at every stop by cheering throngs of volunteers and well-wishers who fed and feted us. We were addressed as VIPs by dignitaries. In addition to the Chicago Park District's chief of staff, at later stops we were greeted by the mayor of Whiting, the superintendent of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, and assorted royalty of local environmentalism.

Stop at Indiana Dunes State Park

And what warm welcomes we did receive! When we finally arrived way late for a Saturday night banquet at the Marquette ParkPavilion, a roomful of cheering community activists leaped to their feet and helped us to platefuls of delicious food, beer and wine. Shoulder rubs, foot massages -- okay, that last part I made up, but still.

By Dan's special arrangement, we were permitted to camp in the park. But with the late hour and the wet ground, our park hosts even allowed us to sleep in the pavilion building. Much appreciated!

Sunday dawned as warm and placid as Saturday was foreboding. We paddled past a mosaic of incredible natural beauty interspersed with imposing industrial landscapes. The Indiana shore is a land of contrasts, but always interesting.

Dunes

Industry 

Our expedition ended in a park by the Michigan City marina, where another feast awaited and a kick-ass band called the Stoneflys was laying it down. Their gig was pro bono, and the proceeds (?) from sale of their $5 CDs went to local environmental causes. Bravo, Stoneflys!

Fish eye view of Michigan City bridge

Dan and the Northwest Indiana Paddling Association forged an incredible alliance with community and environmental groups and government bodies at all levels. They had a vision, which led to a plan; they created something new and difficult; and they celebrated its creation by organizing and executing a first-time public event that was a marvel of teamwork and hospitality. I can't quite wrap my mind around the scope of their achievement, but I ask you all to join me in saluting them and promising ourselves to take advantage of the amazing resource they have opened for everyone's enjoyment.

Kris Krouse, one of the key Expedition organizers

~Bill Burton (pictures and text)

Trip Report May 2009: Wisconsin River - Sauk City to Gotham

There were seven of us, all in single kayaks from a 15 year old Skerray to a new P & H Cetus. Pat Lutsch, Beverly Serrell and I [Jim Des Jardins] camped out at the Veterans Memorial Park north of Sauk City on Thursday night and had dinner together at a local restaurant. We were joined on Friday morning by Denis Jones, Chris Donovan, Jim Walsh and Gary Parduhn.



We shuttled cars to Gotham about forty miles downriver and left Beverly’s car at Tower Hill canoe landing about 24 miles downriver (she wanted to be back to attend a friend’s memorial service on Sunday). Paddling started after lunch on Friday and we covered about 11 miles, according to Denis’ GPS, against occasional headwinds. The pace was leisurely and Gary and Jim Walsh fished from their kayaks along the banks. We landed on a lovely sand bar island, set up camp, had an attitude hour, dinner and spent the night. Food preparation was generally individual, although there was some sharing. People came together to eat and drink and then parted to sleep. We saw snake, bird and deer tracks in the sand. Tracks in the sand, bird calls and a sighting indicated other visitors to be Sand Hill Cranes. A pack of coyotes howled in the distance during the night.





Saturday, we dropped off Beverly after about 13 miles and went on to paddle a total of 22 miles against more consistent headwinds. The paddling pace picked up as the day wore on. The last couple of miles were spent trying to find a good camping spot not already occupied. Fatigue caused us to settle on a heavily weeded stretch on the south bank of the river. Again, attitude adjustment hour and dinner restored life. Gary caught a fish to group applause and everyone was in bed by eight. But first, the sighting of Coyote tracks at the campsite made us carefully store all food and garbage under cover in the boats.









On Sunday there was only seven miles to paddle to Gotham. It was a beautiful day, the wind was down and all was right with the paddling world. We arrived at the take-out shortly after eleven, loaded the boats on Chris’s trailer and arrived at the Veterans Memorial Park about noon. It took an hour to sort out equipment, load cars, and head for home.







Trip report: Jim Des Jardins
Photos: Denis Jones

To view a slide show with many more photos courtesy of Denis Jones: click here.

A PLATH WELL TAKEN

Dan Plath, founder of the Northwest Indiana Paddling Association, has been an incredible bundle of energy recently on behalf of the region's paddling community. He and his group are setting the standard for paddling clubs like CASKA and the Illinois Paddling Council. 

Dan was lead organizer of the a two-day Burnham to Marquette Water Trail Expedition from 12th Street Beach in Chicago to Michigan City, Indiana.   The Expedition commemorated the 100th anniversaryof Daniel Burnham's famous Plan of Chicago. It also marked the dedication of the Southern Lake Michigan Water Trail, which adds a northwest Indiana water trail to the existing Chicago lakefront water trail. 

Dan Plath

Due to a work commitment, I only had time to join the group from 12th Street to Calumet Park. The Expedition continued on to overnight camping at Marquette Park in Gary, Indiana and then a second day of paddling into Michigan City. At each stop the paddlers were welcomed with speeches by representatives from environmental groups and park districts.  Perhaps even more gratifying to the paddlers at least were the wide assortment of snacks. 

About 40 paddlers registered at 12th Street Beach.  Most paddled the initial leg of the trip to 63d Street beach.  Many others joined the Expedition along the way.  There was a mixture of boats, including sit-on-tops, recreational kayaks, and sea kayaks. 

It was rainy when we left 12th Street.  The winds and waves were out of the northeast. From the beach house wave conditions didn't look too bad. A fair number of the paddlers had limited Lake Michigan experience. I'm pleased to say that Dan drafted CASKA members to serve as flank and sweep paddlers because of our familiarity with Lake Michigan paddling. 

Expedition put-in at 12th Street Beach

The initial speakers included Mark Thomas, the Chicago Park District's Chief of Staff. In large part through the efforts of Dan and his colleagues when organizing the Expedition the Park District has decided to put more emphasis on the Chicago water trail and is providing more support for a variety of human powered craft in the shoreline waters. In a later conversation I had with Dan he expressed his deep appreciation for the Park District's support. He also expressed some frustration with the "bureaucratic hoops" he had to jump through to obtain permits and the like from the Park District. 

Gary Parduhm waits patiently for speeches to conclude and paddling to begin

When the group made it out to open water it found that conditions were more challenging than expected. There was an ugly 2-3 foot chop that was compounded by rebounding waves from the hard break walls and boat wakes. Even experienced paddlers had to stay alert to stay upright and on course. Two support boats circled the group and assisted as necessary. A couple of paddlers dumped and were efficiently helped back into their boats. Some paddlers chose to land at the beaches between 12th Street and 63d Street.  They and their boats were shuttled ahead to 63d Street.  A number of people clearly pushed their personal limits and made it successfully to 63d Street under their own power. 

The situation could have deteriorated badly had a few more boats tipped over and been blown too close to shore. Fortunately, the available beaches gave people a chance to get off the water relatively quickly. It was key to the safe passage that most people who should have gotten off the water to protect the safety of the group (and themselves) had the good sense to do so. Next time with such a heterogeneous group it might be good to give folks an opportunity to test the conditions and opt to return to the launch site before the group embarks for good. This procedure might have eliminated some of the early on-the-water drama. 

When we arrived at 63d Street Beach it was still raining and the cool breeze yielded some chilly paddlers who congregated at the beach house.

Bill Burton at 63d Street smiling to keep teeth from chattering

 After the speeches, six of us paddled to Calumet Park and met up with the others.  A nice lunch spread in a pleasant, high-ceiling meeting room was there to welcome us.  Even more welcoming were the paddlers who gave us a round of applause for making the 63d Street to Calumet Park paddle.  (Truth be told, there were no 6-8 footers out there like we might have told them!)  It was good to get warm, plow through the lunch items, and mingle with a group of enthusiastic paddlers. 

Sharon & Alec Bloyd-Peshkin point to way to Calumet Park

By now the weather was improving. The group headed to off to Indiana and the heart of the Expedition territory.  Hopefully, we will have a report about the rest of the Expedition from one of the participants.  I paddled back into a modest but still irritating headwind to 12th Street, arriving a bit before sundown. 

Day's end with Explorer

Dan Plath and his NNN colleagues deserve a big round of applause for the Expedition and their continuing efforts to improve the paddling environment for the benefit of all of us.  CASKA and other Illinois paddling groups have a new, and higher, performance bar to meet. Dan and his colleagues appear to be interested in working with us on a three-state Lake Michigan water trail. That sounds like a worthy project, a path well taken. 

Media Coverage of Expedition:

nwi.com

Michigan City News Digest

Gary Post-Tribune

Tom Bamonte

A PYLE OF FUN: SEA KAYAKER TRIES WHITEWATER PADDLING

We were riding back from the take-out in a battered pickup truck with our whitewater boats bouncing around with each rut in the road.  My instructor for the day was saying half jokingly that what whitewater paddlers fear the most is flat water and I had an "ah hah" moment.  I realized that as a sea kayaker I've come to love both flat and bumpy water in equal measures.  This is my account of my first true introduction to whitewater paddling.  While I had been in whitewater once before, earlier this year on the Menominee River, it was in a sea kayak and not a whitewater boat.

I had found myself in Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania on a family trip with our friends Tim Samuelson and Barbara Koenen.  The primary purpose of our trip was to visit Frank Lloyd Wright's remarkable Fallingwater house, which is perched over a waterfall deep in the woods.

Fallingwater (a.k.a. Rising Mildew)

My impressions of the house are outside the scope of this blog.  Suffice it to say that it was well worth the trip.  If you are interested in your own visit to Fallingwater information is here. There is another Wright house with sculpture garden in the area called Kentuck Knob that is also open for visits.

Ohiopyle is an outdoors sports Mecca located in the Laurel Highlands region of Pennsylvania southeast of Pittsburgh.  The town is surrounded by the Ohiopyle State Park.  It is a stop on the Great Allegheny Passage, a nearly level and extremely well-maintained hiking and biking trail that runs largely on abandoned railroad right-of-way from near Pittsburgh to Cumberland, Maryland, where it connects with the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Park trail that runs along the Potomac River to Washington, D.C.  With many trails and back roads, the area is a wonderful place to bike and hike.

Trail in Ohiopyle

Ohiopyle is best known, however, for its whitewater paddling.  It is located on the Youghiogheny River, which begins in West Virginia and winds its way north through and around numerous ridges in Maryland and Pennsylvania until it flows into the Monongahela River a few miles southeast of Pittsburgh.  

Yough as it flows into Ohiopyle

Folks spoke of the upper Yough in hushed tones, saying it was full of Class V rapids and was for experts only.  The middle Yough, which flows from Confluence, Pennsylvania to Ohiopyle, is Class I and II water, perfect for floating downriver in a raft with legs dangling over the edge.  The lower Yough, which begins in Ohiopyle, offers an intermediate area of Class II to IV rapids.  It is challenging but not punishing to experienced whitewater paddlers.

The Yough makes a big loop just downriver from Ohiopyle.  Whitewater paddlers are able to put in just south of Ohiopyle Falls, paddle through several sets of rapids and then take out near a railroad bridge about a half-mile from the put-in.  It is common to see paddlers lugging their boats and paddles down a well-trod path through the woods and back to town, anxious to give the rapids another shot.

Going Back For More

Another option is to run the entire 7 mile-plus stretch of the lower Yough and then catch a shuttle back to the put-in.  Ohiopyle has several rafting and kayaking outfitters able to provide shuttles and other services.  Wilderness Voyagers appears to offer the most support for kayakers.  It has a nice shop on river's edge just across the highway bridge from downtown Ohiopyle.  Falls City Pub, a nice tavern, is just down the street and is often full of guides and weathered outdoors enthusiasts.  Note that the outfitters generally do not rent kayaks, but require that they have a guide along on any trip using their boats.

The rest of our group were not paddlers, so on the second day we went down the lower Yough in a raft.  Our guide at the stern did most of the work steering the raft, but fooled us into thinking we were contributing by barking commands to have us paddle this way and that.  The thump of the raft hitting water hard, the repeat drenchings as we plowed through the waves, and the screams of the Girl Scouts in the rafts ahead made the trip fun and exhilarating. 

We passed some whitewater paddlers along the way and I did feel a pang of envy.  As all the kayak outfitters in town were booked the next day, I arranged a one day introduction to whitewater kayaking through Riversport School of Paddling, a quality outfitter in nearby Confluence (home of Immersion Research).

Lower Yough

The next day I appeared at the outfitter.  They sized me up, took stock of my limited, one-time experience in white water--and that in a sea kayak--and sent me to the Yough River Lake for a skills assessment with my instructor for the day.

There, I got into a whitewater boat for the first time.  It was a bizarre experience.  We sea kayakers struggle to turn our kayaks by edging and sweep strokes.  In the whitewater boat I felt I could turn as easily as a top.  A flick of my paddle in the water and I turned 180 degrees.  My first impression from the maneuverability of the whitewater kayak and its short length was that I was in some sort of toy kayak.  I giggled at the sheer playfulness of the boat.

We practiced some basic maneuvers.  I learned that whitewater paddlers lean into their turns--carving--rather than edge away from them as we do.  I practiced sweeps where I shifted my edge from one side to the other mid-sweep.  This was an important and counter-intuitive foundation for eddy turns and other maneuvers.

We moved on to rolling.  I found that the flat-bottomed whitewater boats seemed a bit harder to roll than the typical sea kayak.  My instructor encouraged me to keep the paddle forward and to push my weight up forward as well when rolling.  One's head should be tucked forward as much as possible during the roll.  He said the sweep rolls we sea kayakers practice expose the head to underwater rocks and don't take advantage of the extra buoyancy built into the front half of a whitewater boat.  For the record, I hit all my rolls, but many were ugly.

After packing a quick lunch we headed for the Cassleman River.  It is not runnable much of the year, but due to high water levels it offered us about 7 miles of near-continuous but relatively modest rapids.  My guide thought I would learn more whitewater paddling basics in this stretch of river than I would merely surviving a lower Yough run during high water.  Feeling a bit unsure in an unfamiliar type of boat, I decided not to argue with him.  Another guide accompanied us as we wound our way on narrow roads through the high country to the put-in.  The two of them appeared to be competing over who could say "Dude" more often--e.g., "Dude, you were supposed to be my wingman at the bar last night."  The life of a guide can be fun, for a couple of summers at least, but it is tough way to make a living.

Rapids

The Casselman  turned out to be perfect.  We spent about 4 hours practicing eddy turns, peel outs, ferrying and the like.  The first hour or so was quite difficult.  I didn't "get" the boat or the conditions.  I found myself edging the wrong way, failing to edge enough, and generally fighting the boat and the river with slaps of my paddle to no good end.  My instructor sensed my frustration and called a break.  We humped the boats up the rocky shore and had a good snack and a chat about nothing.

When I got back on the water it was if the slate had been wiped clean.  I started playing rather than working on my technique and that made all the difference.  Soon, I was scooting from riverbank to riverbank as we worked our way downstream.  We would slip into an eddy and then ferry back and forth, surfing on standing waves along the way.  Sensing that I was starting to get it, my instructor let me take the lead and pick my own course through the rapids.  Despite a few too close encounters with barely submerged rocks, I think I did a pretty good job reading the water.

I have certain iconic images I associate with my kayaking.  One is the view across Montrose beach and the curling waves while playing in the surf under the reddish glow of sunset.  Another is the sight of an island in the distance when starting a crossing.  As I result of this trip I now add the view from the top of a set of rapids at that moment when one must visually capture the scene and mentally draw a course through the churning water to the pool below.  I really like the challenge of setting a course within a matter of seconds and then making the quick adjustments as necessary as the each rapids reveals its surprises.

Lower Yough at edge of Ohiopyle Falls

The maneuverability of a whitewater boat was a real pleasure.  It was great to be able to make swift and often large course changes without too much effort.  I also found that the flat and wide whitewater boats were quite stable.  When I plowed into standing waves the boat was especially steady.  I felt like I was sitting on top of a sturdy desk and did not have to brace nearly as often or as hard as I would have done had I been in a sea kayak.

I didn't have to practice rolling the whitewater boat in conditions.  I need some more rolling practice in calm water before I will feel as confident rolling a whitewater boat as I do a sea kayak.  I certainly wouldn't want to wet exit.  While I could just fit my legs in my boat, I was wedged in tight.  Getting out of my boat, while doable, would have been a chore in conditions.

I got back to the outfitters in Confluence about 4 p.m.  I had 11 miles and 2.5 hours to get back to Ohiopyle in time for dinner so I took off down the trail that followed the Yough, alternately jogging and walking.  On the other side of the river freight trains were running, but they could be barely seen through the canopy of trees.  The sound of their whistles filled the valley and sometimes echoed.   The smooth path allowed me to concentrate on the trees, the small waterfalls and the sound of the river as I pushed ahead.   Dinner tasted especially good that night.

Trail

I'm certainly in no danger of abandoning sea kayaking for whitewater paddling.  I would miss the steady, meditative cadence that develops when paddling a long boat on big water.  The wiggly nature of a whitewater board in flat water can get pretty irritating after awhile.  However, after a day in a whitewater boat on a beautiful river, I'm hooked enough that I want to supplement sea kayaking with some more whitewater paddling.  I'd like to get back to Ohiopyle, hopefully with a few like-minded kayakers, for a few days of paddling, biking and hiking.  The area is a pile of fun.

Tom Bamonte

New boats for sale!

Check them out here: http://caskaorg.typepad.com/caska/for-sale-from-caska-membe.html

and check back for updates. Looks like more may be on the way soon. This might be a good time for shoppers to snag some great deals! 

Traditional Paddlers Gathering in Akeley, MN (Sept 11-13)

Join us for the fourth annual Traditional Paddlers Gathering, set for September 11-13 at Crow Wing Crest Lodge in Akeley, MN.

The Gathering is a great opportunity to:

* learn new paddling and rolling skills,
* show off your efforts to build qajaqs, tuiliqs, paddles and harpoons,
* get tips from other builders,
* relax at a homey and comfortable family-owned northern Minnesota resort with a lakeside sauna.

As always, the weekend will feature a rolling demonstration, a harpoon contest, a silent auction and raffle, great meals, and plenty of one-on-one instruction to help you refine your paddling or rolling technique.

Find out more about registration and accommodations — plus see pictures from past years — at http://www.qajaqmn.org/

Angels Among Us

By:  Ginger Carey

Who says there are not angels among us? 

I just want to share my experience with one of them in the club.  Yesterday I was launching on the North Shore Channel at the Lincoln launch north of Peterson.  I had previously checked it out thinking in terms of getting my kayak to & from it and getting it in & out of the water alone, but I had not carefully considered how it would be to get in & out of my kayak alone.  Once I got my kayak in the water and began to analyze the situation I realized that it was not going to be easy to be stable while getting in because of the slope of the bank.  There happened to be a kayaker paddling north, so I flagged him down and asked if he could stabilize my kayak while I got in, which he graciously did.

I was going south and he turned around to return to his launch near Addison so we paddled together for awhile until I turned around at Lawrence to paddle north.  He expressed concern about my getting out at my launch which I realistically shared, so I figured there was a high probability of some degree of immersion, not an attractive thought in view of the pollution. 

I was hoping there would be someone around upon my return—fisherman, other kayakers, or someone walking up above on the bridge who I could flag down somehow.I got there and there was no one, and so I paddled north for awhile up to Pratt or so, thinking that maybe someone would be around upon my return. And lo and behold there was—Jan Archer who had been the kayaker passing by when I launched.  I spotted him from a distance walking down the switchback. First I just thought he was just someone, and then I realized it was him.  In his concern for me, after loading up his kayak, he drove up to my launch site even though he lived very near his launch.  It was certainly not a life & death situation, although partial immersion in the pollution may have had its share of health perils—but I sure appreciated not having had to try it out. 

So I just want to express my appreciation to Jan and acknowledge him to the rest of the club (Chicago Area Sea Kayakers Association (CASKA).  I understand that he is one of the Board Members.  It really is wonderful to engage in a sport where we all seem to watch out for one another, and not just when there is a tremendous risk involved.  I think there’s something about being out communing with nature, feeling our connectivity to all forms of life, that draws out this wonderful spirit in us.  I certainly want to celebrate it!

Of course, I would also like to give a warning—that launch site is certainly not conducive to a solo launch, but it is workable when there are two or more, so you can stabilize one another.

 So, thanks Jan, and all who are thoughtful of others in so many countless ways.

 Ginger