Popular paddling event portages over to Wisconsin River

NEWS RELEASE

For immediate release

For more information contact:

Jeff Mazanec jmmazanec@gmail.com
David Horst sandhill7@gmail.com

Fox-Wisconsin Heritage Paddle 2011 kicks off June 5 during Portage Canal Days with a canoe and kayak outing that starts in the Fox River and ends in the Wisconsin River.

The sequel to the successful Fox River Heritage Paddle 2010 will reprise three of last year’s most popular outings and add five trips on the Wisconsin River. Details are available at http://www.wisconsinpaddlers.org/.

The Canal Days paddle starts at the historic Fort Winnebago Surgeon’s Quarters on State 33. Paddlers will travel about a mile on the Fox to the Indian Agency House, another historic site. Unlike when Marquette and Joliet made this crossing in 1673, participants will be able to paddle, with several short portages, through the Portage Canal and learn about restoration efforts.

The paddlers will relaunch into the Wisconsin River at Riverside Park. Participants have the option of starting the paddle there. Non-paddlers may walk the Ice Age Trail along the canal from the Agency House to Riverside Park or the 1.2-mile Wauona Trail, thought to be the historic route of Marquette and Joliet. All participants will gather at Riverside Park for lunch before paddlers travel the six miles down the Wisconsin River to Dekorra Park.

Like the 2010 version, which drew more than 750 participants for 12 paddles, this year’s paddling series is dedicated to helping people appreciate the beauty and recreational value of the rivers flowing through their communities. A $10 registration fee and sponsorship opportunities will cover costs and raise money to support an effort to get National Park Service recognition the river corridor through 15 Wisconsin counties as a national heritage area. Participating organizations include North East Wisconsin Paddlers, Friends of the Fox, Fox-Wisconsin Heritage Parkway and Fox of the River Voyageur Canoe LLC.

Two weekend paddles are planned for the Wisconsin later in June. Participants may join in for either day’s paddle or for the full weekend. Those paddles include:


Sauk City to Spring Green, June 11, 18 miles.
Spring Green to Muscoda, June 12, 22 miles.
Muscoda to Woodman, June 25, 24 miles.
Woodman to Wyalusing, June 26, 22 miles.Jeff Mazanec, one of the Fox-Wisconsin Heritage Paddle organizers and a certified kayak instructor, cautioned that the weekend trips are not recommended for novices or boats of less than 13 feet long because of the trip lengths and possible strong currents and head-winds.

A shuttle service will be provided for the June 11-12 trips by Wisconsin Canoe Company in Spring Green, with reservations to be made at www.thebestcanoecompanyever.com. Camping will be available in Spring Green at Wisconsin River Resort by online reservation at www.bobsriverside.com. Both businesses offer canoe and kayak rentals.

The paddling opportunities continue on the Fox River with:


The 10^th annual Park-to-Park Paddle, Neenah’s Shattuck Park to Appleton’s Lutz Park, July 23, 8.5 miles.
A Friday evening moonlight paddle from the Bomier Boat Landing in De Pere to the Green Bay Metro Boat Landing, Aug. 12, 7.5 miles.
A paddle through the four Appleton locks from Appleton‘s Lutz Park to Kimberly‘s Sunset Point Park, Sept. 24 (Octoberfest Saturday), 6.4 miles.

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