Trip on East Fork of Chippewa

East Fork of the Chippewa – 21 June 08

Saturday morning greeted us with beautiful blue skies and a gentle NW wind. A perfect day for a river trip on the East Fork of the Chippewa starting about one mile above Bear Lake with destination some 7 miles down stream to county trunk GG. The Mike Newell family, Mike, Heidi, and their children, Mikey (11), Charlie (10), Will (7) and Abby (5) in their Kayaks, and Grandparents, Tom and Annemarie Stuebe (ages unknown) in their aluminum canoe. In transporting our drop off vehicle to the destination we saw a young bear, near Cub and Bear Lake in the middle of the Fire road. A good start we all thought.

The river was somewhat swollen from the recent heavy rains and the NW wind kept the bugs to a minimum, but the wind grew in strength and soon became a challenge as it hit us straight on as we paddled across Bear Lake looking for the river outlet. The young ones had to really paddle hard for a steady two hours against the heavy headwind so we were all somewhat spent by the time we hit the first rapids. The first rapids were white and challenging and brought new life (and adrenaline) and excitement in the children and adults as well and it was heart warming to see how fearless and talented the children were in easily navigating the V’s and pillows of this first potentionally hazardous white water. We were then challenged by a sudden thunderstorm which dumped heavy rains on us for some 30 minutes. We had to pull the aluminum canoe (lightning rod) up on the river bank and stood under a large black elm tree which served as an umbrella only for some 10 short minutes and when its massive branches became saturated we all got soaked to the skin. Because of the thunder and lightening we prayed and even shouted loud to Grand Dad Bruce Newell (he was at his home in PA) who seemed to respond with his famous phrase: “Be Independent of your own Environment”. The children were extremely brave and we all laughed at our predicament. Suddenly the storm passed, and the Sun came out and warmed our soaked and cold exteriors and we continued on our down-stream adventure. We soon confronted our final set of white water rapids before the bridge over GG, which signified our final destination. The Newell family in their kayaks sailed through this final obstacle course with ease and their Grandparents (Opa and Oma followed bravely in the white water froth with the end in sight. Suddenly their canoe became lodged on a large partially submerged boulder. Then, the worst-case scenario unfolded with the canoe dipping sideways and filling with the rushing water. Oma reacting quickly, gathering boat cushions, coolers, and provisions, stepping out of the water filled canoe and stabilizing herself on 2 boulders wedging her canoe paddles between 2 rocks and holding on for dear life until big Mike came to the rescue. Luckily, big Mike, saw the dilemma and waded upstream against the rushing current and helped stabilize the capsized canoe. Opa held-on to his prized musky rod with an iron fist even at the expense of possibly seeing Oma washing down stream. Then came the task of rescuing the canoe, which was weighted down in the grips of the rushing water. Thanks to the strength of Big Mike we were able to move the canoe forward of the boulder and turn it over to dump the water and return it to a canoe again.

After loading the kayaks and canoe in sunny and warm weather, we all agreed that the this trip will go down in memories as the trip:

• We will never forget.

• A trip where the children dug into their inner strengths and clearly represented the old saying “ When the going gets tough, the tough get going”. For that matter, the adults did too.

• “It was the best of times” “ It was the worst of times.”

THANKS FOR THE RESUE BIG MIKE---WE OWE YOU ONE!

Recorded by Dad/Dad Stuebe/Opa June 2008