Thank you for having the courage to show reality. Paddling isn't always successful and enjoyable. Sometimes it sucks and its difficult. That's life. You get the good and the bad and that's ok. One of your best videos yet!
Those wind-born waves are no joke. Neither are the barge-born waves. I've had 12' high waves (yes, twelve feet from trough to crest) before, and the only way my beagle and I survived is that we've had lots and lots of 6' and and few 8' waves before. On time, we met three upstream-bound barges in low-water conditions in the necked-down turn near Lake Provdence, LA, and the lead pushboat (a Marquette boat) refused to throttle down, despite my urgent radiod request. Luckily, the two pushboats downstream of Marqutete (read jackass) boat DID throttle down, and they said they'd keep a close eye on me as me came down river. It was SIX miles of the biggest waves I'd seen outside of my US Navy experiece (sea-service ribbon with two brass stars). The initlai waves were 12' high, and I damned near overshot the first one, which would have speared the canoe into the following wave, which would have ended us right there. Luckily, we didn't spear that wave, but I had to make sure we had enough forward movement to clear the following waves, and NOT get caught in the trough. After a mile, the waves reduced to ten footers, then another mile of 8' waves, then 6 footers (I knew then that we'd be OK), then several miles of 2'-3' chop. This was the most scared I have ever been. If we'd have capsized, there was no way my beagle or I could have swum that water, certainly not for the miles and miles we had, all full of steep, tall waves. Thank you, Cliff Jacobson, for teaching my how to make a canoe cover.
I've watched your videos for awhile and it is super fun to see you hanging out in my neck of the woods and, even better, with some of my favorite people! Big Muddy Adventures is awesome!
I'm always kayaking and it's what I'm comfortable with. But man, there is something so awesome to me about being in a canoe. Some of the best on the water memories I have are the shenanigans I've gotten into with a friend in a canoe. Just a totally different exp. Those clipper ones are beautiful too!
My earliest memories of being on the water were in a 15 foot Radisson canoe. At 10 years old myself and a friend stood up in it and tried to get it to flip on a beach at a campground we were at. We were successful, but we fell completely out of it while trying. We fell out a lot while trying. My mom yelled at us, we couldn't stop laughing. Good times.
@@PaddleTV It is a great time and for all paddlers. It sounds more competitive than it is, it's really just an exciting few days on the big muddy! Love your videos, especially now that I am progressing from recreational to touring and taking paddling a bit more seriously.
In Peoria, you mean the Illinois River, correct? (Unless there is a Peoria, MO) The Mo doesn't run in Illinois, just Missouri and westward. Have fun though--hollow side up!
@@tanneraljets5785 😆 you are right in Peoria Illinois we were on the Illinois. We did do the Big River in Peoria MO as well. I've never been on the Missouri River
I'm not a fan of canoe's....wifes and kids come along & just spoils a day out. Nice to see Ken's left them at home. Most cites in europe have rivers or cannels and I did take my wife kayaking thru Paris & Amsterdam pre covid. The Netherlands definitely more gear up for it.
I hope you have another opportunity to attempt the trip. I get to St. Louis occasionally and have never thought to go paddling. You can bet that's going to change.
I couldn't leave St Louis without trying again! Stay tuned! :). What's awesome about St Louis is that you have the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers... and then you have all the small rivers in the Ozarks within easy reach!
That's terrible! I can see how it happens though. Big bodies of water need to be respected. That's why Big Muddy Adventures is such a valuable resource. Their guides are top notch, and they don't cut corners on safety.
Having canoed the mighty Miss, I’ll have to disagree. The biggest concern isn’t wind or currents, it’s the barges. The wakes those things generate is insane.
Yup... I think it's the combination that makes it so intimidating, and why you need experience before tackling it. This section didn't have any barges, as there was a shipping channel around it... but the next section sure did!
I wonder what t will be like to add a marine radio with four speakers, and Bluetooth capability would be like in the Mississippi and Warrior river in Tuscaloosa
You were better off with a long kayak paddle and would of been better off with more weight. Just FYI I am in the planning stage of the paddling the Missouri River looking going from Three Forks MT to St Louis my self. While I have owned a 17 Canoe I will not be using it as I plan on buying a kayak.
Cross arm paddling is for aficionados. In other words, useless. If you want to try a Clipper Canoe get one of the McKenzies And IF on rough water,,, get a cover North Water makes a great one.
Big Muddy Adventures is the best. You were in the safest hands with Mike and Roo!
Thank you for having the courage to show reality. Paddling isn't always successful and enjoyable. Sometimes it sucks and its difficult. That's life. You get the good and the bad and that's ok. One of your best videos yet!
Thanks Emanuel! Even though these types of trips are harder... sometimes they're the most fun!
Those wind-born waves are no joke. Neither are the barge-born waves. I've had 12' high waves (yes, twelve feet from trough to crest) before, and the only way my beagle and I survived is that we've had lots and lots of 6' and and few 8' waves before. On time, we met three upstream-bound barges in low-water conditions in the necked-down turn near Lake Provdence, LA, and the lead pushboat (a Marquette boat) refused to throttle down, despite my urgent radiod request. Luckily, the two pushboats downstream of Marqutete (read jackass) boat DID throttle down, and they said they'd keep a close eye on me as me came down river. It was SIX miles of the biggest waves I'd seen outside of my US Navy experiece (sea-service ribbon with two brass stars). The initlai waves were 12' high, and I damned near overshot the first one, which would have speared the canoe into the following wave, which would have ended us right there. Luckily, we didn't spear that wave, but I had to make sure we had enough forward movement to clear the following waves, and NOT get caught in the trough. After a mile, the waves reduced to ten footers, then another mile of 8' waves, then 6 footers (I knew then that we'd be OK), then several miles of 2'-3' chop. This was the most scared I have ever been. If we'd have capsized, there was no way my beagle or I could have swum that water, certainly not for the miles and miles we had, all full of steep, tall waves. Thank you, Cliff Jacobson, for teaching my how to make a canoe cover.
I've watched your videos for awhile and it is super fun to see you hanging out in my neck of the woods and, even better, with some of my favorite people! Big Muddy Adventures is awesome!
They definitely are an awesome group of people! Can't wait to visit the St Louis area again! You've got a great 'neck of the woods'!
Good lesson for paddlers of all skill levels: to feel the red line where the buck (or is it a salmon?) stops!
I'm always kayaking and it's what I'm comfortable with. But man, there is something so awesome to me about being in a canoe. Some of the best on the water memories I have are the shenanigans I've gotten into with a friend in a canoe. Just a totally different exp. Those clipper ones are beautiful too!
Couldn't agree more!
Man, open water paddling ain't no joke! I try to stay off the Tennessee River here for that reason! Great video, Ken!! 👍🛶💪
When you have all the awesome small creeks and rivers that you have in Northern Alabama, I don't blame you Dan! :)
great video. Love that part of the river
My earliest memories of being on the water were in a 15 foot Radisson canoe. At 10 years old myself and a friend stood up in it and tried to get it to flip on a beach at a campground we were at. We were successful, but we fell completely out of it while trying. We fell out a lot while trying. My mom yelled at us, we couldn't stop laughing. Good times.
You should come back to Missouri and participate in the MR340!
Best experience for paddlers.
Just checked out... what a cool race! Hopefully one day.
@@PaddleTV It is a great time and for all paddlers. It sounds more competitive than it is, it's really just an exciting few days on the big muddy!
Love your videos, especially now that I am progressing from recreational to touring and taking paddling a bit more seriously.
Paddled that portion last year and had a blast. I did portage at Chain of Rocks.
I was in st Louis yesterday. We paddled the Big River in Bonne Terre. Headed to peoria Illinois today to paddle the Missouri. Then back to Texas
Nice!
In Peoria, you mean the Illinois River, correct? (Unless there is a Peoria, MO)
The Mo doesn't run in Illinois, just Missouri and westward. Have fun though--hollow side up!
@@tanneraljets5785 😆 you are right in Peoria Illinois we were on the Illinois. We did do the Big River in Peoria MO as well. I've never been on the Missouri River
I'm not a fan of canoe's....wifes and kids come along & just spoils a day out. Nice to see Ken's left them at home. Most cites in europe have rivers or cannels and I did take my wife kayaking thru Paris & Amsterdam pre covid. The Netherlands definitely more gear up for it.
I’m glad you busted out the ‘yak paddle. I have gotten so many strange looks from others when I’ve done that. I feel vindicated 😁
What a difference it makes! :)
@@PaddleTVlol love it
safety at first place!
I hope you have another opportunity to attempt the trip. I get to St. Louis occasionally and have never thought to go paddling. You can bet that's going to change.
I couldn't leave St Louis without trying again! Stay tuned! :). What's awesome about St Louis is that you have the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers... and then you have all the small rivers in the Ozarks within easy reach!
Awww man. Sorry I missed you in my city. Would have loved to meet you!
Oh, I'll be back! Had a great time... and much more to do!
I imagine those large rivers can be extremely dangerous, especially for a novice.
They sure can. You can get in over your head quick!
I have a coworker drowned paddling on the Mississippi River
That's terrible! I can see how it happens though. Big bodies of water need to be respected. That's why Big Muddy Adventures is such a valuable resource. Their guides are top notch, and they don't cut corners on safety.
That trip looked stressful.
Having canoed the mighty Miss, I’ll have to disagree. The biggest concern isn’t wind or currents, it’s the barges. The wakes those things generate is insane.
Yup... I think it's the combination that makes it so intimidating, and why you need experience before tackling it. This section didn't have any barges, as there was a shipping channel around it... but the next section sure did!
I wonder what t will be like to add a marine radio with four speakers, and Bluetooth capability would be like in the Mississippi and Warrior river in Tuscaloosa
That place cries out for a sailing kayak, and I mean a proper one that can zoom upwind like from Hobie.
We talked about sails on the trip!
discretion is the better part of valor...
Is the open top canoe really "the right tool for the job here"?
I like paddling against a little chop on water almost seems easier with in reason obviously why is that
That canoe didn’t look too stable out there. Would have terrified me. Who decided to quit- you or the guides?
It was 'sporty'! :). It was a joint decision. Everyone felt the same way.
You were better off with a long kayak paddle and would of been better off with more weight. Just FYI I am in the planning stage of the paddling the Missouri River looking going from Three Forks MT to St Louis my self. While I have owned a 17 Canoe I will not be using it as I plan on buying a kayak.
Video starts at 4:00
Stay close to shore
Not the best type of boat for such waters.
Where's the beers?
Cross arm paddling is for aficionados. In other words, useless. If you want to try a Clipper Canoe get one of the McKenzies And IF on rough water,,, get a cover North Water makes a great one.
Error on the side of caution ⚠️… 🛶