Maumee River Kayaking - 137 Mile Solo Thru Paddle (Fort to Port)
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- Опубліковано 30 вер 2024
- Approximate mileage:
Day 1: 21 miles
Day 2: 24 miles
Day 3: 41 miles
Day 4: 26 miles
Day 5: 25 miles
Partial Gear List:
Wilderness Systems Tempest 170 Kayak
Carlisle Magic Plus Kayak Paddle - 220cm
Warbonnet Blackbird Hammock, 1.6 Single Layer
Warbonnet Thunderfly Tarp, 20D Silpoly
Hammockgear Phincubator custom 62” Underquilt
Sea To Summit Coolmax sleeping bag liner
MSR Autoflow Water Filter with granular activated carbon addon
Various Outdoor Research drybags (10-15L sizes)
Columbia Silver Ridge Shorts
Vapor Apparel UPF 50+ long sleeve sun shirt
Outdoor Research Sun Runner Cap
Various battery packs to recharge iPhone
BRS-3000 stove and 8oz Isobutane canister
TOAKS Titanium 600ml Pot
Weather:
Day 1: 73°/59° Partly Cloudy
Day 2: 92°/60° Sunny
Day 3: 83°/67° Overcast
Day 4: 85°/66° Mostly Sunny
Day 5: 91°/64° Sunny
Water Data:
New Haven, OH June 1: 1600cfs
Antwerp, OH June 2: 1800cfs
Defiance, OH June 3: 2500cfs
Waterville, OH June 4: 3400cfs
Water Temperature: 68-72°
Going into this I joked (and knew deep down) it would be about 20% fun and 80% a straight up endurance test. By 11am on Day 2, it was immediately apparent that the weather would be the biggest obstacle on this trip. The full June sun was absolutely punishing. Then the humidity kicked in. I literally could not drink enough water.
With very little current (dead still much of the time) it made for 7-11 hour days of nonstop paddling with just a few short breaks and a long one here and there. The last day push towards Toledo was sickening. The sun was stronger than ever, hot, no shade, straight wide runs of river and no apparent flow whatsoever. I found myself hiding under I-90, I-280 and whatever else was on the way for shade.
The rapids! I’d be lying if I said they didn’t have me worried. Two weeks prior the river gauge at New Haven, IN went from 4.28’ to 18.52’ in a few days after heavy rain. Moderate flood stage. That’s what I got after doing rain dances nightly since the entire 137-mile stretch of river was exceptionally low all of early May. So way TOO much…then it started falling…TOO fast! My eye was on the Waterville, OH gauge. The “magic number” is 2.2’ there. Any lower and it’s just not runnable with exposed rocks and dry patches through 7 miles of rapids. So I hit that area at 2.8’. I was pushing it and the hull of my kayak would agree.
I’ve heard of some others doing this trip, usually in March, April or May. I’m envious. Running this river at 8000cfs, 6000cfs or even 4000cfs (depending on location) would be an absolute cakewalk. Basically paddling for course-correction in a sense.
I couldn’t have asked for a better kayak than the Wilderness Systems Tempest 170. It’s a bullet. And the retractable skeg is absolute magic.
That's it, thanks for watching! My goal was to do this solo and completely unsupported. The portages were pretty terrible. One guy in a pickup truck saw me struggling at Independence Dam with the gear and said "throw that in back (of truck) man". I told him thanks but no thanks.
Nice video-- I am thinking about doing the Maumee in its entirety also... maybe in sections just due to other kayak camp trips I have planned but def. want to do all of the Maumee... If you come back down it you'll see one big change. The grain elevators as you close in on Toledo now are painted with the Largest Mural in the country... it covers the whole river side of the structures... very cool to see and enourmous
That concrete pad in the front left of you on shore was the reason for crossing the bridge. We would have fires there and fish from time to time. Lot's of crazy memories on that bridge.
Your greatest outdoor accomplishment imo. We miss you everyday Mark. Wish you were still here and not just having to watch your videos to hear your voice. You should be at our house right now grilling, drinking beer, having laughs and telling stories. Thank you for always being a good, kind and loyal friend.
How did you choose where you camped?
@50:31 my father and I would walk those tracks with our black lab Cyclone a very large and mean dog I might add lol. On the right side shore there is a hill that comes down to the river and we would often build fires on the concrete pad there. My dad would go up on that bridge and call our dog up to him, pick him up facing towards the shore and drop him off that bridge lol. The splash was so big it would hit him in the face sometimes 😂 after about the 3rd time the dog wouldn't come to him anymore he just stood there looking at him. My dad loved that dog and obviously that short drop didn't hurt him but he lived the dream dog life! Hunting, swimming and even thrown off a bridge from time to time. My dad told me one time he got caught in the middle trying to cross there between 2 trains. Only about 3 feet on either side of you, I bet it was a freaky feeling!
Planning on this trip early summer this year - where di you get out at to end the trip?
It looks like he got out at Cullen Park
I just got into kayaking and I live in Toledo. This seems like a dream trip to me.
That’s great! Have fun and be safe. I can’t believe two years have passed already.
Im thinking about taking a smaller trip, but on the Ottawa river/tenmile creek down thru to UT
Smooth video 🙂 it is difficult to edit, talking, paddling and if camera on a hed uh 😅
I'm from Maumee Ohio ❤️❤️
How many days did it take me and the wife are going to do it this spring
HOME SWEET HOME ❤️❤️
The abandon bridge at Scipio Road is very dear to me. I’ve lived here my whole life and I started going back there in 1976 before it started getting overgrown as it was tore down in the early 70s. I know a lot of history about the bridge and that area in particular, if you have any interest.
What you need to carry all the time is a sawyer mini water filter it will filter up to 100,000 gallons of water before it's no good but you need to get yourself a couple of them that we don't have to worry about water that tastes like something that came out of an outhouse Sawyer mini water filter
where did you put in at? what side did you portage around hosey dam?
In front of Fort Wayne Outfitters on the St Mary river. I portaged the left side of Hosey dam. It was a muddy mess full of trash but not too bad.
do you remember hauling your gear over a bridge and street during that portage?
@@GreatNorthWeb yes Anthony blvd. I got some strange looks standing there waiting for traffic with that sea kayak 🤣
Looking through video to see you go through buttonwood or Jerome rapids and can’t find it
That last day was long and rough due to the distance, heat, and rapids. I got out at Bluegrass island after getting soaked at buttonwood rapids. I had the phone recording thru Turkeyfoot rapids that last day but didn’t risk much more with the cheap tripod.
We did from antwerp to pontiac Park in Defiance
It’s always a good time on the river!
I definitely want to do this one day!! I live a short walk from the maumee at Ft Wayne. I absolutely love the river! It absolutely delights me see people enjoying the same river I see every day as much as I do!
I’m usually on the St Joe so this was a nice change of scenery. I don’t think I will do this again, but if I do I’m thinking about a winter trip.
Looked like a great trip. I’d like to do this one day.
Hard to believe it has already been a year! I said I’d never do it again, but I think now maybe it wouldn’t be so bad as a repeat. Definitely need more flow and cooler weather - early May should be perfect, but you never really know.
@@OneclickOutside my problem with the Maumee and NW Ohio is the dirty water and trash everywhere. I’d almost rather go and do some being in Michigan.
@@JoshEbersole yeah 9 out of 10 trips I take are to northern Michigan. But I live in Fort Wayne so it was kind of neat starting here. There was a lot less trash than I expected. Other than the water being brown from sediment, Toledo was the only disgusting part with a bunch of dead fish and stuff floating. I just did the full Manistee river in Michigan which was a great trip. Very scenic!
WOW! I was thinking to do the Maumee River from Toledo to Fort Wayne! Now, I changed my mind! Really appreciate your video because I had no idea how was this river. Thank you!
There is water at the second shelter house at the Independence Dam park. 6 miles down stream is Florida and there is a general store near the bridge.
Wish I knew that. The broken vending machine was such a disappointment! I was pretty spent and wouldn’t have made it to Florida, but I was close.
@@OneclickOutside Between Florida and Napoleon there is a island called Girty's Island. In the early 1900's there was a amusement park there till it burnt down. People commonly camp on the upstream end of the island. Near Grand Rapids is where the stone skull was found around 1960. You floated by many eagles nest as well as old Indian villages from the 1700 and 1800's. You also floated by the man made canals, monuments of Pontiac and Johnny Appleseed and the Forts. You were lucky to go when you did because I have had to carry a boat for miles between Independence and Florida when the water was low. I think more people Kayak the Auglaize river behind my house than kayak the Maumee. There is a awesome island with a sand beach behind my place just south of Juction's 5 span Bridge at US127. There is a nice bar/restaurant and a gas station there to. Up stream 5 miles is a store and a icecream shop.
@@KD8EGV I stopped and got an ice cream cone at some place in Grand Rapids. I needed that! I took a quick look around Girty Island. The water was a bit low thru the rapids but I never had to walk it. Lots of great history!
Currently independence state park has no potable water & your lucky if they have an outhouse.
Saddest state park in Ohio .
Should have stopped in Defiance at Clinton st. Bridge. Rivers edge bar. ( was Spankeys)
Only thing id do different is fishing..awesome adventure
Building in another day to slow the pace for some fishing would be nice if I do this again.
Very cool the bridge with the trees on it is very recognizable to me because that’s where me and my grandpa fish👍
ODOT held an auction and someone purchased the bridge/land for $6500. Then she backed out. I'm not sure the second highest bidder wanted it, so it appears it will be demolished. I think they should just leave it. It takes 5 seconds to pass under, no big deal. If someone gets hurt climbing it or spending a lot of time under it, that's on them. Whitewater kayakers like it too because of the current it creates during higher water.
@@OneclickOutside I agree around where I live it’s a bridge that has lots of history. My grandpa and Parents would tell me it used to be a popular hangout spot for party’s. It is a very cool bridge no doubt about it and the trees growing out of it makes it look unreal.
Awesome video, im scared to take my little 12ft jon boat from Toledo to Grand Rapids and here you are kayaking over a hundred miles..
Thanks! It really ended up being a great trip without any major issues.
@@OneclickOutside Definitely a good video, I'm ready for fishing season, I've been building my jon boat
That was cool!! Fun solo trip.
The sound is week you my need a new microphone or something because the sound is awful low and I got my sound all the way up either that or it's UA-cam messing with the sound down a lot of videos I come across and if anything I'll put my money on UA-cam missing with stuff