River Bum Log: Paddling past the pipeline

In 2013, I paddled almost the whole Namekagon River with the St. Croix River Association. It was an amazing adventure, when challenging conditions fused me together with some new friends.

Rain early in the trip raised the water levels to flood stage, and we rode rushing currents all the way downstream. When people capsized, we helped them. When the weather finally improved, we relished it together.

The next year, we paddled 90 miles of the St. Croix. I remember launching at Riverside Landing in a cold, driving rain. I remember packing up my tent at Wild River State Park in a warm, driving rain...

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Ken Notes: We need to create a tourism economy in these area or the economics of pipelines and power transmission will win the day. This is by the way one of Wisconsin`s greatest ecological assets...