Paddling the Zumbro River this weekend – let the adventure begin!
No canoe trip in Algonquin for me this weekend, Not even beer drinking in the backyard. I’m paddling the mighty Zumbro River, near Rochester, Minnesota. Don’t have a clue about the river but a few months ago I received a request from Ann Schmidt to help with a fundraiser named after her son – The Christopher Schmidt Wilderness Adventure Scholarship. It was created to assist with expenses, for youth and the disadvantaged, who wish to participate in outdoor activities such as wilderness trips, camping trips, naturalist, or environmental programs that are offered by qualified organizations who specialize in providing those types of experiences.
Who can say no to that!
Here’s the info:
Coming Event – Canoe Rally To raise funds for the Christopher Schmidt Wilderness Adventure Scholarship we are hosting a canoe rally to be held on May 16th of 2009, near Rochester Minnesota. We are inviting paddling enthuisiasts to participate in a float up the beautiful Zumbro River in exchange for a donation to the scholarship. Suggested registration/donation $25 per boat. At 9 am. will meet and do a car shuttle, and plan to launch at 10 am. After the paddle we will have a get together with food provided for the paddlers at Chester Woods County Park on Hwy 14, just a few miles east of Rochester. Bring your own beverages. We are having a gear swap, so if you have any camping or paddling gear you would like to trade, donate, or give away, bring it along. We will also have drawing for prizes, the door prize being a $500 gift certificate, generously donated by Wilderness Inquiry.
Special guests: Paddling with us will be Kevin Callan *known as one of Canada’s most renowned canoe authors. Tom Mings, President, Minnesota Canoe Association Partners: Steve Dawson, Ministries Director, Camp Victory, Zumbro Falls MN. Sara Grover, Founder and Director of Project GO (Get Outdoors), Wilderness Inquiry. Supporters: Larry Ricker, photographer, and wilderness enthuisiast. Website by David Redding
Zumbro River Trip We will be paddling a 10 mile stretch of the Zumbro River starting at the canoe launch on County Road 7 just north of Zumbro Lake, to the canoe launch in Zumbro Falls. We can meet at 9 a.m. at the County Road 7 launch, and then do a shuttle to the take out in Zumbro Falls. We will probably be ready to launch by 10a.m. I have personally never paddled the Zumbro River but the DNR says this is flat water with a few riffles and no rapids. This is some very scenic bluffland, not the Boundary Waters, but some of the most beautiful country Minnesota has to offer. Bring your lunch! We will find a nice spot along the way to stop. (Map)
