Optimism reigned Thursday as Jay Thurston and Mike Kinziger considered their chances of sticking to the itinerary for their 436-mile canoe trip down the Wisconsin River, which is to begin Friday morning.

Thurston and Kinziger held a press conference in La Crosse, Wednesday night, then stayed overnight at Thurston’s home in Viroqua. They were set to travel north to Eagle River, Thursday, at 9:30 a.m.

While flooding was occurring throghought southwest Wisconsin, both Thurston, 75, Viroqua, and Kinziger, 60, Moscow, Idaho, said the weather forecast for their trip at this point was favorible.

“If this trip would have been last week it wouldn’t have happened,” Kinziger said. “The weather was bad, windy, there were tornados… we couldn’t have done it.”

But the weather is supposed to clear for Friday and water levels are above average on the Wisconsin River.

“It will be like riding a crest the whole way down the river,” Thurston said. “Conditions look to be in our favor. If the weather clears like it is supposed to, conditions will be on our side.”

The pair unveiled their canoe “Inspiration” an 18-and-a-half-foot We-no-nah canoe that is made out of carbon fiber.

“You know, considering all the new technology, this canoe really isn’t that far from the designs of the first canoes,” Kinziger said.

Kinziger is a professor at the University of Idaho where he coordinates the undergraduate, graduate and outdoor leadership recreation programs. He still teaches whitewater canoeing for the Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Thurston is a retired school administrator and educator from the La Crosse School District. He made trips down the Wisconsin in 1958 (with Gary Kitzman) and in 1983 with Kinziger. This will be his third trip in 50 years. He has set an itinerary that has the pair completing the trip in six days and 10 hours, which would set a new record for an open canoe. In 1983, the pair completed their trip in eight days.

Should weather be good on Friday, their first real challenge will come on Saturday morning as they approach Whirlpool Rapids between Rhinelander and Tomahawk. If the water is too high, the pair will portage the rapids.

“If we know it’s a situation where we’d have to scout it out, we’ll just immediately portage it,” Kinziger said. “We’re on a schedule and that’s the best way to keep on it.”

“They rapids are so big you can hear them from a mile away,” Thurston said. “Making it past those rapids will be the first obstacle.”

Confidence was high and the pair were to be met and followed during part of their trip by Dave Carlson of Northwoods Adventures television show. Also, regular updates and photos from their trip (when available) will be posted on www.vernonbroadcaster.com

This is a supplement to the Vernon County Broadcaster's ongoing coverage of the journey of canoeists Jay Thurston and Mike Kinziger as they plan to canoe the Wisconsin River starting June 13.