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For Jay Thurston, 75, of Viroqua, and Mike Kinziger, 60, of Moscow, Idaho, their plan to paddle down the Wisconsin River starting June 13 hinges not only on solid technical execution in the canoe and maneuvering more than 20 tricky portages -- the weather has to be on their side, too.
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The Broadcaster plans to carry daily updates on the progress Jay and Mike make on the river journey on our website www.vernonbroadcaster.com
Speed in the canoe can vary depending on current and wind. They can travel at six miles per hour with a favorable current and wind. If going into a headwind approaching a dam, where the river's current can lag, even the most persistent paddling might net just one mile each hour.
While this week's flooding in Vernon County and heavy rains have been very difficult for many, a higher water level in the Wisconsin will help the pair as they make their attempt.
"Mike can handle navigating very difficult conditions and the higher water only helps us," Thurston said. "It's certainly to our advantage."
The pair plan to enter the water at Lac Vieux Desert in Vilas County, Friday, at 5 a.m. The first day they plan to paddle 64 miles in 15 hours before stopping hopefully at River Road, 3 miles below the Rainbow Flowage.
Things only get trickier from there.
Day two includes another 64 miles with six portages, ending at Grandfather dam. Day three is a 72-mile cruise with six more portages. At the end of day three, they hope to be at the First Lake Boat Landing, just off of Hwy. 10.
If this trip had any day that could be deemed a day of reckoning, it would by day four, Monday, June 16. While the pair plan to paddle the shortest stretch of river on their itinerary, 57 miles, they will have to traverse nine portages. All told, they plan to be on the move 17 straight hours with their final stretch being across the Petenwell Flowage -- Wisconsin's second largest lake. They've planned five hours of paddling to negotiate the 20-mile-long Petenwell, stopping at the lake's dam at 10 p.m.
"If we get there and get through that day, we will have the confidence to carry on," Thurston said. "That's the turning point for us."
Day five includes 59 miles of paddling and two portages. It begins with the Castle Rock Flowage, the fourth-largest lake in Wisconsin. At the end of Day five, the pair will be looking at two 60-mile days on the lower Wisconsin Riverway. Considered the most picturesque portion of the Wisconsin River, there's only one portage scheduled in the two days.
For now, Thurston and Kinziger have stopped training. The only thing Thurston is doing is still walking three miles a day. He took a television crew from La Crosse's Channel 8 out to Sidie Hollow for a story they're doing on Thursday.
Kinziger is en route to Viroqua to meet up with Thurston.
Kinziger and Thurston were to meet on Wednesday afternoon and paddle briefly to get their canoe balanced and their stroke timing down. Then, after their planned press conference on Wednesday night in La Crosse, they are planning to travel to their staging area at Eagle River, Thursday evening.
Thurston is prepared. He says he's in great shape for the trip.
"I'm feeling pretty confident," he said, Monday. "I've prepared as good as I can. I'm anxious to start."
The Wisconsin River waits.
This is the fourth part in a series of stories that will tell the journey of canoeists Jay Thurston and Mike Kinziger as they plan to canoe the Wisconsin River starting June 13.
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