Muskegon River Adventure #8 — We Came Back for Revenge 🛶🔥
Last winter, Muskegon River Adventure #8 ended early. Ice, impossible portages, and a river choked with fallen trees forced us to turn back.
So we came back.
This time, it was warm. The West Michigan kayaking club had grown substantially over the past eight months, and we brought a much bigger crew. We were optimistic about the 25 miles ahead.
We met at White Birch Campground at 9:00 AM, shuttled vehicles to our takeout at Jonesville Road, and hit the water around 10:00 AM.
And almost immediately… the river reminded us who was in charge.
Portage after portage. Big ones. Then more big ones.
We knew the river was badly blocked from our experience the previous winter, but we weren’t prepared for just how extensive it had become. About halfway down, we met some people who live along the river. When they found out we were actually attempting to paddle through it, they couldn’t believe it.
For the next several hours, there was no such thing as an easy stretch.
We were pulling boats around logjams, dragging them over downed trees, climbing out of our kayaks every quarter-mile to half-mile, fighting through debris, dealing with leeches, and constantly figuring out how to get the entire crew through the next obstacle.
It was unrelenting.
It was daunting.
And it was one hell of an adventure.
Then, around 8:00 PM, the blackflies and bugs came out in force and started attacking us like they had been waiting all day. 😳
By the time we finally finished, we had spent 12+ hours battling our way down the river.
But we made it.
And for the new members of the West Michigan kayaking club, what an accomplishment. This was not a leisurely float. This was a legitimate expedition-style paddle that demanded teamwork, determination, and a willingness to keep moving when the river kept throwing obstacles at us.
Muskegon River Adventure #8: COMPLETE. 💪🛶
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who joined us and pushed through this one. You proved that you’re ready for whatever the Muskegon River throws at us.
And now…
We’re heading NORTH.
➡️ Follow along as we continue our journey toward completing the entire Muskegon River.
🛶 West Michigan kayaking club
🌲 Wild Rivers. Rugged Trails. Real Adventure.
🌐 https://www.westmichigankayakingclub.online
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#westmichigankayakingclub #MuskegonRiver #MichiganKayaking #MichiganWaterTrails #GreatLakesPaddling #RiverKayaking #KayakingAdventure #KayakMichigan #MuskegonRiverAdventure
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