Nine paddlers, all solos, put in at Elm Flats on the Pine River. Norm and Rick were in canoes and seven were in kayaks, John Heiam, Lois, Paul, Maxi, Tracie, Angie, and John Mesch. We drove all our cars to Peterson Landing on M-37 and Jake from Pine River Paddlesports Center drove the drivers back to Elm Flats. The weather was cool, about 48F, and sunny at the start, but rose to the low 70’s by the finish. As we paddled down the river, we shed layers one by one to stay comfortable. Jake advised us that there was a new strainer about 15 minutes down from Elm Flats, and sure enough a tough passage awaited us through a newly downed tree at a sharp bend. After John and Lois squeezed through, Norm and Paul got out and aided each of the rest through the narrow and low passage without incident.
We continued on about 6-1/2 miles for two hours under sunny skies and with a light south breeze to our lunch site at Dobson Bridge. While we ate lunch, a couple in a tandem canoe and a solo canoeist passed by us heading down the river in turn. There was no other traffic while we were on the river. The breeze occasionally sent wafts of newly fallen leaves from high in the trees drifting down to the ground, producing a very calming and serene setting. The colors were magnificent through the entire stretch, Elm Flats to Peterson Landing. We continued on after lunch about 7 more miles and 90 minutes to Peterson Landing through stretches of faster riffles, but none particularly difficult.
Written by Rick Waldo