I'm such a slacker - not even going to bother writing up a trip report for last Spring's Manistee trip as Hike & Paddle already did a much better job! It has videos, tales of morons with broken ankles, and raccoon rampages.
CHECK IT OUT
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
My Review of REI Taj 3 Tent - Special Buy
Offering luxurious living quarters, the REI Taj 3 is a three-season, three-person backpacking tent that won't weigh you down.
Fantastic Tent!
By Nature Mer from Ann Arbor, MI on 6/16/2010
Gift: No
Pros: Waterproof, Easy To Set Up, Sturdy, Fly Works Well, Windproof, Comfortable
Describe Yourself: Casual/ Recreational
What Is Your Gear Style: Comfort Driven
I graduated to the Taj 3 when my boyfriend starting tagging joining my friends and I on overnight paddling trips. My previous tent was the REI Clipper, which I still adore, but in my search for comfort and roominess (and as much as I adore my significant other), space-wise, it wasn't going to work. I purchased my Taj 3 from REI Outlet over a year and a half ago, and thus far, it has not disappointed!
Like my previous REI tent, this sucker is absolutely bomb-proof. Torrential downpours and thunderstorms....still not a drop of water inside this tent. We have noticed that on our early spring and late fall trips, with nighttime temps dropping into the 30s and 40s, we tend to get a bit of condensation inside of the rainfly. It's never enough to get the tent soggy, but did require that we hang up the fly to dry out as we enjoyed breakfast. On our last paddling trip in late May we disovered the small velcro vent at the top of the tent. After setting this up properly, the condensation issue seemed to really improve. I guess that's what happens when you use parts of the tent properly for once!
For the two of us, this tent is PERFECT! We have lots of extra room for our small drybags and other gear we like to store at night, and the side pockets and great for extra storage. As silly as it may seem, the mesh "loft" at the top of our tent is one of my favorite parts - it's perfect for tossing our headlamps, eyeglasses, and other items that need to be readily accessible. The two doors (or as we call them, the "his and hers doors") are much appreciated. When one of us has to get up in the middle of the night or early in the morning, it's so wonderful to be able to exit the tent without scrambling over and waking up the other person inside.
I really value this tent and when a friend was looking for a new tent for he and his wife, I immediately recommended this one. A great tent at a very reasonable price!
Me & the Taj 3 - Manistee River, May 2010
Tags: Using Product, Picture of Product
(legalese)
My Review of REI Clipper Tent - '09 Special Buy
This 2-person REI Clipper tent is perfect for 3-season backpacking and bike touring—revised floor plan fits 2 standard sleeping pads without overlap.
A Trusted Paddling Companion
By Nature Mer from Ann Arbor, MI on 6/16/2010
Gift: No
Pros: Comfortable, Lightweight, Easy To Set Up, Sturdy, Waterproof, Fly Works Well, Windproof
Best Uses: Wilderness Paddling
Describe Yourself: Casual/ Recreational
What Is Your Gear Style: Comfort Driven
I picked up this tent at one of the infamous REI "Garage Sales" for half its original retail price. It had been returned because it supposedly had a hole in it....after much searching and taking it on a 3-night paddle trip, I finally found a tiny pin-hole near the door. A little tent tape and that problem was quickly resolved (and well worth the small investment I made purchasing this great tent!).
This tent has served me well on several multi-night canoe/kayak trips in a variety of conditions. The Clipper has made it through thunderstorms, hail, and torrential downpours, and not once has it leaked on me. After practicing a few times, the setup is a breeze, and speaking of breezes, with the rainfly off, this tent is stellar on hot days by the river! The ventilation is a major plus, and when taking early spring and late fall trips, the rainfluy really helps to keep heat in as well.
I like to joke that though this tent is designed for two people, you have to really, REALLY like the other person to share. I've always used mine as a solo tent, and it has just the right amount of space for me and my gear. When my boyfriend joined in on the camping fun, I graduated up to a Taj 3 tent (which I also adore), but this lil' guy will always have a special place in my heart.
If you're looking for a fantastic, bomb-proof one person tent, grab these before they're gone. It's a shame it's been discontinued, as I think this is a really fantastic little tent!
Tent on the left - Manistee River
Tags: Using Product, Picture of Product
(legalese)
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Overdue Trip Report #1 - Chippewa River
As usual, I'm behind my old paddling buddy, Hike and Paddle, on this trip report, but it doesn't hurt to add my two cents as well!
Our first overnight canoe trip of the season took place May 1st - 2nd, which I'm finding to be a great time to paddle here in southern Michigan. The weather is mild, the bugs are minimal, and most importantly, we usually get the river all to ourselves! We planned this trip with the intention of introducing some new paddlers to overnight camping. The pre-requestites for our trip were:
A) Easy paddling
B) Available and affordable campsite
C) Not too overwhelming river length/paddle time
D) River that was in close range of mid-Michigan
For the most part, the Chippewa was an excellent fit for these conditions. With only a two-hour drive to the river, we were allowed an easy Saturday morning start that had us on the river by mid-morning.
We used Chippewa River Outfitters to spot canoes and give us tips for the trip. The gentleman who drove us to our put-in point was eager to share stories of drunk college kids and their shennanigans (and injuries), which made me wonder if summertime or early Fall trips down the river might be a bit more crowded and chaotic. We put in at the Winn Road bridge, the access to which was little more than a steep trail alongside of a fairly busy road. There was enough space for our three canoes, but not a whole lot more. We were quick to load up, snap a few pictures, and head on our way!
This river served as an important lesson regarding my canoe. A person sitting on the middle bench is a HORRIBLE idea. When you pair a fully loaded canoe with three passengers, none of whom were skinny as sticks (myself included!), and have a third person high up on a bench, tips are inevitable. Before this trip, I had never capsized on an overnight trip. After this trip, I got to add three tips to my list of experiences. We found the Chippewa to be more shallow than anticipated, and with the river flowing at a good clip and a few boulders and bottom rubs, that was that. Thank goodness the drybags worked like a charm and gear and food stayed dry!
The river itself is lovely. There's a real mix of homes and natural areas, and throughout the trip we marvelled at the sheer number of turtles residing on the river. There was lots of scraping along the bottom, and with our heavy canoe, plenty of spots for me to hop out and drag the boat out of shallow sand/gravel bars. In fact, the shallow nature of this river really surprised me in early May, but apparently we had a dry Spring. Again, with three people loaded in the boat, I'm sure I had a different perspective (and challenges) than the others.
We spent the night at Deerfield County Park, which has a canoe landing and designated campsites. The beauty of this site lies in the fact that the only way access it is via canoe or a 1 mile hike, and therefore, no car campers or trailers in site! The park charges $20 per site (which will accomdate up to 4 non-family members) and were made via the park office in advance. We were told that a ranger would come down to check us in and possibly collect $3/boat fee (as we did not use livery boats), but we never saw site of any ranger, so one more fee avoided. The campsite included a water pump and wonderfully clean pit toilets, which is always a nice luxury while camping. Throughout our stay park visitors hiked and jogged along a trail that ran along the front of our sites, but they certainly were not a nuisance.
Several hours after settling in and hitting the hay, a large storm rolled into the area and we had solid rain up through breakfast time. My Taj 3 tent served me well yet again as my friend and I stayed high and dry the entire night. In fact, I've had excellent success with both of my REI tents when it comes to rain, and for this I'm thankful! We enjoyed breakfast beneath Hike & Paddle's usual ingenious tarp setup, and by the time we were ready to tear down camp, the rain had fortunately let up.
Day two of paddling was gorgeous and only entailed one tip. The river grew wider and deeper at this section, and like the first day, the scenery was interesting and beautiful. Major highlights of this day's paddle were passing beneath a covered bridge and suspended walking bridges (part of the county park, I assume), and a first for our paddling trips - paddling through a golf course! There was one section in which we had to paddle through an old gravel pit, and the prospect of tipping in deep water was hardly appealing. Fortunately we made it through without incident and all was well.
By lunchtime we had reached Chippewa River Outfitter's takeout point, which I was not terribly impressed with. There was a fair hike back to the livery, and after picking up our vehicle and trailer, there was still a trying hike up a steep path and to the side of a busy road. We loaded quickly and without problems, and then it was off for a well-earned feast at the local McDonalds.
The Chippewa was a new experience that I would gladly repeat with friends, provided that the river is high enough and my canoe's cargo is limited. For a one-night trip, the paddle length is fantastic (6 hrs on day one, about 3.5 hours on day two), and the folks at Chippewa River Outfitters are personable and easy to work with. Despite the tips, a great trip!
Our first overnight canoe trip of the season took place May 1st - 2nd, which I'm finding to be a great time to paddle here in southern Michigan. The weather is mild, the bugs are minimal, and most importantly, we usually get the river all to ourselves! We planned this trip with the intention of introducing some new paddlers to overnight camping. The pre-requestites for our trip were:
A) Easy paddling
B) Available and affordable campsite
C) Not too overwhelming river length/paddle time
D) River that was in close range of mid-Michigan
For the most part, the Chippewa was an excellent fit for these conditions. With only a two-hour drive to the river, we were allowed an easy Saturday morning start that had us on the river by mid-morning.
We used Chippewa River Outfitters to spot canoes and give us tips for the trip. The gentleman who drove us to our put-in point was eager to share stories of drunk college kids and their shennanigans (and injuries), which made me wonder if summertime or early Fall trips down the river might be a bit more crowded and chaotic. We put in at the Winn Road bridge, the access to which was little more than a steep trail alongside of a fairly busy road. There was enough space for our three canoes, but not a whole lot more. We were quick to load up, snap a few pictures, and head on our way!
This river served as an important lesson regarding my canoe. A person sitting on the middle bench is a HORRIBLE idea. When you pair a fully loaded canoe with three passengers, none of whom were skinny as sticks (myself included!), and have a third person high up on a bench, tips are inevitable. Before this trip, I had never capsized on an overnight trip. After this trip, I got to add three tips to my list of experiences. We found the Chippewa to be more shallow than anticipated, and with the river flowing at a good clip and a few boulders and bottom rubs, that was that. Thank goodness the drybags worked like a charm and gear and food stayed dry!
The river itself is lovely. There's a real mix of homes and natural areas, and throughout the trip we marvelled at the sheer number of turtles residing on the river. There was lots of scraping along the bottom, and with our heavy canoe, plenty of spots for me to hop out and drag the boat out of shallow sand/gravel bars. In fact, the shallow nature of this river really surprised me in early May, but apparently we had a dry Spring. Again, with three people loaded in the boat, I'm sure I had a different perspective (and challenges) than the others.
We spent the night at Deerfield County Park, which has a canoe landing and designated campsites. The beauty of this site lies in the fact that the only way access it is via canoe or a 1 mile hike, and therefore, no car campers or trailers in site! The park charges $20 per site (which will accomdate up to 4 non-family members) and were made via the park office in advance. We were told that a ranger would come down to check us in and possibly collect $3/boat fee (as we did not use livery boats), but we never saw site of any ranger, so one more fee avoided. The campsite included a water pump and wonderfully clean pit toilets, which is always a nice luxury while camping. Throughout our stay park visitors hiked and jogged along a trail that ran along the front of our sites, but they certainly were not a nuisance.
Several hours after settling in and hitting the hay, a large storm rolled into the area and we had solid rain up through breakfast time. My Taj 3 tent served me well yet again as my friend and I stayed high and dry the entire night. In fact, I've had excellent success with both of my REI tents when it comes to rain, and for this I'm thankful! We enjoyed breakfast beneath Hike & Paddle's usual ingenious tarp setup, and by the time we were ready to tear down camp, the rain had fortunately let up. 
Day two of paddling was gorgeous and only entailed one tip. The river grew wider and deeper at this section, and like the first day, the scenery was interesting and beautiful. Major highlights of this day's paddle were passing beneath a covered bridge and suspended walking bridges (part of the county park, I assume), and a first for our paddling trips - paddling through a golf course! There was one section in which we had to paddle through an old gravel pit, and the prospect of tipping in deep water was hardly appealing. Fortunately we made it through without incident and all was well.By lunchtime we had reached Chippewa River Outfitter's takeout point, which I was not terribly impressed with. There was a fair hike back to the livery, and after picking up our vehicle and trailer, there was still a trying hike up a steep path and to the side of a busy road. We loaded quickly and without problems, and then it was off for a well-earned feast at the local McDonalds.
The Chippewa was a new experience that I would gladly repeat with friends, provided that the river is high enough and my canoe's cargo is limited. For a one-night trip, the paddle length is fantastic (6 hrs on day one, about 3.5 hours on day two), and the folks at Chippewa River Outfitters are personable and easy to work with. Despite the tips, a great trip!
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Trip Report: Manistee River, Sept 11-13, 2009
These trip reports seem to have become a tandem effort with Hike and Paddle's writeups. He remembers the details of our adventures, and I just expound upon the miscellaneous aspects of the trip. Maybe it's a guy/girl difference in writing, but what the heck, you can never have enough fun stories about paddling, right?
Our trip took place from a Friday (Sept 11th) to Sunday (Sept 13th) as we were in the full swing of work and couldn't pull a long weekend. I believe the impetus for this trip was a weekend of relaxation for Hike & Paddle and his bride-to-be, who were happily wed less than a month later. It was a lovely wedding...I was involved and managed to not make an ass out of myself. Always a plus. The bride's bachelorette party was, appropriately enough, a paddling trip. Trip report, of course, to follow...
On these short trips, our usual plan of action is to load up as much gear on the Thursday night before the trip, get off work as soon as possible (usually mid-afternoon) on Friday, and haul butt up North, catching some quality dinner such as Chez Taco Bell. Usually we reach a state campground by 9 or 10 at night, which leaves us ample time to set up camp under headlights and enjoy a beverage or two before bedtime. These first nights are generally mild in nature, as we try to hit the river as early as possible the following morning.
On the Friday of this trip, we decided to camp at CCC Bridge State Forest Campground, where we had stayed on a previous trip. The layout of this campground is gorgeous - right alongside of the Manistee River with great river access next to the bridge. Unfortunately, as it is with many state campgrounds "up north", the snobs that we are sometimes get annoyed by our neighbors. Upon arriving to the campground, we grew anxious as we saw the number of denizens camping that weekend, but after a spin around the grounds, we found a great site all the way in the back - what I believe was the same site we camped at during our first trip! I think this spot remains open because it is designated for tent camping only and it butts up to the North Country Trail. I've often wondered if camping near the hiking trail could be a hazard (we've all heard the horror stories of crime on the AT), but Hike & Paddle and I keep our trusty "shanks" (i.e. Ka-Bar) handy, so I still rest easily at night.
On this particular Friday, the other side of the river (there is campground on both sides of the Manistee) was hopping! Music blasting, folks whooping and hollering - they put our attempts to relax and enjoy drinks to shame. After a tame round or two of drinks, it was bedtime before our adventure began....
I need to pause and note that we have been cursed with bad car luck on the upper stretches of the Manistee. On our first trip, Hike & Paddle bottomed out on the front of his little Volkswagen, tearing off a portion of his front bumper and eliciting a slew of angry words. On this trip, he blew a tire on the way to our put-in point. Thanks to his speedy tire changing and my GPS finding the nearest Wal-Mart to visit at the end of our trip, we were on our way shortly so the adventure could continue. I don't know what it is about this portion of the river and cars, but so far my vehicles have been exempt, and for this, I'm grateful.
I also need to note that this was the inaugural trip for my boyfriend and me with our new baby. No no no...the baby is NOT human....oh hell no....our new baby is our new Pelican Colorado Canoe. What a great story she has, and what a fine boat she is! After doing paddle trips in both kayaks and a canoe borrowed from the camp where I work, my boyfriend and I decided we much preferred paddling together in a canoe. This led us to start searching for cheap watercraft online, simply on a whim. Enter Craigslist. We came across a nice family who hoped to sell a brand new canoe that had never touched the water for $250. We haggled it down to $225, and WHAT A DEAL! It turns out that the couple bought a canoe and kayak, hoping to paddle together. They both decided they like kayaking best and wanted to purchase and additional kayak, but were stuck with this canoe that they had never even tried. Papers were still attached to the inside of the boat, the couple gave us the car-top foam pads with the deal, all we had to do was buy some cheap paddles from Campmor and some ratcheting tie-down straps and we were good to go. This was one hell of a deal, considering that the cheapest I can find this canoe new online is over $400.
And the canoe? She's a dream! At first we were concerned by reviews that this boat tended to be "tippy". Upon getting her in the Manistee, we found that there is a slight "sway" to her, but nothing all that disconcerting. I think the canoe has this quality because of its keel, which makes for excellent steering. As the usual "stern woman", I really appreciate how quickly the boat responds to my steering. One other plus about the boat? The center bench has...yes...cupholders. I don't use it much, but it's good for the temporary placement of radios, beverages, etc. This middle bench was used on aforementioned bachelorette party, which added a whole new element of challenge to this boat - to be described in the next post.
So...back to the trip. We put in at Lower Sharon Bridge, and what a surprise we encountered! The last time we put in here, the put-in was sketchy at best. There was a steep grade down to the lot (this is what tore off Hike & Paddle's front bumper)and the river access was rustic at best. This new site...holy cow! Fully paved parking area, stairs and a gently graded paved road down to the river for both boat, and I assume, wheelchair access, nice new bathrooms, and even a ramp right to the water for handicapped paddlers. This new put-in is phenomenal and my hat goes off to the forest service or whatever good Samaritans contributed to make this new access a reality. It's a gem! After dropping off the boyfriend and fiancé, Hike & Paddle and I spotted a car downriver at our takeout point at the Coster Road Bridge. This is another great access point on the Manistee, with a good ramp, excellent parking, and leaving us with a great stretch of river to paddle for a day and a half.
We hit the river shortly after a group of college kids, who were dropped off by a local livery. I missed this when we were spotting cars, but according to my boyfriend's report, they promptly dumped in the river right after getting in. We came upon the group shortly after putting in as they took a break on shore. Clad in viking helmets and gear, they gave us hearty hello, which we returned in earnest. Just a bit further downriver, we came across a fairly technical switchback with decent, but not dangerous, strainer, and I believe my words at the time were "Oh god...they're going to die". We made it through just fine and the boat handled like a gem, but I can't help but to wonder what happened to those coeds, as we did not see them again for the remainder of our trip....
After a few hours of leisurely paddling and just before reaching the M-66 bridge, we found the campsite that we had used on our first trip down this stretch of the river, and what a great one it is. The site consists of a large, very open plateau above a surprisingly small (only about 6ft) bank, which makes for easy unloading and reloading of gear. The site itself is interesting as it is large, flat, and contains evidence of past human habitation, specifically in the form of old apple trees. In early September, the apples weren't quite ripe, but they still made for enjoyable snacking. In the Spring, this campsite is equally beautiful, as the last time we visited, these trees were fully in bloom! All in all it was an excellent site, except for some bugs that decided to pay us a visit, which Hike & Paddle promptly took care of with his homemade bug smoker. You can see video evidence of this on his blog. Hike & Paddle's bride and myself took a nap under the shade of a tarp whilst the boys set up camp and listened to U of M beat Notre Dame on the radio....we were content to let the boys do some work for once ;)
We had a great night at this site - I have holes burnt into my fleece jacket and convertible pants to prove it. After too many adult beverages were consumed, songs were sung, and good times were had, we retreated to our tents for a well-earned night of sleep by the river. The following Sunday only left us with about 3 more hours of a beautiful paddle along the Manistee. This is about right for a last day paddle, as we were tired and...ahem...perhaps a bit hungover from the night before. We took out at Coster Road Bridge, which as I mentioned, is a great takeout point. Except for getting a bit lost, our canoes trying to fall off the top of our cars on bumpy washboard roads, and hitting up the local Wal-Mart on the way home to get Hike & Paddle a new tire, it was a relatively smooth last day.
In summary, this is an excellent one-night trip, as long as one can navigate the sometimes puzzling country roads and escape the local "car curse" that has befallen Hike & Paddle. Would do it again in a heartbeat!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Trip Report #2: The Manistee, Spring '09
It's a crime and a shame that I have not reported on one of our favorite haunts yet. The 
Manistee River is a tried and true favorite for me and my paddling-partner-in-crime, the infamous Hiker & Paddler (you really MUST check out his blog, especially if you're into the technical aspects of camping and camp equipment....he's taught me all I know!), and this past Spring, we did our favorite stretch of the Manistee for what had to have been the 3rd or 4th time. We do this stretch again and again because a) it is a great length and pace for a two-night paddle b) there are ample "ninja camping" opportunities since it is in the middle of state forest - just find a nice site along shore and set up camp! and c) we have a great relationship with Wilderness Canoe, who ferries gear and boats to our put-in point for a very reasonable price.
Manistee River is a tried and true favorite for me and my paddling-partner-in-crime, the infamous Hiker & Paddler (you really MUST check out his blog, especially if you're into the technical aspects of camping and camp equipment....he's taught me all I know!), and this past Spring, we did our favorite stretch of the Manistee for what had to have been the 3rd or 4th time. We do this stretch again and again because a) it is a great length and pace for a two-night paddle b) there are ample "ninja camping" opportunities since it is in the middle of state forest - just find a nice site along shore and set up camp! and c) we have a great relationship with Wilderness Canoe, who ferries gear and boats to our put-in point for a very reasonable price.First and foremost, let me state that the Manistee is full of incredible paddling opportunity. The river is clear, has an awesome and easy flow, and there is lots of it! See for yourself!
Map courtesy of Wilderness Canoe's Website....if you're paddling the Manistee, use 'em, you won't be sorry!
Our usual trip starts at US-131 and ends at Wilderness Canoe, which is located immediately past M-37. As far as our pacing goes, we like to get on the river by late morning on the first day, enjoy a leisurely lunch and/or swim, and put in about 3-4 hours of paddling. We usually use Baxter Bridge as a reference point on that first day - once we get past the bridge, it's time to start considering campsites. And thus is the beauty of camping in USFS territory....when we find a nice, flat campsite without an unreasonable bank to scramble up, it's a good time to camp.
On day two, we prefer to camp somewhere before, but close to Harvey Bridge. There are 
gorgeous potential campsites just before Harvey Bridge, including what we fondly refer to as the "Mofo" site. Though its namesake suggests otherwise, the site's title does not come from our own frustrations or drawbacks from the campsite. This name comes from the simple, neon orange graffiti scrawled down a pine tree on the high bluff on which it sits. Why the tree is a mofo, I have no earthly idea. But what I do know is that the place is fantastic. A nice, high, flat campsite with easy access to the river, along with an abandoned pit toilet left by hunters makes it a personal favorite. And by pit toilet, I mean a wooden box with a hole cut out on top, complete with comfy toilet seat to sit upon. I enjoy jungle pooping as much as the next gal, but such luxury cannot go unnoticed! Unfortunately, on our Memorial Day weekend trip, this site is usually occupied by an RV or trailer, along with the usual local yahoos that we run into throughout the weekend.
Our third day is a leisurely 2-3 hour paddle past Harvey Bridge and back to the livery. This usually gives us the needed time for our livers to detox and our minds to prepare for the long drive home
I know the details are sparse on this trip, but stay tuned for a more detailed report on this Fall's latest trip on a stretch of the Manistee further upriver. If you want a sneak preview, zip on over to Hike and Paddle's blog (seriously...just do it) for his take on our latest adventure.
Keep paddling, and now that the Michigan winter is fast approaching, keep those hopes high until next spring!
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