Clearing the Pine for Paddlers

clearing the Pine River (still extracted from video by Hoxeyville Outfitters and Pine River Paddlesports)

compiled from several sources

The Pine River has some of the fastest navigable water in Michigan and two Northern Michigan outfitters, Pine River Paddlesports Center and Hoxeyville Outfitters, spend time each spring clearing downed trees from the waterway.

But this year, they added a new strategy. In addition to cutting from shore or from a canoe, they are repelling from a rope suspended above the river down to chainsaw large trees. The spring flooding in Michigan has left a larger than usual amount of debris, and the outfitters expect the work will continue all summer.

The goal is to make the river as safe as possible for paddlers. They state that personal safety as they do the clearing is a priority, and the work is potentially dangerous. However, they don't want users to be surprised by a sudden obstacle when they round a bend in the river.

Owners, Jacob Miltner and Rylie Gates, say they have decades of combined experience doing work like this. Each year they clear about 45 miles of the Pine River. Except for the repelling, the two businesses do this work every spring. Few people have known what they do to keep the river clear.

They carefully plan how to approach each obstruction. This is not something the average person should try.

See the full video at 9 and 10 News


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EXTRA- Pine River Safety Alert

graphic from Manistee National Forest

a news release of Manistee National Forest

The Huron-Manistee National Forests is strongly cautioning anglers and paddlers to consider not navigating the waters of the Pine River this weekend.

A massive logjam between Peterson's Bridge and Low Bridge River Accesses has made navigation dangerous in the swift moving waters. Logjams were also reported at Dobson Bridge upstream from Peterson's Bridge. Logjams also pose additional risks to river recreation users.

• Water passing through logjams traps solid objects, posing higher drowning risks for kayakers and canoers.
• Redirect water flow, often causing intense erosion on stream banks, which can lead to unstable banks.
• Accumulated debris can block bridges and culverts, triggering severe flooding, forcing water onto roads sometimes causing them to fail.
• Portage can become difficult or impossible.
• Flow of water can be at a higher velocity.
• Potential to have watercraft puncture by submersed debris.
• Surfaces with heavy silt or sand can be water saturated and react like quicksand.

See more at Safety Alerts


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Pine River Guided Winter Rafting

Events Calendar

Pine River raft trip (photo from Pine River Paddlesports)

from Pine Rive Paddlesports

GOTC News will not often promote commercial outdoor pursuits that don't have some other component (education, competition, etc), but this seems like such a unique opportunity, it will be mentioned.

Pine Rive Paddlesports is offering guided winter rafting trips.

Are you ready for an all new way to experience the Pine? We are now offering guided winter rafting trips! Rafts are extremely stable, thus making them the perfect craft to use in the winter. You don’t have to worry about getting wet – the only water in the boat should be from the occasional paddle splash and snow coming down!

The trips take place from Walker Bridge to Lincoln Bridge on the Pine. In a raft, this stretch of river takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes – long enough to soak in the scenery, but not long enough to freeze! While the trips are guided, we are giving everyone their choice of either having the guide in the raft with them or canoeing alongside them.

At the end of your rafting trip, you get the option of either receiving a ride from us back to the starting point where your vehicles are waiting, or of hiking the beautiful Silver Creek Pathway back to your cars. The Silver Creek Pathway runs on both sides of the river – one side is a 1.7 mile hike while the other is about 2.4 miles. It is a gorgeous, riverside trail with beautiful overlooks on the river. If you choose to hike, we will happily take back to your vehicles any thermoses, extra layers of clothing, etc, that you do not want with you on your hike. If some of your group wants to hike and some wants to ride back, we are happy to accommodate that as well.

We offer rafting trips 7 days a week, twice a day. We generally launch the first trip at 10:00 AM and the second trip at 1:00 PM. Since the trips are guided, reservations are required.

See Pine River Paddlesports for times and rates


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