Misery Paddle Tours
One of my favorite kinds of Type 2 fun is the humble Misery Paddle Tour. I coined this phrase in 2016 to describe any paddle trip that is far worse than the average paddler would consider. We're talking alder thickets loaded with spiders. Currents pushing you backwards for miles. Logjams of unimaginable proportions. Beaver dams. Low water. Rocks gardens. Rapids. Waterfalls. No two Misery Paddle Tours are alike, except for one thing: they are a test of both physical and mental endurance. Adventurer beware: there is no greater challenge than traveling 0.25 mph by kayak when mosquitos are hungry.
Each stream or river must have enough water to theoretically be paddleable, but not be so easy that people traverse it frequently – if ever. I will utilize larger rivers that are popular paddle routes only if combined as part of a loop with more treacherous sections or as part of an extreme paddle challenge. No cake walks. If it doesn't make you question what you're doing, it won't make the cut.
Arnheim Ditch & Sturgeon River (2017)
Otter Traverse (2020)
Pike River (2018)
Silver River (2024)
Snake River (2016)
Trap Rock River (2019 & 2020)
Traverse River (2021)
West Branch Otter River (2021)
West Branch Sturgeon River (2024)
Wolf Creek (2021)
Normal Rivers
Believe it or not, I also paddle fun rivers on occasion! I have a fleet of kayaks that I don't huck over trees, smash into rocks, or drag for miles overland in search of water (okay, that last part is a lie). You can find more info about those on my River Paddling page.