I’m proud to have been a sponsor of this year’s Vatten Paddlar canoe and kayak race, which was held July 6 on the Eau Claire Chain of Lakes in Barnes and Gordon, Wisconsin. I was glad for the opportunity to support our local community, and also to spread the word about the natural beauty of the lakes and rivers in this part of northwest Wisconsin.
Many of the elite racers turned in incredibly fast times. Even more important, pretty much everyone there had an incredibly fun time. Here are a few scenes from the race. For more images and full race results, visit www.vattenpaddlar.com.
Many thanks to David Delforge for running a great event.
Just a few days until the Vatten Paddlar canoe and kayak race, which will be held July 6 on the Eau Claire Chain of Lakes in Barnes, Wisconsin. To register online, just go to www.vattenpaddlar.com.
I’m proud to be a sponsor of this year’s race; it’s a great way to support our local community, and also to spread the word about the natural beauty of the lakes and rivers in this part of northwest Wisconsin.
Ready to paddle and portage? To get you in the mood, here’s a quick preview of the channel between Middle Eau Claire Lake and Lower Eau Claire Lake.
Eau Claire River
Sponsored by Jean Hedren, Edina Realty NW Wisconsin Realtor.
I’m proud to be a sponsor of this year’s Vatten Paddlar canoe and kayak race, which will be held July 6 on the Eau Claire Chain of Lakes in Barnes, Wisconsin. I’m grateful for this opportunity to support our local community, and also to spread the word about the natural beauty of the lakes and rivers in this part of northwest Wisconsin.
I suspect a few paddlers and their families have enjoyed extra weekends in the area while checking out the course. (If you haven’t been able to do that,check out my earlier blog post for a little virtual scouting.) While you’re at it, please come on back to explore some of our other lakes and rivers, too.
Our local area is famous for paddling on rivers like the Brule, Saint Croix, and Namekagon, but we also have lots of lakes that are great for flatwater paddling. Even most of the larger, more open lakes have lots of sheltered bays to explore. Take, for example, the 1,564-acre Minong Flowage, with its meandering, 24.8 mile shoreline. Or, there’s the 1,913-acre Gordon Flowage (also known as the Saint Croix Flowage), which has over 27 miles of shoreline and lots of isolated bays that offer a near-wilderness experience. Hug the shoreline for a single lap, and there’s a pretty decent workout.
If you’re racing, even recreationally, then you’re not afraid to paddle upstream now and then. That opens up lots more options. Here’s just one example: Instead of merely paddling downstream from Solon Springs and Upper Saint Croix Lake to the Gordon Flowage, you could start in the Gordon Flowage, paddle upstream to Upper Saint Croix Lake, and then paddle back on down to your starting point.
Feeling less ambitious today? No problem. Here’s a fast canoe being paddled slowly on a quiet corner of the Saint Croix Flowage near Gordon, Wisconsin. Enjoy!
Proud to sponsor this NW Wisconsin canoe race. A beautiful day for a canoe race. Vattenpaddler July 6, 2019. 10 mile and 5 mile canoe, kayak, SUP races on NW Wisconsin beautiful Eau Claire Chain of Lakes, Barnes and Gordon, WI.
In a recent blog post about the upcoming Vatten Paddlar race being held July 6 on the Eau Claire Chain of Lakes in Barnes, Wisconsin, I included a video showing the boating channel from Middle Eau Claire Lake to Lower Eau Claire Lake. That video’s been getting a lot of attention, so here’s more virtual scouting from my YouTube channel at Jean Hedren, Your Northwest Wisconsin Realtor.
First, for paddlers in the ten-mile race, here’s the boating channel between Birch Lake and Robinson Lake. During the race, you’ll be going the opposite direction. Still, this gives you some idea of what to expect when the course narrows down the very first time. This video is unedited and in real time; during the race this segment will go by much faster. (You’ll also experience heavier traffic, since the field won’t yet have spread out very much.)
Next, here’s the channel between Birch Lake and Upper Eau Claire Lake.
If you’re in the ten-mile race, your next channel between lakes is the one between Upper Eau Claire Lake and Middle Eau Claire Lake. After a quick portage around the outlet dam, you’ll experience a stretch that’s a little narrower and faster than the first two channels. Here’s a photo from the bridge at Outlet Bay Road. It gives you some idea of what to expect.
Eau Claire River
Although you’ll only encounter the previous channels if you’re in the ten-mile race, paddlers in bothevents get to experience the channel between Middle Eau Claire Lake and Lower Eau Claire Lake. Partway through, you’ll also get to stretch your legs on a brief portage around a miniature lock and dam.
(According to the official rules, assistance in portaging is available at both portages, and receiving assistance does not disqualify participants. You also have the option of locking through the lock and dam, but portaging is obviously much quicker.)
So once again, here’s a sneak preview of the channel between Middle Eau Claire Lake and Lower Eau Claire Lake. The portage comes at about 1:35.
Proud to sponsor this great local event. Jean Hedren, Edina Realty NW Wisconsin Realtor.
Beautifully maintained mid-century log home with charming guest cabin on 3.16 acres with 175′ of sandy bottom lakefront on this gorgeous clear lake. Sold by Jean Hedren, Edina Realty NW Wisconsin Realtor.
