Solo Kayak Camping Adventure With a 120-Foot Dam in My Way
Jason Wish
7,731 views
The final leg of my 54-mile solo kayak camping journey down the Stillwater River had a little bit of everything — including one massive obstacle waiting for me.
After completing my longest bike shuttle yet, I finally got on the water during a busy Labor Day Weekend and worked my way through dozens of other paddlers. A late start eventually forced me to settle for a less-than-ideal campsite in a floodplain that had been under nearly 15 feet of water just a few weeks earlier.
I made the best of the evening with some incredible campfire cooking using farm-fresh vegetables straight from our fields, but the biggest challenge was still waiting for me the next morning.
A massive dam blocked the river ahead, with no way to paddle through it. Getting around it meant the biggest and most difficult portage of my life — hauling all of my gear and then my kayak up and over the dam in two separate trips. On the way back down, things got even more interesting when my kayak nearly got away from me.
After that challenge was finally behind me, the trip ended on a completely different note — peaceful water, beautiful weather, a little fishing, and a relaxing paddle to complete all 54 miles of the Stillwater River.
Thanks for coming along for the entire journey!
Chapters:
0:00-1:52 The Final 54-Mile Finale Begins
1:52-4:19 Longest Bike Shuttle Yet
4:19-12:17 Labor Day Weekend on the Stillwater
12:17-17:30 Searching for a Campsite
17:30-23:16 Campfire Dinner With Farm Fresh Vegetables
23:16-31:58 Day 2 Campfire Breakfast
31:58-36:03 Breaking Camp and Back on the River
36:03-47:54 Dragging My Kayak Over the 120-Foot Dam
47:54-56:14 Fishing and Relaxing Through the Final Miles
56:14-58:01 Entering the Great Miami River
58:01-59:14 Finishing the 54 Mile Journey
▶️ PART 1: Solo Kayak Camping | 54 Miles on the Still...
▶️ PART 2: Solo Kayak Camping Adventure on the Stillw...
Correction:
12:54 The dam is approximately 739 feet across at its base, not 4,700 feet as shown on screen. 4,700 ft. is its width.
#KayakCamping #SoloKayaking #KayakAdventure
20 Comments
Way go Jason!
Great work and thank you for taking us along.
Enjoyed the video Brother! I’m off to get me a cantaloupe. 👍🏼🙏🏼
Solo Kayak Camping Adventure With a 120-Foot Dam in My Way
Jason Wish
7,731 views
The final leg of my 54-mile solo kayak camping journey down the Stillwater River had a little bit of everything — including one massive obstacle waiting for me.
After completing my longest bike shuttle yet, I finally got on the water during a busy Labor Day Weekend and worked my way through dozens of other paddlers. A late start eventually forced me to settle for a less-than-ideal campsite in a floodplain that had been under nearly 15 feet of water just a few weeks earlier.
I made the best of the evening with some incredible campfire cooking using farm-fresh vegetables straight from our fields, but the biggest challenge was still waiting for me the next morning.
A massive dam blocked the river ahead, with no way to paddle through it. Getting around it meant the biggest and most difficult portage of my life — hauling all of my gear and then my kayak up and over the dam in two separate trips. On the way back down, things got even more interesting when my kayak nearly got away from me.
After that challenge was finally behind me, the trip ended on a completely different note — peaceful water, beautiful weather, a little fishing, and a relaxing paddle to complete all 54 miles of the Stillwater River.
Thanks for coming along for the entire journey!
Chapters:
0:00-1:52 The Final 54-Mile Finale Begins
1:52-4:19 Longest Bike Shuttle Yet
4:19-12:17 Labor Day Weekend on the Stillwater
12:17-17:30 Searching for a Campsite
17:30-23:16 Campfire Dinner With Farm Fresh Vegetables
23:16-31:58 Day 2 Campfire Breakfast
31:58-36:03 Breaking Camp and Back on the River
36:03-47:54 Dragging My Kayak Over the 120-Foot Dam
47:54-56:14 Fishing and Relaxing Through the Final Miles
56:14-58:01 Entering the Great Miami River
58:01-59:14 Finishing the 54 Mile Journey
▶️ PART 1: Solo Kayak Camping | 54 Miles on the Still...
▶️ PART 2: Solo Kayak Camping Adventure on the Stillw...
Correction:
12:54 The dam is approximately 739 feet across at its base, not 4,700 feet as shown on screen. 4,700 ft. is its width.
#KayakCamping #SoloKayaking #KayakAdventure
▶ Watch the full Stillwater River series here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLT7GZYdE8VEE&si=WNze6zCMe3V6v_z9
And my annual Michigan river adventure is coming up next — stay tuned!