[at-l] Canoeing the Mississippi

[nealb@midlandstech.com (William Neal)]

Here is the edress for a site that has several people who've gone down the
Mississippi.  I found one who apparently did the whole thing in a canoe and
one who did it in a pontoon boat.  Don't know about the other links.  But
read the paragraph after the edress for a taste of the difficulty.
http://www.stlcc.cc.mo.us/fp/users/jangert/down/down.html

>>>
It may be a comparatively easy river to canoe. There are no class III
rapids; there aren't even class II rapids. Still, to canoe down any section
of the Mississippi yet alone its entire 2348 miles can be a daunting task
and the adventure of a lifetime. The trip is not without dangers and over
the years there have been plenty of those misfortunate enough to have lost
their lives in the attempt. The headwaters are located in northern
Minnesota; where, in the lakes region of the river, the water can be cold
enough to kill you in less than two hours. In the working sections of the
river the towboats weigh between 30 and 50 thousand tons. In a collision
with a canoe the towboat is going to win. There are hidden dangers. Empty
barges parked along the shore stand twelve feet off the water. The current
passing under the barge's slanted bow can be strong enough to force a canoe
and canoeist right under the barge (lifevest or not) -- It's done as much to
twenty foot long pontoon boats! Still, there's always someone either daring
enough or foolish enough to grasp onto the idea and then grasp a paddle --
down the great river they go.
-- from above site
<<<

Another interesting site that reads a lot like a Trail journal (though they
apparently did not do the whole river)
http://www.ericandjoan.com/worldtrip/mississippi/missmain.htm

A book (probably out-of-print)
Anderson, Leo Sheridan, .  Down the Mississippi : a sixty-five year old
paddles a canoe the length of the great river to rediscover himself.
Chicago:  Bonus Books,  1992.  265p

This guy apparently is a hunter who has done a LD trip of Alaska, The AT,
and the Mississippi from  Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico, 2001. Lots of
photos and text.  Even a guide if you want to paddle the Mississippi
yourself.
http://www.bucktrack.com/index.html

101 Day trip down the Mississippi
http://www.caleuche.com/River/101Days.htm


William, The Questioning Turtle

PS  I wonder if anyone's ever tried canoeing the Mississippi and the AT in
the same year?  I wonder if anyone's started out with the Mississippi,
canoed around to the Keys, and hiked the AT from there?