Home2025-09 A Weekday on the Wolf

A Weekday on the Wolf - September 4, 2025

Submitted by Mike Dale, Initiator

We met at the Wolf River Cafe, and some of us had a bit to eat and drink while we chatted and waited for others to arrive. When everyone had arrived, we agreed to adjourn to the Rossville launch area. We were especially pleased that Chris could join us.. Chris and his wife Jessie joined BCCC the previous evening at our monthly meeting at the Library.

Five members and two guests participated, a good size for a relaxed paddle on the Rossville to Piperton section. Because of the small group size we only needed one vehicle to return drivers to the put-in.

The weather was terrific, and after a short shuttle, we got underway. As usual, Jim provided expert commentary on the flora, fauna, and history of the section. Greg took pictures of alligator tracks that Beverly discovered. Jim and I were able to recover some large items of trash, in addition to the easily handled bottles, cans, and light bulbs. Jim brought out a large appliance door, possibly from the electric smoker recovered in May, the base and part of the pole of a basketball stand, and a tire. He also found, and I transported, a dormitory-sized refrigerator on the bow of my canoe. Jim’s and my efforts were a continuous source of entertainment for the other paddlers as we proceeded downstream. Greg, assisted by Chris, performed multiple river guide tasks such as clearing limbs and pulling our boats over sunken logs.

The river stage at the Rossville gauge was 1.88, slightly below the median level of 2.05 feet and well below the preferred paddling level of 4-6.5 feet, but fine for our purposes and we did not have to portage.. There were a few fallen trees that we would not have been able to paddle under if the level had been much higher.