One of the most popular outings in the Troop’s repertoire is canoeing on the Wisconsin River west of Madison, and camping overnight on a sandbar in the middle of the river.
Because the river captures water from more than 10,000 square miles and because there are reservoirs upstream, the amount and depth of water can vary. The river conditions and weather forecasts are watched closely by the professional outfitter we use and by the Troop leaders.
The river conditions are posted by the U.S. Geological Survey at its web site. Last year the river was deeper and faster than typical, so while we were able to paddle safely, we were unable to camp on a sandbar … there weren’t any that were suitable. We used the outfitter’s alternate campsite, a town park right alongside the river in Muscoda.
Right now, conditions are just about perfect, so things are looking good for our trip later this month.
