Keeweenaw Krush Trip Log

2008 June 22 – June 27: Upper Entry of the Keweenaw Waterway FJ McLain State Park MI to Lower Entry Boat Ramp MI

Expedition Team: Tom Lynch, John Lynch, Scott Laven, Tom Bray

Camp I – Just West Eagle River MI
Camp II – King Copper Motel Copper Harbor MI
Camp III – East Tip of Manitou Island across from Light House
Camp IV – 2 miles west of Montreal River
Camp V – Stamp sand flat south of Gay MI

For me, this adventure started after completing the Gary Bjorkland half marathon in Duluth, MN. Up at 5:00 AM, run race at 6:30 am, done at 7:45 am and on the road with Scott Laven by 11:00 AM. We loaded up Scott’s pickup, gathered a few additional provisions in Superior WI and then on down the road to the Houghton/Hancock area of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

This road trip took several hours longer that it should have as a few miles East of Ashland, WI, the muffler parted from the tail pipe on Scott Laven’s truck. The screeching sound of metal scraping on asphalt, forced us to stop and forced Scott Laven (an all around moter head and handy man) to rip out muffler and lash the tail pipe to the frame. A short time later, this time in the parking of Walmart in Ironwood MI, Scott was at again, under the truck this time to rip out the tail pipe. With muffler and tail pipe now secure and in the bed of the pick up, we we’re back on the road to the Upper Entry. Scott and I both commented how the loud reverberating sound of Scott’s boss truck (sans muffler) made us feel like some “real” down home local yoopers.

Tom Lynch

June 23, 2008

The day started with usual last minute packing and schlepping of equipment and provisions to the beach launch site. Year after year, it never ceases to amaze me that after seeing all of the provisions, gear and other equipment spread out all over the beach that we manage to get it all stuffed into our 4 kayaks. Mission accomplished once again as we had room to spare. For this trip, we also had the good fortune of having Scott Laven’s sister Julie and friend help us move our vehicle from the upper entry to the lower entry. Many thanks to Julie Laven and friend for helping us out.

Day one was mostly uneventful as we rattled off 18 miles of easy paddling in light wind and little seas. We found a suitable camp site just to the south west of the town Eagle River.