The Wolf
Water Levels

To calculate the correct number of inches on the Wolf, take the reported CFS at Langlade and divide by 50. This number reflects the reported inches found on the gauge at Langlade, which is "roughly" equivalent to the old "Cap's" gauge.
American Whitewater STREAMKEEPERS info

Section 2    Hollister Rd to Langlade (Hwy 64) I-II 
Section 3    Langlade (Hwy 64) to Gilmore's Mistake II(III)


paddleguides.com descriptions  
Trip Report
18 May 02
Irrigation Ditch to Gilmore's Mistake

Water levels were about 17" on the gauge at Langlade. At these water levels "routes" were not a problem and the waves and fast water made it fun. Boy Scout was basically washed out and was much easier than usual. The cold weather this day and "messiness" of Hansen's at these water levels kept us from playing there as much as usual. The waves in the middle of Gilmore's were "huge"!

Trip Report
Annual Solo Whitewater Canoe Clinic June 10-11, 2000
Submitted by Kim Parsons
 
Once again, the solo whitewater canoe clinic was a great success! It offered something for everyone, whether it was your first whitewater experience or an opportunity to refine your skills after a year or two of paddling.
Most of the clinic participants arrived at the Bear Paw Inn campground on Friday evening. We said hello to old friends and met new ones as we set up tents and turned vehicles into sleeping quarters. There was a camp fire at the main camp site, but even some great story telling didn’t keep folks up too late -- Saturday was going to be a busy day!
The training began at 8:30 Saturday morning with a dry land instruction session at the main camp site. Various instructors covered the basics of reading water, required and optional paddling gear, basic paddle strokes, and safety measures and considerations.
With the basics covered, Susan and Scott split the students into groups based on skill level. There were thirteen volunteer instructors to teach sixteen students -- it doesn’t get better than that!
We spent a couple of hours at White Lake working on basic strokes, including moving into the shallows to practice some low braces. The weather couldn’t have been better -- it was hot enough to make getting soaked a pleasant prospect, and some of us managed to practice our braces enthusiastically enough to get wet!
After lunch, we headed for the Wolf River to use what we had learned in a river setting. The water level was a bit low, so there was some scraping, but it was do-able. On the river we practiced eddy turns, peel outs, and ferries. We paddled short sections of the river, but we must have gone twice as far with all our maneuvering! The weather held for most of the afternoon with the exception of one 10-minute rain shower.
Saturday evening saw lots of tired paddlers dodging a couple of downpours, feasting at Kubah’s, talking around the campfire -- and heading to bed pretty early.
On Sunday we spent the entire day on the river. After a cool and uncertain start, the sun came out and we had ideal weather again. All the groups tackled new and more difficult sections of the Wolf to really put their skills to the test. We continued to work on water reading, paddle strokes, and maneuvers, but in faster water and more complex rapids. And we found out that, while we had learned a lot on Saturday, we needed to take it to a new level. But I guess that’s the fun of the sport -- you’re never done learning because the river always has something new to show you!
Thanks to Susan and Scott for organizing and running the clinic, and thanks to all the instructors for sharing their expertise with us. It was a great weekend on the river!!
Trip Report
Sept 30 - Oct 1   Pike (+Peshtigo/Wolf) 2000
submitted by Bonnie Wolff
The Sierra Club's fall canoe trip led by Chuck Patrick was filled with
the best of Wisconsin.  Fall colors were at their peak and each turn of
the rivers unfolded to panoramas of reds, golds and lush greens.  We
also had the best of two seasons with unusually warm summer-like
temperatures in the 70's combined with the beautiful fall vistas.
Ten eager solo canoeists met near Hwy K on the Pike River in northeast
Wisconsin on Saturday morning.  We paddled just past Yellow Bridge
Falls.  This section of the river is preserved and we were able to enjoy
all of its natural beauty plus have the challenge of some nice maneuvers
through rocky areas and class II rapids.  Yellow Bridge Falls is the
most difficult area we encountered, and it involves two pitches
requiring fast thinking and paddling.  As a newcomer to whitewater
paddling, I continue to be amazed at the support and encouragement given
to us by the more experienced paddlers.  Those with experience have
always been willing to scout the rapids and point out the best possible
path to attempt.  Then they back that discussion with demonstrations and
availability to toss rescue ropes at key points in the rapids.  (Let's
just say that 9 out of 10 of the paddlers made Yellow Bridge
successfully and even had energy left to play in the water before
loading the boats back up onto our cars.)
After the day of canoeing we were all interested in seeing even more
color and falling water, so we went to Dave's Falls County Park where we
could hike along the river and view beautiful pitches the river
surrounded with rocky ledges.  The side trip was well worth our effort.
We left that area and all traveled over to Goodman Park for our camp and
bonfire.  There was, of course, the usual sharing of food and beverages
and laughter and stories around the campfire to end a perfect day on the
river.
On day two, we decided to attempt two rivers.  The magnificent 70
degrees were holding strong as were the brilliant fall colors, and I
think we were like children not wanting to miss any of it.  We first
paddled the lower section of the Peshtigo.  We put in at Johnson Falls
Dam and took out at Kirby Lake Road.  This river, too, was virtually
undeveloped and magnificent in its pristine beauty.  The rock formations
backed with thick stands of pine and hardwoods were picturesque.  After
this shorter section of the Peshtigo, we loaded our boats and drove over
to do a short section III of the Wolf River.  We put in at Boy Scout
rapids and took out just below Gilmores Mistake rapids.  This section of
the Wolf River is filled with complex boulder gardens and some nice
rapids and play areas.  Just around one bend of the river we were
carefully observed by a bald eagle who was perched high in his tree.  Of
course, the most challenging section was Gilmores Mistake.  The fast
moving water does allow for an easy Eddy turn on the right before
descending the second drop.  Our weekend of paddling came to an abrupt
end just below this drop.  Ten tired canoeists headed for home
exhilarated by our paddling challenges and the beautiful Wisconsin
scenery we experienced.

Back