Wow, that brings back memories. It's been awhile but I've canoed the Current several times, mostly from Akers to Round Spring. Very pretty but mostly just a "float". Look for "Cave Spring" on river left about five river miles down from Akers. You can paddle right into the cave (we once had 12 canoes in there) but beware, the spring inside the cave is really deep.

 

Class to earn an easy 3 credits.

Beware, I once took a weight training class for the same reason and ended up such an exercise rat that it changed my life. Even traded my fake ID for a bike, the first of many I've had since (to say nothing to 5 kayaks and 2 canoes).

 

No problem there B1ke Box, I am already an avid canoe camper and I do have a canoe in my garage. I know that I will adding to the fleet of boats in the future years but for now I am okay with the two boats I have. I have been longing for a nice Kevlar canoe but I don't have the funds for that yet.

I have been reading about all of the springs along the river that are accessableby canoe and I am pretty sure that the group will be paddling up into those points. 90+ miles is not that much ground to cover in a week. At least it is a river and not a lake where the winds can easily be against you the entire trip. It never seems to fail that when I head out for a lake canoe camping trip I get a head wind on the way to my campsite and a head wind on the way back to the car.

I have managed to widdle down my gear to pretty light stuff and because we will be going with a large group of 8 boats I am assuming that the kitchen gear will be completely supplied for so I won't need to pack my stove and utensils. That should keep some extra weight out of my pack. I will find out all the details during that first week of class so I can better pack my things for the trip. I just ordered a new paddling jacket from Coleman using the "Family" code discounts that was given to us in the my favorite camping things thread.

I will be bringing my camera to take alot of pictures of this trip and will gladely share them with you all when I return.

 

It's a very nice river. I've nevr had a bad time while floating with freinds and family. If you like to fish and float take a net to seine for minnows. You'll catch a boat load of small mouth! You may also find trout that have been released from Montauk and made thier way down stream.

If you haven't come across this site yet....
http://currentriver.net/


her are a few pics from springs in the area. Not all are right off the river, but if you get a chance to see them

Alley Springs

 

Big Springs

Blue Springs (my fave!!!!!)

Round Spring

 

Small, but it was still fun to catch.

Akers Ferry

 

Thanks for the pictures Slimjim. I have found that website and have spent a good amount of time on it. I plan on packing my ultralight rod just incase the class will allow for some fishing time. We are going to be floating a majority of the river from Monday through Friday so I would bet that we will be busy paddling alot since what I hear the river is pretty layed back. I would love for some more technical paddling but I will always take whatever I can get.

Do you know anything about any primitive campsites along the route? I can't tell if these are true primitive campsites or if they are the Forrest Service "improved" campsites. I know in MN boundary waters the campsites are all primitive but have the basic fire box and crapper.

 

Most will be the Forrest Service "improved" campsites, but some might be private owned camp sites that my have less if thats what your looking for. You shouldn't have a problem finding a place. They're everywhere.

 

This is a canoeing and wilderness camping course offered at my university so I doubt that the campsites will be any private business sites. From what I gathered it would be very much a camp along the rivers edge sort of thing but I was not sure if the forrest service had designated areas for camping or just find a spot you like and call it camp.

 

Current River is a beautiful float. We always enjoy our trips on it. Big Springs area is my favorite. I love being able to float and the water be so clear and clean you can count the fish on the bottom. Black River in Missouri is also one of my favorites too. My cousins and I grew up floating and camping on these rivers. We really did the "primitive" camping as you called it. Now that is pretty much extinct, forrest service and private owners only. Have a great time....enjoy.....enjoy....enjoy.

 

Just got back from the trip! Great float. The original plan called for a 93 mile float from Montouk to Big Springs but due to high water levels we pulled out at Two Rivers which was more like 55 miles. What a beautiful river. If there were no motor boats it would be perfect. The group I was with was very mixed with a few avid paddlers and few greenhorns. We all made it down the river with all but me and another guy getting wet.

Camping was all primitive for our trip so it was alot of scouting for sand/gravel bars to set up on and our group of 13 made it harder to find ones large enough to hold us.

I must return to this river for another float and shoot for the longer run. Maybe my next week long camping trip will be this river again. It is closer to me than the boundary waters but not as natural. I do like the river trip and the challange of camping on the move all while avoid obsticles in the river.

 

Good to hear that it all went well. I wasn't even thinking about the river being up. I should have know with all the precipitation that we've had the past few months here. Yeah, some of those guys in motorboats... I wonder how they don't kill someone at times.

 

I even saw a couple of guys fly fishing and they had their E parked up on the hill as we floated by. I felt a little homesick when I saw the E sitting there in the woods.