The Northland Adventurer
  • Northland Adventurer
    • Rum River 2017
    • Rum River 2019
    • Cannon River
    • Superior Bay
    • Upper St. Croix
    • Headwaters of the Mississippi
    • Namekagon River
    • Kalamazoo River
    • Taylors Falls - Lower St. Croix
    • Lake Pepin & Lake City
    • Lake Hamlin
    • St. Paul, MN & Raspberry Island
    • Tall Ships Duluth Festival
    • Stillwater, MN
    • Great Lakes Lighthouses
    • Bridges of Stillwater
    • Wisconsin Central Bridge Ruins
    • Soo Line High Bridge
    • Vertical Lift Bridges
    • Trains
    • Railroad Bridges
    • Tugs and Barges
    • Locks and Dams
    • Business and Industry
    • The Joy of the Journey
    • Overhanging Branches
    • Best of All It's Fall
    • Get Off the River!
    • Our Prized Grand River
    • Crossing Lake Huron
    • Straits of Mackinac
    • Crossing Lake Michigan - 2016
    • Crossing Lake Michigan - 2020
    • Crossing Lake Michigan - 6.10.21
    • Crossing Lake Michigan - 6.27.21
    • Crossing Lake Michigan - 7.13.21
    • Crossing Lake Superior >
      • Helpful Hints
      • Packing for Great Lakes Crossings
    • SEVENTY48
    • Campus to Coast
    • Paddling the Pere Marquette
    • Avid Kayaker Brushes Death >
      • The Whole Story
    • A Narrow Escape 2019
    • Reflections
    • More about Mike
  • Contact
The Mighty Mississippi Begins Here 
Our nation's river begins at Lake Itasca, Minnesota.  
The official beginning of the mighty Mississippi is on one side of a small rock dam where water from Lake Itasca begins to flow at a pace just above a trickle.

Absolute beauty describes the headwater of this mother of all North American Rivers. The mighty Mississippi begins as a shallow, narrow, and winding stream. For the first several miles all I can do is guide my kayak by digging my composite paddle into the riverbed or pushing off from a nearby riverbank or a lone rock a few inches away.  

Not too far from the beginning, tall prairie grass and tightly packed cattails line the narrow stream. Overhanging branches from towering hardwoods challenge me along the way while tall pines and evergreens cast their shadows. 

White birch, oak, maples, and the Tamarack are my favorites.

It isn’t long before I am greeted by the isolation and nature’s soundtrack of Minnesota’s north woods. The prominent sounds are the rustling leaves from the gentle, cooling wind through the trees, and the water trickling over the shallow, stony streambed; the sounds of chickadee scurrying for cover. 
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The unnatural sounds made by the underside of my kayak scratching against the riverbed, and the loud chunking of my paddle gives notice to the animals ahead. 

​As a doe and her fawn see me approach, they dart across the river and scurry up the steep hill. After a last glance and loud snort, with the wave of her white tail, the doe disappears as she guides her baby into the deep woods.
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In the open areas I come across unsuspecting Canadian geese. As they run atop the water to gain momentum and lift, I wonder if they will hit me before they make their escape. The smaller more mobile ducks flee in any direction without a problem. The occasional beaver is unimpressed; it slaps its tail and dives, never to be seen again.
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THE NORTHLAND ADVENTURER

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Let me take you on my journey. 
Click on the links below (underlined) of those topics which interest you most. ​
Paddling our Major Tributaries
•  Rum River 2017
•  Rum River 2019
•  Cannon River
•  Superior Bay 

•  Upper St. Croix
•  Headwaters of the Mississippi
•  Namekagon River
•  Kalamazoo River

​
Top Stops and Events
•  Lower St. Croix - Taylors Falls, MN
•  ​Lake Pepin and Lake City, MN

•  Lake Hamlin, MI
•  St. Paul, MN and Raspberry Island
•  ​Stillwater, MN
•  Tall Ships Duluth Festival
Objects of Interest
•  Great Lakes Lighthouses
•  Bridges of Stillwater

•  Wisconsin Central Bridge Ruins
•  Soo Line High Bridge
•  Vertical Lift Bridges
•  Trains
​•  Railroad Bridges
​•  Tugs and Barges

​•  Locks and Dams
​•  Business and Industry
Subjects of Interest
•  The Joy of the Journey
•  Overhanging Branches
•  Best of All It's Fall
•  Get Off the River!

•  Michigan's Prized Grand River
​
Grand Adventures
•  Crossing Lake Huron
•  ​Straits of Mackinac 
•  Crossing Lake Michigan #1 - 2016

•  Crossing Lake Michigan #2 - 7.24.20
•  Crossing Lake Michigan #3 - 6.11.21

•  Crossing Lake Michigan #4 - 6.27.21
•  Crossing Lake Michigan #5 - 7.13.21
•  Crossing Lake Superior - 2017
•  SEVENTY48 
•  Campus to Coast -  A 150 Mile Race 

•  Paddling the Pere Marquette
Newsworthy
•  ABC NEWS: Avid  Kayaker Brushes Death
•  The Whole Story


Easter 2019
•  A Narrow Escape

​Reflections
•  A Wonderful Journey

​About
•  More about Mike Stout
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For helpful hints to plan your Great Lakes crossing, click here.

 msplmn02@gmail.com  ​|  (952) 239-3943  ​|  Eagan, MN 55123
Copyright © 2016
  • Northland Adventurer
    • Rum River 2017
    • Rum River 2019
    • Cannon River
    • Superior Bay
    • Upper St. Croix
    • Headwaters of the Mississippi
    • Namekagon River
    • Kalamazoo River
    • Taylors Falls - Lower St. Croix
    • Lake Pepin & Lake City
    • Lake Hamlin
    • St. Paul, MN & Raspberry Island
    • Tall Ships Duluth Festival
    • Stillwater, MN
    • Great Lakes Lighthouses
    • Bridges of Stillwater
    • Wisconsin Central Bridge Ruins
    • Soo Line High Bridge
    • Vertical Lift Bridges
    • Trains
    • Railroad Bridges
    • Tugs and Barges
    • Locks and Dams
    • Business and Industry
    • The Joy of the Journey
    • Overhanging Branches
    • Best of All It's Fall
    • Get Off the River!
    • Our Prized Grand River
    • Crossing Lake Huron
    • Straits of Mackinac
    • Crossing Lake Michigan - 2016
    • Crossing Lake Michigan - 2020
    • Crossing Lake Michigan - 6.10.21
    • Crossing Lake Michigan - 6.27.21
    • Crossing Lake Michigan - 7.13.21
    • Crossing Lake Superior >
      • Helpful Hints
      • Packing for Great Lakes Crossings
    • SEVENTY48
    • Campus to Coast
    • Paddling the Pere Marquette
    • Avid Kayaker Brushes Death >
      • The Whole Story
    • A Narrow Escape 2019
    • Reflections
    • More about Mike
  • Contact