Great River Rumble to make overnight stops in Lansing and Harpers Ferry this summer

Weeklong canoe/kayak trip will travel Root and Mississippi Rivers from Rushford, MN down to Prairie du Chien, WI

Participants in the 2017 Great River Rumble, an annual canoe and kayak trip, will paddle from Rushford, MN on the Root River to Prairie du Chien, WI on the Mississippi River between July 29 and August 5 this year. The weeklong river adventure is expected to attract nearly 200 people from across the nation, and will include a pair of local overnight stops in Lansing and Harpers Ferry this year.

Experienced paddlers are invited to join the trip, which includes camping by the rivers. With a truck to haul gear from one campsite to the next, paddlers carry only what they need for the day, such as lunch, water and sunscreen.

The group will meet in Prairie du Chien, WI Saturday, July 29 to load boats and gear, then travel to Rushford, MN by chartered bus. Canoes and kayaks will be transported on a truck and trailer provided by Wenonah Canoe of Winona, MN, the major sponsor of the trip. Overnight stops are planned for Houston, Hokah and Brownsville in Minnesota, Blackhawk Campground in Wisconsin, and Lansing and Harpers Ferry in Iowa, before a final landing in Prairie du Chien.

Midwest River Expeditions, a nonprofit group, produces the Great River Rumble. The trip takes place on the upper Mississippi River or its tributaries each summer and is organized by volunteer paddlers.

Paddlers can register for the entire week's worth of paddling or for just one of the daily treks. The fee for the weeklong journey includes all camping fees, a souvenir shirt and the farewell banquet at the end of the trip. Rumble itineraries, photos and other information are all available at www.riverrumble.org. A printed brochure and registration form can be obtained by sending a request with name and address to Great River Rumble, P.O. Box 3408, Dubuque, IA 52004.

The Great River Rumble is designed to be a celebration of outdoor opportunities and provides a chance to paddle in a safe, fun and organized vacation atmosphere with people who enjoy exploring new rivers. Each year, this trip is put on by Midwest River Expeditions, Inc. a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people enjoy the rivers and promote environmental consciousness.

In addition to the annual event organizers, this year's adventure is also being helped along by the efforts of committees from the various communities that will serve as overnight landing destinations during the trip. Heading those committees as Landing Chairpeople are some local individuals, who include Jane Regan, serving as the Landing Chair for the Day 4 overnight stay at Blackhawk County Park, WI; Amy and Mike Stetter, who will serve as Landing Chairs for the Day 5 stop at Lansing; and Wayne and Jane Hasek, who will be the Landing Chairs for the Day 6 overnight stay at Harpers Ferry.

The schedule for Great River Rumble 2017 includes the following:

Saturday, July 29 - Bus from Prairie du Chien, WI  to Rushford, MN.
Sunday, July 30 - 16-mile paddle from Rushford, MN to Houston, MN.
Monday, July 31 - 12-mile paddle from Houston, MN to Hokah, MN.
Tuesday, August 1 - 11-mile paddle from Hokah, MN to Brownsville, MN.
Wednesday, August 2 - 17-mile paddle from Brownsville, MN to Blackhawk Park, WI.
Thursday, August 3 - Eight-mile paddle from Blackhawk Park, WI to Lansing.
Friday, August 4 - 17-mile paddle from Lansing to Harpers Ferry.
Saturday, August 5 - 11-mile paddle from Harpers Ferry to Prairie du Chien, WI.
Saturday night, August 5 - Farewell banquet in Prairie du Chien, WI.

For additional information, contact Kathy Stevens, Landing Coordinator at 641-220-1122 or by email at kstevens55@gmail.com.