A modern-day voyageur

Daniel Boorstin, in his 1983 epic historical work The Discovers, said, "My hero is Man the Discoverer. The world we now view ... had to be opened for us by countless Columbuses .... Discoveries become episodes of biography, unpredictable as the new worlds the discoverers opened to us."

One of those discoverers in our modern age is a female voyageur on a quest of discovery. Sarah Grainger, a native of Canada, paddled her solo kayak down what is described as the nation's most twisted and narrow river, the Kickapoo.

Grainger, 32, is the water quality program manager for the Valley Systems Network (VSN) located in Viroqua, Wisconsin. "My eight-day mission was to raise awareness of the unique water resources of the Kickapoo River and to retrace the 10 years of citizen based monitoring in the Kickapoo River valley," she said.

Her ongoing quest is to preserve and protect that stream, one of Wisconsin's most unique wild and scenic rivers that runs down the rugged hallmark watershed of the Driftless Region about 100 miles west of Madison, Wisconsin.

River a local focus

VSN is a nonprofit volunteer and member based organization administered by a local board of directors with a professional staff. Their mission is to balance natural resource conservation with the building of strong communities. VSN cooperates with other organizations, local and state agencies in monitoring water quality, wildlife and fisheries conservation, supporting the valley's farm and agricultural economy, providing stewardship, public information and education. A major thrust of VSN is in water quality monitoring by trained volunteers.

Anne O'Connor, editor of the monthly Kickapoo Free Press described the Kickapoo River in a recent article this way: "Around here, almost all rivulets, streams and creeks lead to the Kickapoo River. The crooked river is a source of fun and contemplation, and also a mysterious force that we watch closely, especially during rains. It is a sustaining waterway for all kinds of life, and a powerful reminder that what we do in one place affects the whole system."

The Kickapoo River often meanders past massive limestone and sandstone bluffs covered with mosses and ferns, framed with stands of maple, oaks, birches and conifers. It snakes past Wildcat Mountain State Park, whose 3,600 acres are part of the scenic Ocooch Mountains, and then subtly into the 8,500-acre Kickapoo Valley Reserve. The more than 100 miles of serpentine flowing river cuts through farms, along steep tree-lined banks and ultimately through the Kickapoo River State Wildlife Area near Wauzeka and the Kickapoo's confluence into the Wisconsin River.

Grainger's Kickapoo paddle

Grainger began her historic journey of exploration, education, science and promotion on a Sunday morning, September 19, 2010, at Ontario, Wisconsin. A large group of friends and supporters gathered at the access of the Kickapoo River to wish her well.

The journey was filled with many physical challenges, including heavy rain, high water and the many blockages of dead trees and debris from past seasonal high waters.

Grainger spent the trip attired in part like a voyageur who traversed the waters of the region prior to the Nation's founding. Along the way, she stopped to lead educational activities in various communities in Vernon and Crawford counties, as well as collected water samples and observed the wildlife, flora and river conditions.

She was never alone as friends and volunteers who wanted to join her in her crusade paddled with her. Her husband met her at her overnight campouts and lodgings. Paddling the Kickapoo River is not for amateurs. The river can be tricky and devious, especially in high water conditions. There were sections of the river where she had to portage around huge logjams.

The late September rains soaked the Driftless Region, causing major flooding and forcing her to postpone her journey near the half-way point. "The water became too fast, muddy, high and dangerous," she said. "Also the weather turned cold, so we delayed the trip for a few days to make visits and host workshops along the route until the Kickapoo became safe to paddle."

The river is a very popular with fisherman, canoeists and kayakers. There are several outfitters along the river. Mad City Paddlers of Madison and Driftless Paddlers of Viroqua are regular river visitors. The annual KVR Dam Challenge Triathlon had over 500 entrants in October - an event that included a 7-mile paddle on the river.

Grainger hopes to incorporate her observations and findings in a final VSN Watershed Assessment Report to be published this year. Grainger's journey has already raised awareness of several Kickapoo River concerns and raised over $3,000 for VSN's programs and projects.

Grainger said her next major project is more personal. She and her husband Luke were expecting their first child this spring.

Resources

For further information concerning the Valley Systems Network, go to www.kickapoovsn.org or write to VSN, 124.5 South Main St., Viroqua, WI 54665, or call 608/637-3615.

For maps and related information about the Kickapoo River and the Kickapoo Valley Reserve, go to kickapoo.reserve@krm.state.wi.us or write to Kickapoo Valley Reserve Visitor Center, S3661 State Highway 131, La Farge, WI 54639, or call 608/625-2960.

More information on Wildcat Mountain State Park and the Kickapoo River can be found at www.dnr.state.wi.us; 608/337-4775.

Hank Deutsch and his wife reside in Viroqua, Wisconsin, when they're not snowbirds in GreenValley, Arizona.