16 Comments
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Rachel T's avatar

J-C - thanks for an interesting and informative article on the length of the Mississippi! It’s nice to hear from The Canoe Rambler again.

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Jean-Canot(J-C) Walker's avatar

Happy to be back! I hope to do more of these. Plus... some other big news coming shortly!

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Kathleen's avatar

Definitely brought a smile this morning! Much thanks!

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Jerry Smith's avatar

What a treat to find this in my inbox!

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David Willkie's avatar

Wonderfully written and informative. Thank you!!

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Roland Ring-Jarvi's avatar

River was highest I have seen in over 20 years on the river

It is 17 steps down to the river's edge and still drops more in summer time

but this year was up seven stairway steps - normal high is bottom of staircase

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Scott Armacost's avatar

Jean: terrific piece; thank you! Also so great to see you at Itasca b/c I remember the picture of you diving off the HoP tower at mile 0! My daughter, Sammi, and I finished our S2S the day before Thanksgiving 2021 after 100 days on the river.

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Ann Ogg's avatar

Super article, Jean-Canot! I have wondered about this for years and the discrepancy has bothered me since my thru paddle. I knew some of it had to do with just the natural changing river (oxbows etc) but appreciate all this background. Way to put your inquiring mind to work👍

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Jean-Canot(J-C) Walker's avatar

Thanks Ann! And good to hear from you! I do wonder why Itasca State park chooses to keep the sign up with the old length. Probably just for historical reasons I suppose!

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Gretchen Walker's avatar

Wonderful to see an email from Canoe Rambler this morning! Thank you for a very informative and well written lesson about the Mighty Miss. The levees and cut offs are certainly being tested this spring.

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Roland Ring-Jarvi's avatar

Thanks - I am sharing this with Two Paddles - a group that will try to break the record for paddling the length pf the Mississippi - so your topic how long is the river is very appropriate and I THINK THEY WILL LOVE IT

ROLAND RING-JARVI ANOKA,MN

WE MET YOU ON YOUR TRIP

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Jean-Canot(J-C) Walker's avatar

Haha yes I remember you of course!! I still have to get you a copy of that book you wanted. I didn't forget! Good to hear from you, I am going to be following the Mississippi River speed record of course!

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Roland Ring-Jarvi's avatar

Great - thanks - looking forward to the record attempt - river is high so that will help

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Spiff's avatar

You have turned into quite the writer. This is a very well-written and well-researched article. I hope you can do more than just post it on this blog, like maybe publish it in a history or geography journal.

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Roland Ring-Jarvi's avatar

River is very high here in Anoka, MN about 30 miles north of Minneapolis and St. Paul

Haven't seen it this high since 2001 - lots of water moving fast.

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Jean-Canot(J-C) Walker's avatar

How far was the water from your house when it crested??

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