Winter on the Trenton Channel

We are in the midst of preparing for the Everglades Challenge 2014, a 300 mile race from St. Petersburg across Tampa Bay, through the Intercoastal Waterway and into the Everglades, finishing in Key Largo. At the start of Fall 2013, we had high hopes of paddling at least once per week to stay in shape for the big event. Unfortunately, Old Man Winter had other plans for us. As a result, we have had plenty of time to prepare our gear and pack our food (below), but very little on-the-water time.

This past weekend, the skies opened. With most of the Great Lakes nearly 100% frozen, we headed for the Detroit River, where at least there is plenty of current to allow for a good amount of open water. 

MODIS satellite image of Lake Erie on Feb 15, 2014, the day of our paddle. Source: http://coastwatch.glerl.noaa.gov/

We met up with our friend, Louise and another kayaker, Randy, for a short winter paddle. Louise had called Lake Erie Metro Park to inquire about the ice situation at the boat launch, and they generously shoveled a little path to the edge of the ice for us. It was a wonderful and appreciated intention, but we ended up using the snowy slope down the boat launch by the sea wall and then seal launched into the blue water.

We started out toward Celeron Island, hoping to find an open water passage around Celeron and up the Detroit River. Instead we found ice as far as the eye can see. Celeron Island is at the mouth of the Detroit River.

Celeron Island is circled in red. Source: Google Maps

This area is a popular winter stopping ground for many of our northern waterfowl friends, including swans and many varieties of ducks. When the river and Lake Erie are icy, it is also a good time to see eagles perched on the ice, congregating near open for fishing. We saw several bald eagles and huge flocks of swans and waterfowl. As we would approach the flocks of swans, they would all take off in a huge racket, leaving us to take photos of fowl-less ice.

With no obvious way around Celeron Island, we turned around and headed north up the Trenton Channel of the Detroit River. When we made the north side of Celeron Island, we saw that even if we had found a path through the ice to get to the east side of Celeron, we would not have made it into the channel, as there was ice all the way from the east shore of Celeron to Grosse Ile, where ice fishermen were trying their luck on a protected bay. On the north end of Celeron, we came across a couple of fishermen who were out in their boat exploring the ice. The had rammed their motor boat up onto the shelf ice and were watching us approach. We told them we couldn't decide who was crazier - us or them. They agreed with us that they were crazier. At least we were staying warm paddling!

We paddled up the Trenton Channel a ways, and then turned around Calf Island, when the channel between the ice shelves became fairly narrow and our cold fingers told us it was time to head home.

On the west side of Calf Island, we rafted up for a quick tea break near some beautiful wavy ice sculptures.

We only paddled about 6 miles, but it was such a treat to be out in the sun on a winter day. Here's to warmer weather during the EC2014 in March!