Re: MtMan-List: Platte River

["Barry Conner" <buck.conner@worldnet.att.net>]

Hello Camp,

I have done the North Platte from Scotts Bluff NE and the South Platte from
Ft. Morgan CO going to Ft. DeChartre IL, apprx 1260 river miles - figure a
month of hard work and worth the effort - every inch of the way. Good
detailed maps are available from the Coast Guard for both sections of this
river, including the irr.damns and man made lakes.

North Platte;
You can expect several portages a day that take close to an hour per portage
to move a 1/4 mile depending on equipage on the North Platte. This will last
for several hundred miles and you will have to watch the water line in front
of you there are two lakes with hydro plant damns, (one did not have floats
or ropes to warn you of a three hundred foot down ride into the hydro plant
shoot, lucky seeing the level condition of the river tipped us to go look at
see why it was different, before getting to far with no return). You will
have anything from sandy beaches to poison ivy patches to camp on until you
hit the Missouri river. Thats not as bad as it sounds if careful.

South Platte;
You can expect at least one portage a day that again will take close to an
hour per portage depending on equipage as on the North Platte. Only good
thing going this way is the river banks are not as steep on most of the
portages. You'll encounter more wire fences on this section of the Platte.
Camps are a little further apart, and not as much drainage projects as in NE
going this way, but less shelter from the wind, which can slow you down to a
crawl at times, even to walking the canoes. Saw more snakes on this route
also and had more visitors at night, locals that saw our small camp fires.
Less game was seen on the South Platte probably do to less trees and the
flatness.

I think the North Platte is prettier and more interesting landscapes, plus
the folks we met seemed friendlier and willing to help with any problems,
one example was they  helped us with a 4 mile portage around one hydro
plant. Seemed the Fish & Game people were nicer too, had a warden chase us
for several miles, as his wife had seen us on local TV the night before and
made us punch and cookies, said he had to deliever or forget going home.

You will work hardier than you have for a while at making the distance you
figure, (shoot for 25-30 a day), some days you'll get lucky and do 35-40,
then turn around the next day an be lucky to make 15.

You should contact some of the sporting good stores in the towns going by
just before starting you trip, they are great on knowing what water
conditions are like for their area. We found this out on one adventure, went
to the South Platte and the river was not passable, then had to drive half a
day to the North Platte for water.

If you wish I can probably give you distances and other information on the
North Platte and will try and get my information back on the South Platte
too.

Buck Conner
Baker Party  CO

___________________________________________
-----Original Message-----
From: John L. Allen <jlallen@snet.net>
To: hist_text@lists.xmission.com <hist_text@lists.xmission.com>
Date: Thursday, November 05, 1998 10:25 AM
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Platte River


>Don,
>
>Whereabouts on the Platte? North Platte in Wyoming? South Platte in
>Colorado? Platte below the junction in Nebraska? If you'll give me some
idea
>of where you're trying to get to (or from), I'll try to help. If you're
>thinking of traveling on the river itself, you have a task before you.
>Depending on time of year and how much water is being let out of
reservoirs,
>water levels can get really low and there's a lot more sand bar than river
>in many areas--not enough draft for even an 18' foot canoe. I've done some
>canoe trips on both the North and South Platte but only above (upstream)
>from the last dams. Best boat for most of the Platte is a rubber raft.
>
>I'm not aware of any books on boating the Platte specifically (there is
some
>information on floating the Platte in Wyoming for fishing) but I'll look
>through some of my sources to see what I can find for you.
>
>John
>
>Dr. John L. Allen
>21 Thomas Drive
>Storrs, CT 06268
>860/487-1346
>jlallen@snet.net
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Don Neighbors <neigh@marsaglia.com>
>To: hist_text@lists.xmission.com <hist_text@lists.xmission.com>
>Date: Thursday, November 05, 1998 11:13 AM
>Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Platte River
>
>
>>Would like all the infor I can get. I am planning a trip on the Platte
>>in two years. If there are any books out thier let me know. I am
>>interested on sites that early trappers wre at on the river, rendezvoos,
>>trails,etc. Ol Buck thank you
>>
>>
>
>