Rivermiles Forum - Frequently Asked Questions

Reply #120 - 07/17/12 at 12:47:21

Scott Mansker Offline
Race Staff
7X MR340 Safety Boat Pilot
3X Gritty Veteran
4X Kawlloween Veteran

Posts: 6586

for some reason it was causing problems with certain browsers. But I can tell you there's less than 2 weeks!

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Reply #121 - 07/29/12 at 19:00:33

Dr. Pepper Offline
2X MR340 Veteran
Kawnivore Veteran
Fort Worth, TX

Posts: 3

In 2010, there was a link to a good map of the river based on Lewis and Clark info, about 10 pages with some detailed topography. Is that map still available? The course map links on the MR340 home page has one that works and one that does not. The one that works has some river trail info but is not the detailed map. Thanks!

Also - since I first registered on the forum, I participated in the 2010 MR340, completed the 2011 Kawnivore, and am participating in the 2012 MR340. How do I get my status updated? It shows "future participant".

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Reply #122 - 07/29/12 at 20:14:55

Scott Mansker Offline
Race Staff
7X MR340 Safety Boat Pilot
3X Gritty Veteran
4X Kawlloween Veteran

Posts: 6586

The link to those maps worked as recently as a week ago. The Corps of Engineers has revamped their entire website and I cannot find where those maps are now. Google hasn't caught up with the new design and their links don't work either. You may have to use the Missouri Water Trail maps. They are very accurate and should work well.

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Reply #123 - 08/19/12 at 14:33:27

rtdk3125 Offline
MR340 Veteran
Gritty Fitty Veteran

Posts: 7

I enjoyed being part of the 340 experience this year, however, I don't think my body is in agreement.

That being said, has it ever been considered allowing a relay to participate? One person doing each checkpoint with one boat for the entire race.

Just a thought,

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Reply #124 - 08/19/12 at 21:00:51

Scott Mansker Offline
Race Staff
7X MR340 Safety Boat Pilot
3X Gritty Veteran
4X Kawlloween Veteran

Posts: 6586

It's a question we get frequently, especially around registration time. I've always given it consideration and have always decided against it. It's the world's longest non-stop canoe race and the narrative is that people get in a boat in KC and propel themselves across the state. The introduction of a relay would dilute that in some way.

I'm not saying it won't ever happen, the introduction of a relay division, but for now I think it's too big a gulf between our apples and those oranges.

Scott

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Reply #125 - 12/20/12 at 12:51:38

LUCAS Offline
MR340 Veteran
Kawnivore Veteran
Kansas City North of River

Posts: 27

I have registered solo before. Is it the same for a team? Can one person register everyone and pay or does this have to be done by each team member? Thanks.

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Reply #126 - 12/21/12 at 09:16:15

Scott Mansker Offline
Race Staff
7X MR340 Safety Boat Pilot
3X Gritty Veteran
4X Kawlloween Veteran

Posts: 6586

Solo is $195, multi boats are $175/seat.

The system is set up so that each seat registers separately because there are waivers, etc, to acknowledge on the screen. But I'm sure we have situations where one person signs up multiple people. That's why at the safety meeting check in, everyone re-acknowledges the waiver and rules when they sign in.

Official answer, each person must register individually.

Real world, probably doesn't always happen. We catch everyone up at sign in.

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Reply #127 - 01/01/13 at 16:35:27

Benjamin20 Offline
Future Participant
Future MR 340 Participant

Posts: 7

Scott-

Is an inflatable PFD with the manual pull cord acceptable to satisfy the PFD requirement?

Thanks-

Ben

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Reply #128 - 01/01/13 at 16:37:23

Scott Mansker Offline
Race Staff
7X MR340 Safety Boat Pilot
3X Gritty Veteran
4X Kawlloween Veteran

Posts: 6586

Yes. Should say that it's a USCG approved product on the label. Let me know if you have questions about a specific brand.

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Reply #129 - 01/06/13 at 10:13:35

Joewildlife Offline
2X MR340 Veteran
Ground Crew Veteran
Gritty Fitty Veteran
Kawnivore Veteran
Jackson MO

Posts: 507

Dr. Pepper,
I have a .pdf set of the old Lewis and Clark water trail maps on my computer at work and will try to re-post them here. The "new" website and maps are not as user friendly.

Navigation Lights
Last year ground crewing I got to see all kinds of lighting and all kinds of failures. My own crew's failed and I had to install backup. You wouldn't think it would be that difficult to have lights that would stay on for two or three nights. But most didn't seem to make it, at least without the paddlers replacing batteries at least once during the race. A pet peeve of mine when I raced was having to get out of the boat to turn the lights on and off. My ideas posted way earlier in this thread did not solve one or both of those problems.

So now personally I'm gearing up for the Everglades Challenge, a 300 mile flatwater race from Tampa Bay to Key Largo. It will take me several nights to complete. I will do a good part of the race in the Intercoastal Waterway where there could be a lot of recreational boaters, so good lighting is a must. I decided to run a 12V system wired to a central battery. Lithium Ion rechargeable batteries have fallen in price lately and a very small battery (little bigger than an iPhone) can run the lights for nights and nights. OR just get a little plastic battery holder and put 8 AAs in it, and it will probably get you through the 340. maybe pack an extra set of batteries. These LED lights are such low amp draw that you can use the smallest diameter wire you can find. The round bow LEDs are available on eBay and each is the size and thickness of a quarter and stick on. The stern LEDs come in a little strip with three LEDs on it. You can just stick two or three of these on the back of the boat. I took one and wrapped it around a wooden dowel to have one strip shine light in about a 300 degree arc. The whole setup will cost less than $15 on eBay, not including wire and batteries.
(I like tinkering with stuff like this. Your experience may vary) Wink

Joe

IMG_0475.JPG (1031 KB | 110 )

And I ain't too old to hurry
Cause I ain't too old to die
But I sure am hard to beat
Ride on
AC/DC, Ride On

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Reply #130 - 01/14/13 at 10:34:19

Abby MC Offline
Future Participant

Posts: 3

Boat Size

I've gota 13 Footer now i love but am wondering how competitive this race is? Do i need to get a longer sea kayak ?

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Reply #131 - 01/14/13 at 11:12:04

GaryE Offline
MR340 Veteran

Posts: 30

I paddled my 13'10" Eddyline Samba in 2012 finished in 74hrs43min. I would like to finish in under 70hrs this year. Width and weight has something to do with it also, A young man finished a few hours later in what must have been a 12 or 13ft canoe. I talked to him on the beach at the finish line, he wanted to know my boat length, so it has been done in short boats but chances are you won't finish before Friday morning.

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Reply #132 - 01/14/13 at 16:38:39

Ned - White Rock Navy Offline
MR340 Veteran
Dallas, TX

Posts: 231

GaryE wrote on 01/14/13 at 11:12:04:

I paddled my 13'10" Eddyline Samba in 2012 finished in 74hrs43min. I would like to finish in under 70hrs this year. Width and weight has something to do with it also, A young man finished a few hours later in what must have been a 12 or 13ft canoe. I talked to him on the beach at the finish line, he wanted to know my boat length, so it has been done in short boats but chances are you won't finish before Friday morning.

I paddled along next to a guy in 2010 that was in a little plastic canoe like that. He was doing the whole thing unsupported and had a 5 gallon paint bucked in the front of his boat to keep it level. At one point he asked me to steady the boat a bit, he crawled forwarded, pulled out a large can of Chef Boy Ardie raviolies, downed the whole can and was ready to roll some more. When we got into Katfish Katy's he pulled out a space blanket, wrapped around himself, and hit the dirt - I did offer to let him share my tent but he said he'd be OK.

I woke up the next morning and he was long gone. Finished well ahead of me by just staying in the boat. But it must have been brutal for him.

It can be done in a short boat. But it won't be any fun. Oh, wait, it's not any fun in a long boat!

Ned - White Rock Navy

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Reply #133 - 01/14/13 at 18:33:40

Scott Mansker Offline
Race Staff
7X MR340 Safety Boat Pilot
3X Gritty Veteran
4X Kawlloween Veteran

Posts: 6586

A 13 foot boat can work for a smaller paddler when not overloaded with gear. Hopefully you have a ground crew and can have them haul everything but what you need to get to the next checkpoint. If you're comfortable in the boat and can stand to spend the hours in it, you'll be passing lots of fancy boats that are parked on shore because the racer can't sit one more minute in the cockpit.

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Reply #134 - 01/15/13 at 19:40:40

Turp Offline
Kawlloween Veteran
Overland Park, KS

Posts: 14

I'm trying this year for the first time in a 13.5 ft perception prodigy. Going to do plenty of long runs but positive ill finish. But then again that's my goal. Using the armchair paddlers guide written on another post as my guide. Looking forward to this!

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Reply #135 - 01/16/13 at 05:35:43

LUCAS Offline
MR340 Veteran
Kawnivore Veteran
Kansas City North of River

Posts: 27

I finished in 2009 with a time of 58:25 in a 14 foot stitch and glue boat without a rudder. I am 5'6" and 170 lbs. One of the biggest contributing factors was a great ground crew. This was my first kayak race of any kind. If I were to do it again solo I would get a bigger boat.

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Reply #136 - 01/16/13 at 08:11:55

gersus Offline
Future Participant

Posts: 35

Wow Lucas! I would be tickled to death to finish in 58 hours!

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Reply #137 - 01/17/13 at 00:08:47

Seko Offline
4X MR340 Veteran

Posts: 61

I do not believe that anyone should compare pass years with 2013.

The MO is going to be low and slow all the way to St Louis.

It's going to take a lot more energy/mental guts to get down river then the last few years.

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Reply #138 - 01/17/13 at 07:41:45

Scott Mansker Offline
Race Staff
7X MR340 Safety Boat Pilot
3X Gritty Veteran
4X Kawlloween Veteran

Posts: 6586

2006 was extreme drought with barge traffic unable to go upstream of Jefferson City. 2007 was "normal" summertime flows. The years 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 were very high water. And two flood delays that really punched the race in the gut. 2012 was what I would have considered "normal" water for summer. Though many folks who had only experienced the high water years were shocked by the level in 2012, it was fairly typical and is the sort of conditions that the race was meant to be run on.

2013 could be a lot of things. The signs point to a low water year as Seko says. And he's right. Slow water makes the race tougher in some ways. But we should remember that the Corps is obligated to manage the river for barge traffic as one of the intended purposes of the upstream impoundments. That means there are limits to how low they can let the water get, assuming there is water to release upstream. Right now, snowpack is 82% of normal. Still time for that to change up or down. The ground is very dry but you never know when that 9 inch rain will appear out of nowhere. Such a thing happened in 2010 with a big storm in the Grand River watershed here in Missouri and delayed the race. Another heavy rainfall in the Dakotas combined with above average snowpack in 2011 set up the worst flood since the flood control project began.

All racers want high water and I get that. But if you really want the race to happen on schedule, high water is no friend.

Plus, I prefer a river decorated with sandbars and islands over a bank to bank swollen stream full of logs and debris. Much safer, too.

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Reply #139 - 01/17/13 at 11:07:52

GaryE Offline
MR340 Veteran

Posts: 30

Since 2012 was my first MR340 and only reference point, it would be good to have a few years in a row of normal summer water levels to establish good general time expectations. But I do see how this might not be desirable for those wanting to set new records. I usually paddle a 16 mile loop on the Illinois river to stay in shape and according to Corp of Engineers the first 1ft. rise from what I consider to be normal increases the flow rate by a full 1/3rd. As I have been doing this from 1 to 3 times a week for over a year, I now know I takes 25 percent longer to make the upstream paddle and also 25 percent less time going down stream after that 1ft. rise.

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