Muskrat's Wildcat Creek Expeditions
Newsletter.......Chapter 1575.......April 4th 2025
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April Fools Last Minute Update
Hey Wildcat Paddlers,
We MIGHT be going to have a Very Nice Flow Level for the April Fools Trip tomorrow. The Chuck Weis Gauge (picture below) was hanging around 1-Foot every time I saw it today. The Pine Village Station was reading around 580-cfs at those times.
Our Problem is that it is Raining all over Warren County now, and is predicted to "Rain All Day Tomorrow". I understand that most of Us will not like Paddling In The Rain. However, if there is Anyone who wants to Enjoy all the Playful Rapids of Big Pine Creek tomorrow..................... I will be at Pine Village at 10:00-AM Saturday, and we can make the Plans.
That Rain Tonight could Bump the Chuck Weis Gauge up some more. 2-3-feet would be a Great Flow for Experienced Whitewater Paddlers, but not so good for those who have not been in Class-III Whitewater.
We will discuss all the Trip Options when we Gather in Pine Village at 10AM Tomorrow Morning........
Rainsville Bridge to Twin Bridges.......7.5-miles
Harrison Trail Bridge to Twin Bridges.......4.6-miles
Rainsville Bridge to Attica PAS.......16.2-miles
Harrison Trail Bridge to Attica PAS.......13.3-miles
Twin Bridges to Attica PAS.......8.7-miles
For those who want to run the Rapids thru Rocky Ford, we will Launch at the Rainsville Bridge Right-Of-Way Access.
For those who don't want to run Rocky Ford, we can Launch at Harrison Trail Bridge.
I am looking at Twin Bridges as our Takeout for this Year. That creates rather Short Trip Options, but the longer Trips end at the Attica Public Access Site on the Wabash River. That Site was ALMOST Under Water this Afternoon. The Covington Gauging Station, the nearest to Attica, was Still Going Up Very Fast.
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NOW....I am offering something that we have never done before for the April Fools Trip. The Forecast states that there will be NO RAIN on SUNDAY. The Folks who do not want to Paddle In The Rain, could still enjoy Big Pine under a Cool Cloudy Sky on Sunday.
I am planning to be back in Pine Village on Sunday, so a lot of us can have a 2nd Chance for this Exciting Trip. The Times & Locations will remain the Same.......
Downtown Pine Village
Sunday April 6th.......10:00-AM
Anyone who is Interested in the Trip (for either day) should spend some time checking the Gauging Station at Pine Village. I have copied the Link down below. If You have questions, call or email me this Evening, or Saturday after 4-PM.
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?site_no=033356848&legacy=1
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The basic details for my April Fools Trip are provided down below, copied from the original Trip Announcement.
"Muskrat's 48th Annual April Fools
On Big Pine Creek Cruise"
will be held Saturday April 5th 2025
and Again on Sunday April 6th
Meeting Time is 10:00-AM (Eastern Standard Time)
at our Traditional Meeting Location,
in Downtown Pine Village (Directions Below).
Please, Don't go to A Launch Site !!!
Go to Pine Village !!!
The Putin will not be Announced until we Meet
in Pine Village. There are Several Possibilities,
with the selection based on Water Levels.
Rocky Ford Rapid at 2-ft on the Chuck Weis Gauge
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Directions to Pine Village:
The Launch Site, however,
will not be announced
until we meet in Pine Village,
On Saturday April 5th,
and Sunday April 6th
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See You On The River,
Muskrat
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GarryHill@aol.com
765-432-6782
Snail-Mail to 1021 Eastcrest Drive, Greentown, IN 46936-1612
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Visit Wildcat Creek On-line at the following sites:
http://www.wildcatguardians.org/
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Muskrat's Wildcat Creek Expeditions
Newsletter.......Chapter 1572.......March 5th 2025
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The basic details for my April Fools Trip are provided down below. Please be aware that Last Year I made some Changes in the Meeting Times & Early Locations. Please read them carefully and note that those Changes are Still applied.
Also, please read the portion entitled
"Last Minute Update".
"Muskrat's 48th Annual April Fools
On Big Pine Creek Cruise"
will be held Saturday April 5th 2025
Meeting Time is 10:00-AM (Eastern Standard Time)
at our Traditional Meeting Location,
in Downtown Pine Village (Directions Below).
Please, Don't go to A Launch Site !!!
Go to Pine Village !!!
The Putin will not be Announced until we Meet
in Pine Village. There are Several Possibilities,
with the Selection based on Water Levels.
Launching at Rainsville Bridge, April Fools 2023
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Directions to Pine Village:
Muskrat has decided to eliminate the two Early Meeting Locations again this year. Like all of our other Normal Trips, we will just have the One Meeting Location, which is in Downtown Pine Village, Indiana.......
Downtown Pine Village.......
Indiana Atlas & Gazetteer Page 30-31, in the Town of Pine Village, at the junction of SR-26 & SR-55, 17-miles west of West Lafayette on SR-26, or 12-miles North of Attica on SR-55. Google Maps recognizes "Pine Village, IN", and will direct You to the Exact spot where We Will Get Together.
Park anywhere Downtown.
Expect to see Paddler-People
wandering around in the Middle of the Highway.
The Locals just Ignore Us.
They know we're Harmless,
and that we'll soon be Gone.
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If you're interested in attending this Cruise, but have concerns about Your Abilities or Equipment (Stream conditions??, type of Boat?? spray skirts?? helmets?? float bags??), please feel free to contact Me. Muskrat's complete Contact info is available at the end of this Trip Announcement.
Also, please read the description of my Last Minute Update,
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LAST MINUTE UPDATES:
Each year I make a Scouting Run thru the Big Pine Valley on the Day Before my April Fools Cruise. I check the Water level (on the Chuck Weis Gauge in Rainsville) immediately upon arrival. Then I visit all possible Put-ins and Takeouts, visit with the Landowners at each location, and provide them a copy of this Newsletter. When I'm ready to leave, I check the Water level again and note any changes.
My plan for that day includes being home no later than 6PM, so I can prepare my email "Last Minute Update" which I Promise to have available to my Expedition Team Members no later than 7PM. For everyone else.......
I will have my Cell Phone in my Pocket all evening, beginning at 7PM. Feel free to call me any time after 7PM to see about the Water level and the expected Level of Difficulty.
The Launch Site, however,
will not be announced
until we meet in Pine Village,
On Saturday April 5th.
For Your Future Scheduling.......
Muskrat's Rule is that this Trip will be scheduled on the
First Weekend Day of April
that is not a part of the Easter Holiday Weekend.
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See You On The River,
Muskrat
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
GarryHill@aol.com
765-432-6782
Snail-Mail to 1021 Eastcrest Drive, Greentown, IN 46936-1612
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Visit Wildcat Creek On-line at the following sites:
http://www.wildcatguardians.org/
>>> 2973 <<<
