Host: Tom & Wendy Borchelt
Attendees: Scott

Pictures are posted. See 'em

Report from the hosts - Tom & Wendy:

We have canoed the Mad River for a winter trip for a number of years but the February, 23, 08 trip, although sparsely attended, was arguably the most memorable for a number of reasons. Scott, Wendy, and Tom left Zanesfield during a level-one weather emergency due to an ice storm. Scott had driven in from the Detroit area late Friday night amidst the storm, but arrived in time for some Chinese fare and a couple of cold ones. The next morning, the canoes loaded, we headed out for the river.

By Saturday morning the storm had cleared and we had a beautiful sunny day, with very little wind, a nice snow cover from earlier in the week, and the temperature hovered in the mid-twenties all day. Perfect. There had been a four-inch-rain the previous week so the river was moving rapidly, but had completely cleared to make the fish visible along the entire trip. The trees, covered with ice, along with the bright sunlight created beautiful effects. Freezing temperatures and high water had created “ice balls” that clung to lower branches on the trees.

Apparently, due to the storms, we did not see a soul the entire afternoon, but the wildlife was abundant. Deer, muskrat, and birds too numerous to mention kept our attention. The most interesting was a duck/goose (??) that was like nothing we had ever seen. Scott seemed to think that it was a variety that had been bred, which is the only logical explanation. The other sighting that was hard to believe was a flock of blue birds. Since they rely on insects and other living organisms for their food source, we were taken back to see them in Ohio in mid-winter, and were concerned about the prospects for their survival.

The only down side to the trip was that the rapidly moving water, and the small party that did not require more than one stop made the trip much too short. We were finished in about two-and-a-half-hours! It only inspired us more to keep up the CCB tradition alive.