Des Plaines River Canoe Marathon this weekend

It's one of the oldest canoe races of its kind in the U.S. and draws hundreds of canoers and kayakers each year. We talk with Race Chairman Jack Snarr about the joys of going down the Des Plaines River with 500 or so of your closest friends.

Q. What makes this such a fabulous event?

The race was started as an event for Scouts, who built many of the craft used that first year. Two years ago we estimated that with an average of 1,000 paddlers per race (two or one per canoe/kayak), going very close to 20 miles in each of 50 years, that would total 1 million paddler-miles completed ... with no sign in the river of anyone having passed by! Canoes leave no mark of their passage!

Q. Where are the best places to watch the race?

Depending on water level, participants will either portage Dam #1 or possible run it. There is a Forest Preserve parking lot at Milwaukee Road and Hintz Road (just north of Palwaukee Airport), where spectators can obtain the best views of this section of the race.

Q. What's the most amazing time someone ever posted?

Not certain (who), but the fastest time was very close to 2:00:00!

Q. Does this race get the respect it deserves?

Among canoe/kayak races this is likely the largest single-day race in the country and is highly regarded by competitors. This year we are also conducting on the preceding day (May 16) the U.S. Canoe Association Aluminum Canoe Championship race.

Paddlesport was more popular in the 70s when this race had to turn away registrants beyond 1,000 craft. We now are running between 500 and 600 canoes and kayaks.

Q. Truth or myth: You can shoot the dams if you don't want to portage.

Better said ... you can shoot the dams if you don't want to live! Usually the water level is such that dangerous hydraulic currents exist below the dams at Ryerson Nature Preserve in Lincolnshire and at Dam #1 in Wheeling and we require all craft to portage both dams.

On occasion the water level is sufficiently high to flood one or both dams to where their presence will not be evident, or will enable knowledgeable and experienced paddlers to pass through a white water channel. The advisability of this for the general participant must be determined on race day.

Q. What's the dumbest thing you've even had someone do?

Maybe not the "dumbest" thing, exactly, but back in the 70s when my wife was co-chair of the Marathon, she had a Civil Air Patrol plane pass over the racecourse to check for anyone who for some reason had to take out between bridges. Most of the race course passed through forest preserve, with relative isolation from roadways, homes or businesses. This was before cell phones, but if necessary the plane could at least radio for assistance.

One year that plane did encounter a canoe pulled back a ways from the river, and upon closer inspection spotted its former occupants engaged in, shall we say "amorous activity" - well concealed from and oblivious to the hundreds of canoes drifting past not far away.

Q. What might cause you to postpone or cancel the race?

The race was stopped in 2002 and was canceled altogether in 2004, both because of high water, with a good chance of someone being washed into downed trees.

If water is so high as to interfere with clearance under a bridge, clearly, the race cannot take place. An electrical storm or high winds could lead to temporarily stopping the race, for which advice we rely heavily on the weather-monitoring and communication service of Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service of Lake County, whose volunteers are located at nearly every bridge.

Q. This must be a bear to organize and pull off each year. What keeps you going?

After 51 years we should pretty well have the hang of it! However, we also try to maintain a steady flow of new volunteers with new ideas and fresh enthusiasm. We are all motivated by the desire to promote the environmental and recreational potential of the Des Plaines River and try to work with other groups having like-minded objectives.

Q. Is there a gathering place everybody heads to after the race is over?

At the Finish Line at Dam #2 Woods, just south of Lake-Euclid Avenue, there is a collection of food vendors, paddling and conservation exhibits, a warming tent, displays, etc. to provide an air of festivity while awaiting the presentation of awards around 3:30 in the afternoon.

Q. What's so great about canoeing?

Because paddling (canoe or kayak) takes place in generally very scenic areas (including the Chicago River downtown) and often apart from power-driven boats and other individuals, there are elements of adventure, self-reliance and creativity in organizing and carrying out an excursion. Sightings of deer, large turtles, water birds and occasionally beaver and muskrats are relatively common. And, perhaps best of all, the canoe leaves no sign of its passage!

If you go

Race basics

• Start: First heat starts at 8 a.m., with successive heats of eight crafts every two minutes.

• Finish: First boats will finish around 10:15 a.m. Some will finish at close to 5 p.m.

• River miles: 18.5

• Best time, ever: Very close to 2:00.

• Award categories: There are 23 classes, based on age, gender, styles and designs of both canoes and kayaks. One participant intends to paddle standing on a surf board-like craft using a kayak paddle.