Happy Canoe Year from the North Branch of the Chicago River

Almost every New Year's Day, today will be an exception, I go out for a run. And I'd confront a mystery in the Linne Woods Forest Preserve in Morton Grove.

Why are all of these cars in the parking lot on a bone-chilling day?

A couple of months ago I found out.

I saw the sign pictured above during one of my non-New Year's Day runs?

Who is Ralph Frese, and why did he do to warrant a river trail being named after him? I hate to admit to it now, but I had a terrible fear that Frese was a political hack.

Wrong. Wrong Wrong.

For the last 22 years, Frese has led the New Year's Day Paddle that begins at the Willow Road Dam in Winnetka and ends at the aforemetioned Linne Woods in Morton Grove.

Last year 150 people took part.

Frese organizes similar events--but not on New Year's Day--on other nearby rivers, is a worthy recipient of the honor bestowed on him by the Cook County Board of Commissionsers, a group regularly scorned on this blog.

Chicago Wilderness Magazine explains:

Over the last 50 years, Frese, popularly known in the paddling community as "Mr. Canoe," has championed the conservation of Chicago-region rivers. He has received awards from the Cook County Board of Commissioners, the federal EPA, and the Bureau of the Interior. ("All three on the same night," he says.) In 1994, he was the first recipient of the American Canoe Association’s "Legends of Paddling" award. Last year, he was inducted into the Illinois Outdoors Hall of Fame.

If you're anywhere near Winnetka, Skokie, or Morton Grove this morning, head to the North Branch of the Chicago River and take in the annual Paddle.

Happy New Year, Ralph Frese. Long may you paddle.

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