Pat Stinson (left), snowdog Hoxey, and Chris Stapleton float down the Pine River in a raft paddled and steered by Jake Miltner of Pine River Paddlesports. Photo by Jake Miltner.
By Christine Stapleton
On one of those rare January days when the sun was shining warmly, skies were blue and the wind was resting, my friend Pat and I experienced a magical winter rafting trip on the Pine River. The float was guided by Jake Miltner, and we requested the company of his snowdog Hoxey. Wintry wonders awaited all of us.
Jake and his wife Alaney are the owner-operators of Pine River Paddlesports Center, founded by Jake’s father Mark Miltner 40-plus years ago. They offer summer and winter river rafting trips and all kinds of rental equipment to float on the Pine and Manistee rivers. The center’s three-season headquarters is located east of Wellston off M-37 and includes a sporting goods store and a campground.
Settling in
The winter rafting trip, however, begins near the Walker bridge within the Manistee National Forest. I met Pat at a service center at the intersection of M-37 and M-55. We drove together to the landing, several miles south. Not knowing what to expect, we were ready with heavy winter clothing, blankets, water bottles and cameras. Another couple arrived about the same time, and we pulled on the offered life jackets and piled in our raft ahead of theirs. Jake instructed us to sit on the sides, not the interior, and he hopped in the back and pushed us away from shore. We never spied the other raft again until we reached a large bend in the river toward the end of the trip.
Wintry wonders
The Pine River’s water flowed slowly and smoothly, giving us plenty of time to observe the wintry wonders along our way.
Some of our memorable river moments included three different eagle sightings, close and spectacular. The water along the edges of the banks, and in and out of the trees, was frozen into honeycombs and small icicles. They sparkled as the sun danced along with us.
Jake was a wealth of information about the history of the area and the river. He pointed out some of the different vegetation, including brilliant red-osier dogwood, and even showed us a hidden, small waterfall. He also told us about the behind-the-scenes work they do to keep the river navigable. Sometimes they use a boat to get to trees that need cutting after they have fallen across the river! Other trees over the river create beautiful archways or low bridges for critters, with plenty of headroom for river travelers.
Hiking back
The trip was a little more than an hour long and because of the beautiful weather we stayed warm and dry. We got out near the Lincoln bridge. Jake offered us a ride back to the car, and we let him take our gear but opted to walk the two miles back on the Silver Creek Pathway.
This is a gorgeous trail along the river, with many climbs to panoramic river overlooks. There were two small and scenic bridges to cross. At the end, we took a minor wrong turn but managed to find our way back to the start, where we were warmly greeted and given delicious homemade cookies.
I can highly recommend this Pine River rafting adventure of wintry wonders. It’s obvious the Miltners love what they do, and they made our outing special and enjoyable.
Christine Stapleton is the broker-owner of Stapleton Realty. She lives on a farm with babydoll sheep, affectionate barn cats and three high-spirited border collies. In winter she enjoys ice fishing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, and lately has rediscovered her love of downhill skiing.
Read more stories/see photos by Christine Stapleton HERE.
