Kayak Camping Adventure on the Ausable River | 126 mile Thru-Paddle - Episode 1

Episode 1 of 4. After a year of planning and waiting the Colonel and I finally get our chance to thru-paddle the entire 126 miles of the beautiful Ausable River in four nights, from Grayling to Oscoda Michigan, exiting into Lake Huron. It wasn’t without its challenges, mainly the six massive “ponds”, each with their own dam and portage and lots of head wind. Many amazing campsites along the way and lots of laughs!

[@brandysears3546]

Sending support, love, and kindness from Lexington, MI, USA.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Loved it! "Not in the brochure" Quote of the week! Looking forward to the next one!

[@jasonwish-]

We call them "Colonelisms" lol, plenty more of them along the way!

[@HanzgohFilms]

Have you ever paddled the Au Sable....? they mentioned a youtube king was going the next week? If you haven't - its on my list and only 4 hour drive for me...

[@hollymccormick4727]

OMG thank you omg I can't thank you enough, I have kayaked the south branch of the AuSable for 40 yrs, and at the moment I am unable to walk but that is going to change, and the river is calling me home. I just saw mjy messge form a month ago lol Sorry lol I"m 76 yrs young having some memory issues these days , so here I am again. Take care to you both have Happy Holidays in the coming months.

[@BackpackingWithJason]

The air horn had me laughing!! Nice trip Jason. I always love kayak camping. That ending 😂🤣😂

[@jasonwish-]

Ha! I about fell out of the kayak! I think I might bring one of those for the dogs on the ST!

[@BackpackingWithJason]

Jason Wish - Wishwell Farms 😂😂

[@rkf2746]

🤣🤣 "This wasn't in the brochure"! That was great!

[@jasonwish-]

Colonel really thought he was going to get electricuted!

[@nalonabrato8900]

Yeah! You said it correctly one time: Aw-saw- bull. 😂 I lived in Michigan many years ago, and my dad and I enjoyed many canoe trips on Au Sable. Thank you for bringing those incredible memories back to me. 💗

[@jasonwish-]

Great, I was hoping so! Glad you enjoyed!

[@Steve-ji9rj]

What stones by the colonel to not try out the tent prior to the trip. 🤣🤣. Another great video.

[@jasonwish-]

LOL! I had to think for a minute what you were talking about but now I remember! Thanks!

[@SouthernPaddler]

Y'all crack me up!! Loved the "texting". Great scenery! Looking forward to the rest!

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks! Can't wait to share the rest of our adventure....the best is yet to come!

[@joelcarminati7822]

Another amazing video!! Can’t get enough of these. We had a Jason wish marathon this weekend. Lol. Me and the fiancée had a good laugh. The colonel is a funny guy. P.S that air horn was a great touch lol

[@jasonwish-]

So glad you have been enjoying the videos. He definitely got me good with the air horn but the next time he took it out on a trip I was prepared! Thanks Joel!

[@tammystringer4044]

Looked like a great river to kayak. Lucky to find that camp spot. Looking forward to part 2

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks Tammy! We may have had a bigfoot encounter there!

[@elliecarr7432]

The Au Sable (Sobble, rhyming with Cobble) is an amazing river to Kayak in! Great video man! I enjoyed watching you guys! I live in Grayling and have kayaked and canoed down it many times. I've enjoyed a lot of time at Carlisle's both helping with and watching our annual canoe race. Excited to watch more of your videos! 😁

[@jasonwish-]

Most of the river is absolutely amazing, just wish there wasn’t so many ponds LOL. Glad you enjoyed watching our trip!. One of these days I’ll make it up to watch the canoe races.

[@theworldaccordingtogoat4482]

Nice flick buddy. Looked like an awesome place to be. I like the text convo. Creative stuff!!!! I totally need another yak adventure. 🤘

[@jasonwish-]

Better get one more trip in this year before its too cold! Thanks Goat!

[@Thfeyhvfdetyhbvcd]

I did this trip years ago, past Mio Dam to the 4001 bridge. After seeing your videos, I called Carlisle Canoe for information on their shuttle service. Tempted to do the entire river this time! Thanks for the videos

[@jasonwish-]

You’re very welcome, glad you enjoyed them! The water was a little slow for us at times and there was a lot of ponds but if that doesn’t bother you it’s hard to beat. It’s about 22 miles of stagnant water. Some of the most beautiful campsites I’ve ever seen along the way.

[@colonel1979ab]

Great video! Looking forward to part two. Can't wait to see if the colonel makes it out alive!!!

[@davidt.3673]

Love the video, storm texting and all

[@jasonwish-]

I had to include that! Ol Colonelisms!

[@hollymccormick4727]

Loving this, I usually kayak south branch of the Au Sable Chase to Smith Bridge, or Roscommon to Smith just adds more time on the river.

[@jasonwish-]

Glad you are enjoying it! We hope to check out the South Branch sometime too!

[@campdavid2503]

That would have to suck, being in that ⛈🌩🌧💦 Can’t wait for part 2!!

[@KentuckyWoodsman]

Sure looks like an awesome trip on a beautiful river! Bad storms always make for good adventure stories if a person survives them. lol Thanks for sharing your adventure Jason!

[@jasonwish-]

The Colonel barely survived LOL. It was a really great trip thanks for watching Chris!

[@karlo8093]

pretty awesome adventure you've got started

[@jasonwish-]

Thank you sir! Can't wait to share the rest!

[@citadelgrad87]

My mom's parents lived in Grayling when I was a kid. I always liked that river, but never spent any time on it.

[@jasonwish-]

It's a great river for sure, we've had many adventures on or near it...I wish we lived closer to it.

[@daniellonngren3293]

It was hysterical when you came back for your camera and said "that was a lot of work for one stinking shot" . I was thinking that exact thought when you said it.

[@jasonwish-]

Yeah those float away shots are a lot more work than a walk by shot, lol!

[@helix149]

For the record the in the “ 10 mile stretch of no camping” the col likely could have called the colonel ret and acquired permission lol

[@myadventureoutdoors]

Never trust the weather man. Great start to an awesome looking adventure.

[@jasonwish-]

Yeah, he certainly got it wrong for half of our trip! Thanks!

[@thewonderingelectrician]

Hilarious ending...lol. Pete from river kings said we were going to meet up with you if we had done the Au Sable instead of the St. Croix. Apparently we owe you for saving us a long grind. 😆. Thanks for that!

[@jasonwish-]

Yes sir! A long grind is a good way to put that! I'm sure we will all get to meet up eventually!

[@kylenitz7463]

Going first weekend in August..can't wait

[@jasonwish-]

Hopefully the water is moving a little bit better for you. So many awesome campsites I definitely wanna go back again! Have a great time!

[@kylenitz7463]

@@jasonwish- thank you and I hope it's flowing good cuz we're going tubing so mo paddles

[@MonkeyNAround]

Looking forward to the next one. That is the section I was looking at doing. My family is in Grayling.

[@jasonwish-]

This section and one other after one of the dams was our favorite.....too bad there are so many ponds to paddle thru.

[@ryanjbrandenburg5276]

My brother and I we're running out of day light just like you guys and found the exact same spot you found with the picnic table! Lol great spot that we plan on going to again..nice video!

[@jasonwish-]

Yeah its a great site for sure! I would stay there again if I was looking for a site in that area. Check out the other episodes for some of my all time favorite camping sites ever! Thanks for watching and commenting Ryan!

[@cgriggsiv]

One awesome video for part 1 And that thunderstorm was completely awesome Poor colonel that thunderstorm really got his goat I just hope that both of you decided to bring your kayaks up higher and I hope you tied them off

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks CG...We had em up high this time!

[@weekendwithbevoblog2171]

Just 3 years late to this video! Geez it's funny.

[@jasonwish-]

Well, better late than never, lol

[@OldGoatintheWoods]

That Air Horn! HAHA!! OMG... Certainly hoped you guys had flipped your kayaks over before hunkering down. That river looked like a very smooth float.

[@jasonwish-]

He gets me with that air horn every year, ha ha! Very easy river just too many ponds!

[@ChrisBenoit-angermng.counselor]

Lmao,You stealth camped on some ones property and had a bonfire. Fucking hilarious 🤣

[@jasonwish-]

Believe me we did not intend for it to be that way but we were kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place that night.

[@nathanaelkolb4024]

I grew up on the Au Sable and you went by my mom's house when you passed under I-75. My brother worked at Carlisle's for years.

[@jasonwish-]

That was an awesome stretch of river! And Carlisle Canoe was amazing! Great place to grow up for sure!

[@nathanaelkolb4024]

@@jasonwish- yeah the corner of the Au Sable river and i-75 was a great playground. Really enjoy your videos!

[@Reelistfishing]

Hey Jason off topic. Can you give me some tips for kayak camping the Manistee river? Any company you recommend to drop me off? A point A to B place to start and end for my first ever kayak camping trip? Tia man! Really enjoy the videos.

[@jasonwish-]

Yes, I have lots of great tips on one of the best sections of the Manistee river. I actually have several videos on it. Start at Hodenpyle Dam and finish at Red Bridge or continue on into Tippy Pond for so the best camping I’ve ever seen in Michigan. From the dam to the bridge is approximately 14 miles and has dozens of awesome camping opportunities, right on the river. Or you can start at Seaton Creek Campground like I did but you have to do a small portage at the dam.

[@jasonwish-]

We used Horina Canoe and Kayak Rentals but he doesn't do much with the Manistee, mostly the Pine River. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nn2omH2cn6qXl68si=DYly4v_2BgU0fbWN

[@scottplumer3668]

At 6:49-ish, when you paddled past the camera, I thought, "this video is really well done," then I LOL'd when you came paddling back! Edit: shout out for Burr Oak!

[@jasonwish-]

That was a bad choice for a paddle by because I barely made it back to my camera LOL! I hope you enjoy the video, thanks for watching!

[@jasonwish-]

Burr Oak is a great place to train....love the Burr Oak Cove Campground!

[@davidt.3673]

Air horn! LOL

[@jasonwish-]

Colonel got me good on that one....he will have to pay!

[@BCOutdoors95]

Cool trip man , nothin like the outdoors!! Y’all should try to catch some fish tho

[@jasonwish-]

We did do some fishing later on down the river. Thanks man!

[@john_kelley]

That lightning!!!!! Hilarious reaction! I'm a nemo tensor guy too. I've had mine for about a year. Love it. How did it work out for you? Great video!

[@jasonwish-]

My favorite new pad! Thanks to Dan Becker!

[@84Howe]

Great vids, looks like it was a great adventure. Were you able to just pull up to a site an pay for it or did you have reserved sites?

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks! Most of the sites along the Ausable must be reserved ahead of time, there are no pull up and pay sites, but we went in the off season, September 15, and we never even saw another kayak camper the entire time. We were just able to book online each day when we decided to stop.

[@fadetoal]

I just bought my wife and i one of the Perception Kayaks like you have and we have been out on it once on a local lake, but man i would love to make this trip. Great video! Thanks for sharing the experience. What is your impression still of the Kayak after such a long trip on it? Thanks!!

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks! I still love my kayak. I hung a mesh net up underneath the front for storing odds and ends And I added a camera mount in the other Scotty mount space, But other than that it’s all stock and perfect for me. I love the huge storage area in the back for my gear. We have another five day through paddle planned for this September, can’t wait!

[@fadetoal]

@@jasonwish- wow, can't wait to see it! I would love to try to do a trip like that sometime if I can get my wife on board. We have lots of rivers and lakes here in Indiana but I am really thinking about Michigan or Ohio for some excursions as well. Thanks for the reply. Ttyl!

[@eileenmcloughlin4778]

GREAT VIDEO! THANKS! I GUESS the music is just a little loud, my mistake, it's just fine.

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it!

[@tcr03]

How do you like the hyke and byke sleeping bag

[@jasonwish-]

It’s too heavy for backpacking for me but was great for kayak camping when weight isn’t such an issue. It weighs 3 lbs.

[@brerrabbit4265]

It's pronounced "Aws Saab ley". It was named by a French dude of some note. It means River of Sand". Most people call it the Aws Saable or Awsaabow.

[@jasonwish-]

Yep, I know how to pronounce it correctly...I just kept forgetting during the filming. Its hard to change something that you've been pronouncing wrong for over 30 years, lol.

[@ModMotorMayhem]

You drove by my house in dundee, Mi lol by cabelas

[@theworldaccordingtogoat4482]

Hey-ModMotorMayhem - You know jason is a cat burglar right? And you just told him where you were. Now your gonna have to hide all your pocket lint and bubble gum. Just saying.

[@ModMotorMayhem]

@@theworldaccordingtogoat4482 As long as he leaves some of them sweet watermelon behind from the farm ,we'll call it even.

[@theworldaccordingtogoat4482]

Ha. You know that man.

[@jasonwish-]

Would have stopped at Cabelas if had more time! Love Michigan!

[@eileenmcloughlin4778]

Could you try making a video without the music, so that we can here river noises what you hear on the river? It might be interesting. Thanks! Why is your friend called "the cournel"?

[@jasonwish-]

Hi Eileen, you make a great point. This video was filmed almost three years ago and back then I did use more music than I do now. This year on my two thru-paddling adventures I mainly only included music at the very beginning and at the very end. These were on the Little Miami river in Ohio and the Little Manistee River in Michigan. Also, two years ago we also did the Pine River in Michigan and part of the Big Manistee river in Michigan and both of those still have some music but not too much. He's called the Colonel because he raised chickens for 4-H back in highschool and his friends gave him that nickname and it stuck! Thanks!

[@chucktrivette5723]

How did you pronounce the name of our river??

[@jasonwish-]

After pronouncing it incorrectly for over 30 years, I now know how to properly pronounce it. In some of the video we say it right and sometimes wrong.

[@hbrowneyes4981]

Have you ever gone down the Rifle River? Its a lot narrower, shallower

[@jasonwish-]

I have not. I am definitely going to check it out! I love Michigan rivers!

[@garylecureux9017]

FYI, it’s pronounced Au Sobal

[@jasonwish-]

Yeah I know, I said it properly a few times through the video but after pronouncing it wrong for over 30 years it’s hard to change LOL

[@justinschmidt3026]

First I want to say that I like your videos, but what makes you guys think you can trespass and camp on someone's property?? And then to go as far as starting a fire on their property!! It is truly disappointing to see you guys doing this. If you can't obey Michigan law you should stay in Ohio!!

[@jasonwish-]

Yes, I agree with you, no excuses, we should have known better. It was our very first thru paddle and poor planning and timing on our part. I’ve learned a lot over the last three years since this trip.

[@mattn9628]

What? I’ve never heard of someone from Ohio treating the state poorly. Never happens. We call them FOP’s here in the UP. F’ing Ohio people. It’s amazing how poor they treat our wild places. Their air horn is another example. Shameful.