Kayaking Lake Superior: Prepare for the exhilaration

Days after a kayaker died when a group paddle was ambushed by the unpredictable waves of moody Lake Superior, a concerned paddler called the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources with this sobering soliloquy: “It seems like Lake Superior is where kayakers go to die.” DNR Conservation Warden Supervisor Dave Oginski of Ashland, a kayaker himself who enjoys Lake Superior paddles, knew exactly what the caller meant. He understood it as a kayaker – and as a law enforcement officer who has responded to boaters in distress or worse. The four stories below are must reading for kayakers drawn to Lake Superior, and those looking for two other great kayaking trips right here in Wisconsin. Enjoy Wisconsin's remarkable resources, but be prepared to stay safe.