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       Trip Report - 2017 Kruger Challenge - as told by Muddyfeet
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Date/Time: 03/28/2024 11:56AM
Trip Report - 2017 Kruger Challenge - as told by Muddyfeet

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Previous Messages:
Author Message Text
coldfeet 05/02/2018 09:43AM
Wow! Thanks for sharing. What a great story to tell your children as they come across challenges in life. I'm planning my first trip in the BWCA and at this time will be solo. Your description of watching the waves 20 ft away from you had me locked into a crouching position as I think about my upcoming trip. Great writing, you had me captured. So, what's next with the Krugerheads? I actually sold a Monarch last September because it needed someone with more paddling abilities and adventures than me. Thanks again for sharing and giving me some tips about weather, wind and taking it step by step on those muddy portages. I do need to paddle with others to get more experience about those "lee" island areas and search for safety. Best folks I've made in my life were hikers and paddlers. Always there to share their knowledge. I have to reread your trip report and take notes to ask others.
Thanks again CF
Teenda 03/15/2018 02:28PM
I know this trip report wasn't for me to read; however, I greatly appreciate you sharing it with me. I understand disappointment at not being able to compete in an event that you trained for months for, ate meal plans geared towards your body's needs and not your taste bud's preferences, and mentally prepared yourself for. I think what you did was amazing and I hope if you do something like this again you will tell us about it. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and experiences.
Teenda 03/15/2018 02:28PM
I know this trip report wasn't for me to read; however, I greatly appreciate you sharing it with me. I understand disappointment at not being able to compete in an event that you trained for months for, ate meal plans geared towards your body's needs and not your taste bud's preferences, and mentally prepared yourself for. I think what you did was amazing and I hope if you do something like this again you will tell us about it. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and experiences.
LindenTree3 03/11/2018 08:59AM
Great trip report Myddyfeet, I read it a couple of times tryng to gain some intel.
It has me wondering if I can to the challagne from Ep 12 this fall, and also if I should consider renting a Kevlar canoe rather than taking my Ally which is fabric due to the sharp rocks you mentioned on the Pigeon River.
voyager 02/27/2018 03:27PM
well done Muddyfeet. Not enough snow for skiing here. In the 40's for the last few days. I've paddled 4 days in a row. I've probably read your trip report 4 times; gleaning what info I can. My goal, and I'm unsure at this point if it's realistic, is to cover in 4 days the distance you traveled in 3.
Grandma L 02/25/2018 07:01PM
muddyfeet: "paddlinjoe: "On a different note, I hope there is enough snow for you to do your XC Ski race this winter. When you train so hard of something like that, it is quite disapointing not to get a chance to complete it.
"

Thanks, Joe. Redemption was mine in Hayward WI today: over 50kilometers I fought to push my personal record faster by almost 1 minute! It was a beautiful day. "

Congrats!! Glad it worked out so well for you ! As usual and again, I am very proud of you and the guys! You skiing and now BeaV and David in Florida getting ready for their Everglades Race.
muddyfeet 02/24/2018 08:18PM
paddlinjoe: "On a different note, I hope there is enough snow for you to do your XC Ski race this winter. When you train so hard of something like that, it is quite disapointing not to get a chance to complete it.
"



Thanks, Joe. Redemption was mine in Hayward WI today: over 50kilometers I fought to push my personal record faster by almost 1 minute! It was a beautiful day.
Papa09 02/17/2018 06:24PM
Well done sir! Well done!
gymcoachdon 12/28/2017 12:53PM
I'm not sure what to say except thanks for writing this. I enjoyed your writing style, and was moved by the story. Similar to Beav's adventure(s), I come away wanting to challenge myself as you guys have done.
I chuckled when you wrote that you had ONLY paddled thirty-some miles that day. A different kind of tripping, for sure!
napinch 12/28/2017 06:12AM
Thank you for providing such a detailed description of your adventure / accomplishment! I very much enjoyed reading about the challenges you faced and your determination to continue forward. Congratulations on your successful quest!
Luke
ParkerMag 12/19/2017 07:56AM
Outstanding - nicely done - both the report, and more so, the trip itself.
MagicPaddler 12/13/2017 07:58AM
Thanks for publishing your report. From one of those people twice your age but still paddling and dreaming of adventures.
paddlinjoe 12/11/2017 12:33PM
A really well done report and trip Muddyfeet!


In particular I appreciated the time you put into detailing your pre-trip thoughts and plans.


I believe I saw you on Monday morning sailing SE around the corner of Sunday Bay. I was a little farther south using the islands as a wind break as I headed east. You were far enough away that when you took your sail down, I was momentarily worried that you'd capsized. Last I saw, you were quickly pulling away well ahead of me. You're paddling endurance is very impressive.


On a different note, I hope there is enough snow for you to do your XC Ski race this winter. When you train so hard of something like that, it is quite disapointing not to get a chance to complete it.


paddlinjoe



TomT 12/08/2017 07:58PM
Excellent report. I could identify with your Sag Lake crossing and battling the big swells. I was on Pickerel (during the same time frame) fighting westerlys to begin my trip then surfing swells on my last day for miles. You described the laser like focus very well. And then the relief when it's suddenly safe. Yeah, very good writing all the way through.


Congrats on your finish, it's something to be very proud of.
Grandma L 12/06/2017 10:33PM
I just read your report again. "Good job, great trip..." does not seem enough! You are truly special! Thanks for sharing!
Grandma L 12/06/2017 02:46PM
Muddyfeet,
Great report. And, Great Trip!! I feel very privileged to have been part of the Challenge and witness your success! BeaV said it will! I am proud of you and the others! it is good that you wrote about the Challenge so folks can have another slant. Your perspectives may shed some light and give encouragement to others who may try it next year!
BeaV 12/05/2017 09:17AM
Awesome report Muddyfeet! You had me laughing out loud at times as you described some of your trials such as cattail canoeing and the hail incident after you thought it couldn't get any worse:)


And I sympathized with the misery of your night of poor sleep on Knife Lake and recognized your feelings of time moving slow as you struggled with your big water crossing of Saganaga and the subsequent relief of finding shelter from the winds.


Thanks for sharing the details of your challenge including the pleasures of places seen, critters observed, challenges faced, and the mental ups and downs. Know that you are not alone regarding the "weird feeling" of staying on Fowl Lake island alone. I suspect there is much history there.


Congratulations, once again, on your spectacular accomplishment of completing the Kruger Challenge. Your pretrip concern of questioning if "You would toe the line" was answered- you nailed it! That was great that your Mom and Uncle could make it for your finish at the Fort. I loved the look on her face as you came into view on the portage trail- relief that you were done and safe and pride that you made it.


Thanks for writing down your "post trip reflections" and know that there are some that understand it. I wrote in my original invite posting of last spring "You will be forced to test mother nature and test yourself, even as your physical stamina decreases your mental toughness hopefully makes up the difference. Will you quit when things get tough or overcome it? There is something special that can come out from such struggles. I am hoping to just facilitate that opportunity for others to go for it." I now know you received that something special.


Still Paddling,
BeaV





boonie 12/03/2017 02:38PM
Thanks, enjoyed reading your perspective on it.
rtallent 12/03/2017 12:55PM
A great read, Thanks! (looks like your screen-name anticipated the GP trail conditions)
quark2222 12/02/2017 09:16PM
Awesome trip report and your major effort on the trip. I'm too old to do that kind of thing, plus I never would have a desire to push those kinds of limits, but I sincerely respect all that you and the other participants put out. Well written and documented. Thanks for posting it.


Tomster
Mocha 12/02/2017 06:28PM
while you may have intended this report for yourself, it truly belongs "out there" for anyone who needs inspiration and motivation to attempt something, start and finish a project or just meet the challenges of each new day.


i've enjoyed all the stories from the participants and sure hope to meet any of you and a wing event at some point.


thanks for sharing your thoughts and personal trip details through your writing.
SaganagaJoe 12/02/2017 06:23PM
Very much enjoyed this report. Good job!


Definitely give Saganaga a revisit. Yes, she can be a bear sometimes, but she can also be placid and beautiful.
Northwoodsman 12/02/2017 01:28PM
Very well written and documented journey. I read it from start to finish and enjoyed it very much. I felt like I was living the journey with you. Congratulations!
muddyfeet 12/02/2017 11:27AM
New Trip Report posted by muddyfeet

Trip Name: 2017 Kruger Challenge - as told by Muddyfeet.

Entry Point: 12

Click Here to View Trip Report