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Boundary Waters Quetico ForumListening Point - General Discussion 2017 Kruger - Voyageurs Challenge-The adventure has begun! Follow along!
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09/02/2017 04:02PM
Here is the introduction to the "cast" of this adventure!
BeaV, Muddyfeet, PaddlinJoe
Mzee, Mrs, Voyager, Mr. Voyager, Larry
These photos were taken at our send-off dinner Friday evening September 1, 2017, at the Chocolate Moose in Ely. But, the story started before then.
Early this past spring, BeaV put out the invitation to any and all interested paddlers. Many voiced interest in this 250+ mile - 8 day Challenge. Some made commitments to participate, some hoped to arrange schedules, some needed family and jobs to cooperate, and then life happened.
In the end, 6 paddlers made it work!
Three are doing the Kruger Challenge - following Verlin Kruger's record setting route from International Falls, MN to Grand Portage and Lake Superior. BeaV, himself, is planning to take the International Falls border route with more (and bigger) open water through Rainy Lake. Mzee and Muddyfeet are taking the International Falls route through some of the bays to get to Little Vermilion Lake and the start of the BWCA. All three need to cross into the BWCA (entry point #12) by midnight Sept. 3 (permits)
The other three Challengers are doing Half Challenge routes. Due to life situations allowing for time or stamina restrictions to do part of the Challenge, PaddlinJoe will be doing the border from Crane to Moose Lake and Mr. and Mrs. Voyager will be paddling from Moose Lake to Grand Portage.
Born of necessity, this half Challenge is new this year. Since the group is independent from an oversight organization, this flexibility is possible. The group has been formed of "like-minded paddlers" who are sharing shuttles, ideas, information and a schedule to make it all happen.
The Challengers have a variety of paddling backgrounds as well as reasons for doing the Challenge. Of the 6 who finally were able to plan, prepare and actually make the adventure happen, 3 are experienced retired paddlers, 2 are strong paddlers and family men and last but surly not least, one is a high level experienced paddle adventurer.
There was intense physical training done by some Challengers and minimal by others. Each set their own pace and crafted their own preparation techniques.
So - there you have it - this years group of Challengers -
BeaV, Muddyfeet, PaddlinJoe
Mzee, Mrs, Voyager, Mr. Voyager, LarryThese photos were taken at our send-off dinner Friday evening September 1, 2017, at the Chocolate Moose in Ely. But, the story started before then.
Early this past spring, BeaV put out the invitation to any and all interested paddlers. Many voiced interest in this 250+ mile - 8 day Challenge. Some made commitments to participate, some hoped to arrange schedules, some needed family and jobs to cooperate, and then life happened.
In the end, 6 paddlers made it work!
Three are doing the Kruger Challenge - following Verlin Kruger's record setting route from International Falls, MN to Grand Portage and Lake Superior. BeaV, himself, is planning to take the International Falls border route with more (and bigger) open water through Rainy Lake. Mzee and Muddyfeet are taking the International Falls route through some of the bays to get to Little Vermilion Lake and the start of the BWCA. All three need to cross into the BWCA (entry point #12) by midnight Sept. 3 (permits)
The other three Challengers are doing Half Challenge routes. Due to life situations allowing for time or stamina restrictions to do part of the Challenge, PaddlinJoe will be doing the border from Crane to Moose Lake and Mr. and Mrs. Voyager will be paddling from Moose Lake to Grand Portage.
Born of necessity, this half Challenge is new this year. Since the group is independent from an oversight organization, this flexibility is possible. The group has been formed of "like-minded paddlers" who are sharing shuttles, ideas, information and a schedule to make it all happen.
The Challengers have a variety of paddling backgrounds as well as reasons for doing the Challenge. Of the 6 who finally were able to plan, prepare and actually make the adventure happen, 3 are experienced retired paddlers, 2 are strong paddlers and family men and last but surly not least, one is a high level experienced paddle adventurer.
There was intense physical training done by some Challengers and minimal by others. Each set their own pace and crafted their own preparation techniques.
So - there you have it - this years group of Challengers -
09/02/2017 05:18PM
Sorry to be slow in getting the links posted. It has been a long and very busy last few days.
Thursday, I met Mzee (from Connecticut) in Grand Portage to drop off his vehicle and transport his canoe back to Ely. On Friday, after PaddlinJoe did a few hours for some final paddle training, we shuttled his vehicle to Moose Lake and returned just in time for our supper at the Chocolate Moose.
After supper, we moved canoes, got them loaded on the trailer and vehicle, and safely parked at Larry and Jackie's house. (My son and daughter-in-law who live in Ely). Everyone was off to get some sleep and final re-think of the plans.
Thursday, I met Mzee (from Connecticut) in Grand Portage to drop off his vehicle and transport his canoe back to Ely. On Friday, after PaddlinJoe did a few hours for some final paddle training, we shuttled his vehicle to Moose Lake and returned just in time for our supper at the Chocolate Moose.
After supper, we moved canoes, got them loaded on the trailer and vehicle, and safely parked at Larry and Jackie's house. (My son and daughter-in-law who live in Ely). Everyone was off to get some sleep and final re-think of the plans.
09/03/2017 10:26PM
quote WhiteWolf: "Hey now!!! The GP is actually closer to 9 miles with GPS tracking!!! :O)
"
Correction made, (In the above thread but I cannot go back and change it in the Alaska Forum, you only have about 45 minutes there, until you can no longer edit)
I just figured BeaV did a couple miles of bycycle kicks, with a shirtless back lying on Granite, to warm up for the portage before actually starting it ;-)
Ps: I'm sure most of you have never followed the Alaska Outdoors Canoeing Forum.
If you are so inclined, do a BeaV search on it.
It is interesting to read from the Alaskans who (a few) warned that he was canoeing into emenint death.
PSS, congrats to Whitewolf and everyone's accomplishments last year.
Hope to join the fun next year with my folding "Ally" canoe.
09/07/2017 06:30PM
Finished at 4:37 pm, Thursday, September 7, 2017. What a great smile! The pain of the portage could not suppress the smile of accomplishment.
Nap, shower and dinner!
I have trouble not telling everyone we meet about them and their great accomplishment.
I am truly a very proud Grandma!!!
Nap, shower and dinner!
I have trouble not telling everyone we meet about them and their great accomplishment.
I am truly a very proud Grandma!!!
09/11/2017 01:36PM
quote paddlinjoe: "GrandmaL,
It is really nice of you to ensure that there is a friendly face greeting people as they finish. Enjoy the celebration!"
+1 FOR SURE!
She did an awesome job of helping where she could and worrying when she couldn't. For me, I expected no one to greet me at O'dark thirty in the morning. Upon my arrival at the Fort, my only plan was to curl up fully clothed (aka collapse) on the Fort grass and sleep in the cold wind. She knew how poor of a plan that was and pushed me hard enough to go get a hotel room. It was great to have a friendly face with a still functioning brain greet me at the end.
In the end, all who took part became friends- no longer screen name aliases. Thanks all- Lori, David, Kevin, Russ, Marcie, and Joel.
I see we don't have finish photos for a few, so below is Mzee (David) and The Voyagers (Russ and Marcie). Probably no finish photo for paddlingjoe out there unless a selfie was taken...Joel? Post it if you have it.
09/11/2017 01:59PM
Looks like BeaV beat me to the photo posts by a few minutes.
On Friday evening I got a call - yes, WiFi works in the Casino - Mr. and Mrs. Voyager were at the marina. We promptly went to greet them and help them get settled. They chose to do the half Challenge and Russ (Mr. Voyager) had a goal, "Grand Portage of Bust". they made it in fine style!
FYI - Mrs. Voyager, Marcie, was the first woman to participate in the Challenge.
On Friday evening I got a call - yes, WiFi works in the Casino - Mr. and Mrs. Voyager were at the marina. We promptly went to greet them and help them get settled. They chose to do the half Challenge and Russ (Mr. Voyager) had a goal, "Grand Portage of Bust". they made it in fine style!
FYI - Mrs. Voyager, Marcie, was the first woman to participate in the Challenge.
09/15/2017 07:18PM
Trying to go through the thread and answer questions where I can:
Nope. I have previously traveled on Birch->Knife, and Iron->Crooked; but the rest of the route was new to me. No doubt this made it a bit more difficult in wayfinding, but also induced a little bit of anxiety along the way in not knowing what the Basswood/Sag crossings would be like, or how the Pigeon R/ Grand portage would go.
Yes, I had checkpoints marked on my route. While they were somewhat arbitrary, it twice served as a momentary motivation to try and make that point by the end of the day.
Thanks, WW. I had stopped early that evening (6pm) because of fatigue, strategy to not be searching for a campsite on Iron lake, and because I could see this front coming in. I had eaten and was resting comfortably in my hammock at the last site on Lacroix when the lightning and thunder came through. In retrospect it was a good decision to stop then, and go early to cross Iron before the beautiful sunrise the next morning.
Yes, Strategy here was to try and make Fort Charlotte by dark. Halfway across Moose Lake I realized I wouldn't make it, and having never traveled the Pigeon before, I did not want to try it in the dark. I ended the day early at the second-to-last campsite on S.Fowl lake to start the river in the morning. It was nice to have some extra time to rest and repack things for the long portage.
Yes, I will unreel 6 ft of my bow line for portages longer than a mile or so. On short ones I just extend a hand up to the boat, but for long walks it is nice to rest the arms down low and even switch hands on the line every once in awhile.
The fort was open at the time I finished, and along with GrandmaL and Beav and some of my family- there were a few historical reenactors around to witness the finish. This guy knew absolutely everything. We tried to stump him with history questions, but could not. He said that once new voyageurs left the great lakes and passed the Height of Land, the rest of the brigade would vote as to whether or not they became true "Hommes du Nord" or 'Northmen.' You were then allowed to paint your paddle with red vermillion.
Me too- I have concluded that a race is yourself against other participants whereas a challenge is yourself against things external to other challengers: time, personal goals, fears, ambitions, etc.
Yes :)
quote Mocha: "wondering if mzee and muddyfeet have ever been on this next leg of the route?"
Nope. I have previously traveled on Birch->Knife, and Iron->Crooked; but the rest of the route was new to me. No doubt this made it a bit more difficult in wayfinding, but also induced a little bit of anxiety along the way in not knowing what the Basswood/Sag crossings would be like, or how the Pigeon R/ Grand portage would go.
quote Mocha: "so, i see muddyfeet has a '3' at the east end of gunflint lake. is that his goal for today?
....is it against Challenge rules to get off the border and travel through smaller lakes? more portages to slow you down but if it's safer due to wind? "
Yes, I had checkpoints marked on my route. While they were somewhat arbitrary, it twice served as a momentary motivation to try and make that point by the end of the day.
quote WhiteWolf: " I know when I have been "up there" I have wished I could see a radar -- or at least when I get home. And then forget about it. Well -- the challengers can look when they get home. Cold front is causing the precip and isolated lightning strikes. 7:44pm radar time.
"
Thanks, WW. I had stopped early that evening (6pm) because of fatigue, strategy to not be searching for a campsite on Iron lake, and because I could see this front coming in. I had eaten and was resting comfortably in my hammock at the last site on Lacroix when the lightning and thunder came through. In retrospect it was a good decision to stop then, and go early to cross Iron before the beautiful sunrise the next morning.
quote andym: "Looks like Muddyfeet is set up to finish tomorrow. He cut it short at 32 miles today but that might just be to rest up for the big finish tomorrow."
Yes, Strategy here was to try and make Fort Charlotte by dark. Halfway across Moose Lake I realized I wouldn't make it, and having never traveled the Pigeon before, I did not want to try it in the dark. I ended the day early at the second-to-last campsite on S.Fowl lake to start the river in the morning. It was nice to have some extra time to rest and repack things for the long portage.
quote andym: " I notice that Muddyfeet is using a control line while portaging. In one pic, it looked like BeaV was also set up for that. Were you using that just for the Grand Portage or all the way along? In a recent discussion on the forum, using one seemed rare. "
Yes, I will unreel 6 ft of my bow line for portages longer than a mile or so. On short ones I just extend a hand up to the boat, but for long walks it is nice to rest the arms down low and even switch hands on the line every once in awhile.
quote BeaV: "Northman Ceremony:
This was the first time in three years that anyone has proven his worth to his fellow brigade and received full status as a "Northman". Muddyfeet earned this at the Fort and the ceremony was administered by one of the Fort personnel.
"
The fort was open at the time I finished, and along with GrandmaL and Beav and some of my family- there were a few historical reenactors around to witness the finish. This guy knew absolutely everything. We tried to stump him with history questions, but could not. He said that once new voyageurs left the great lakes and passed the Height of Land, the rest of the brigade would vote as to whether or not they became true "Hommes du Nord" or 'Northmen.' You were then allowed to paint your paddle with red vermillion.
quote Mocha: "
been pondering the difference between a race and a challenge. "
Me too- I have concluded that a race is yourself against other participants whereas a challenge is yourself against things external to other challengers: time, personal goals, fears, ambitions, etc.
quote andym: "I've long felt that the only true competition is against ones self and agree that everyone can have a place in a challenge like this."
Yes :)
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