OK - some of you Krueger Challenge paddlers... anyone gonna try out for this Race to the Hudson reality show where the people that finish get to split a million bucks?

Race to the Hudson

If my body wasn’t broken I’d do this. Also I don’t have a talent agent...

Just signed up. (Not)

My wife who rarely worried about me paddling in Alaska or fighting fires is now asking me why I am doing the Voyageurs Challange solo, and shaking her head a little.

Probabally be a long weekend paddle for BeaV ;-)

My money would be on BeaV if he was in the race.

Savage Voyageur: "My money would be on BeaV if he was in the race. "

mine too!!!! He's probably overqualified, lol.

I think BeaV would need about 10 days for this.

It may be a little short to interest BeaV, plus he would have to put up with the filming and doesn't seem like his style.

The thing I wonder about is running class V and VI rapids. That limits this to a pretty elite group of people. Some of those may not have done very long trips and so that will be a challenge for them. But they better be good canoeists.

I'm not familiar with the route, but July 1 seemed like a late start . . . ?

I doubt they'd even take Beav. It would guarantee them to have to pay out the million bucks. Instead they'll fill the show with young 20 somethings that are likely clueless.

Seems like a very short time to prepare if this is the first time people are notified. I know BeaV for his AK deal prepared well over a year for it. I doubt BeaV would do it anyway with a camera crew alone (and what that entails) but 2 months is a little short notice for such a jaunt IMO. Probably the reason for the million bucks, but anywhere there is such a big reward (other than personal accomplishment) I can almost assure you that BeaV will look elsewhere along with little fanfare.

Except for the section crossing the Rockies in jasper national park this route looks very boring. The Columbia river is a series of impoundments. The n Saskatchewan river is a long drab prairie river. The only real section of wilderness is north of lake Winnipeg, the Hayes river is a popular river with Canadian paddlers. There are issues with polar bears as you get close to Hudson’s bay. This route over the Rockies wasn’t heavily used by the fur trade as in those days the Columbia river was very treacherous. If they had chose a route on the Athabaskan or Churchill rivers it would have been much more interesting. Even then these are rivers that a person with moderate paddling skills would have no problem negotiating.

"This is a journey that can’t be tackled alone. To win the race, the Brigade must work together to survive, battling fierce whitewater, portaging over mountains, and hunting and fishing for sustenance. Every team member is crucial to success.

Along the way, there are no eliminations. This cooperative competition relies on collective strength to hang on against the odds. Those who complete the expedition in the time allotted will share the prize money."

So probably they start late so you can't finish in time?

A reality show who's main purpose is to make money. This should be great for those who believe it is "real." Enjoy and make sure to buy the advertised products. I'll likely be on a real adventure when this airs, without the production, filming, air support and medical crews tagging along.

And NO, Bob would never agree to do something like this. He has principles much higher than this BS.

I would watch this

Looks pretty cool to me. I got stumped on the application because I don’t have a Facebook or Instagram account or a twitter handle. I don’t even know what they are. I don’t understand the negativity, but who cares.

Reality shows, as we all know, are not really reality. I have never watched much except when at my mother-in-laws home where I spend my summers and we watch the Bachelor type shows. I can see where people get interested in the personalities and how they react to different stimuli. But overall, yawn, I could care less. Never watched Survivor or Naked and Alone or any of that soap opera nonsense.

I always thought that Bear Grylls show was totally staged stuff until I read his autobiography. He's the real deal.

mastertangler: "
I always thought that Bear Grylls show was totally staged stuff until I read his autobiography. He's the real deal. "

Grylls is for sure the real deal in terms of background and his overall skill level. However, his shows are very much staged for production purposes. I have no doubt Grylls could do everything he portrays on the show but I doubt the insurance companies would allow him to without them staging it and taking the necessary safety precautions. Just one example I saw was him jumping into a fast moving river. He had put on a PFD under his shirt. He still jumped in but it was not done as they portrayed it on TV.

I've also read admissions in various articles that they often do not stay out overnight. They'll film for the day get the shots they need and then head back to the hotel for a good nights rest.

Even though its staged you can't argue that Grylls is anything but 100% bada$$ though. He as an individual is totally legit.

The guy eats some weird stuff man. Maggots boiled in a sheep's ball sac? I would never do that. I'd rather starve.
I'm a big fan. Seems like a great guy.

Has anyone heard any updates on this? I am guessing they aren't taking any more applications.

I see the event started July 1 and wrap up sometime around the end of September. I am looking forward to seeing this show!

"Race to the Hudson"

Yes,once about a time,a Long time ago and a younger body.

On these types of shows I like to see the scenery behind them.
Beautiful forests and lakes are shown often without any comment.

Love the concept. I fully endorse it! But how real it will be depends on the producers. And how much drama is faked. The prize money is really not important.

People love a challenge. Want adventure. See what we're made of when faced with it. These things will create drama without producers forcing it or making pretend difficulties.

It would be cool if they produced a real, reality show with it.

Myself and 21 other adventurers will be making our own little version of Race to Hudson when we Race to Lake Superior in September! Ours, I guarantee, will be 100% real but no producers and no prize money. Looking forward to that!

Update-

This show is scheduled to air on the Outdoor Channel starting April 22nd 8 pm ET.

The show has become less "epic".

Originally it was to be the full voyageurs route from the Pacific ocean to Hudson Bay...2,600 miles in less than 10 weeks for $1 million bucks. Now it says 750 miles in less than 4 weeks for a half million.

It could be entertaining...

BeaV: "Update-


This show is scheduled to air on the Outdoor Channel starting April 22nd 8 pm ET.


The show has become less "epic".


Originally it was to be the full voyageurs route from the Pacific ocean to Hudson Bay...2,600 miles in less than 10 weeks for $1 million bucks. Now it says 750 miles in less than 4 weeks for a half million.


It could be entertaining..."

2600 miles in 10 weeks would be 37 miles a day.
750 in 4 weeks 27 miles a day.

Maybe they had no takers for the first offer.

On the subject of Hudson Bay and reality TV, the 2001 show Quest for the Bay (free on Amazon Prime) is excellent. A group of 7 men and 1 woman row a traditional 19th century York Boat from Winnipeg to York Factory on Hudson Bay. The reenactment is authentic and honest - they don't take shortcuts or rely on modern tech. Hauling their one-ton York Boat over the Robinson Portage with traditional methods was truly remarkable. Even more impressive was that they managed to repair a large hole in the boat after capsizing in rapids on the Hayes River, in order to finish the journey. The show focuses on the interactions between the team members, especially the optimist boat navigator and the realist boat repairman. At one point on the Robinson Portage they stage a coup and ask for outside help, but the producers refuse and the show goes on. Worth checking out.

Hopefully the producers of this new half-million dollar race to the Hudson take a similar authentic approach to reality TV.

BeaV: "Update-


This show is scheduled to air on the Outdoor Channel starting April 22nd 8 pm ET.


The show has become less "epic".


Originally it was to be the full voyageurs route from the Pacific ocean to Hudson Bay...2,600 miles in less than 10 weeks for $1 million bucks. Now it says 750 miles in less than 4 weeks for a half million.


It could be entertaining..."

My fear is that an ever-shrinking budget will eventually have the teams racing across Lake Calhoun, with the winner being the first to reach a Hudson Hornet parked on the shore and winning a slice of pizza from Punch Pizza Lake Calhoun.

I was thinking Hudson Wisconsin... haha. Let’s go!

nctry: "I was thinking Hudson Wisconsin... haha. Let’s go!"

Hey I like that idea! nctry, missmolly, Kelso, and me....Stillwater to Hudson- 7 miles in less than 5 hours, for 10 bucks!

missmolly: ... and winning a slice of pizza from Punch Pizza Lake Calhoun. "

To Hudson WI or across Lake Calhoun, I'll always paddle in the direction of pizza.

I certainly applaud their choosing teamwork as the goal and not last person standing.

BeaV: "

nctry: "I was thinking Hudson Wisconsin... haha. Let’s go!"

Hey I like that idea! nctry, missmolly, Kelso, and me....Stillwater to Hudson- 7 miles in less than 5 hours, for 10 bucks! "

I'm aboard, but I'll be dead weight for the sake of BeaV. Ben and Kelso should also decline to paddle and all three of us should be dragging anchors behind us, for BeaV won't be happy unless he's challenged.

Kelso: "

missmolly: ... and winning a slice of pizza from Punch Pizza Lake Calhoun. "

To Hudson WI or across Lake Calhoun, I'll always paddle in the direction of pizza."

Me too! Especially Punch. Love their pizza! Almost as much as Regina's in Boston or Modern Pizza in New Haven.

missmolly: "

BeaV: "Update-



This show is scheduled to air on the Outdoor Channel starting April 22nd 8 pm ET.



The show has become less "epic".



Originally it was to be the full voyageurs route from the Pacific ocean to Hudson Bay...2,600 miles in less than 10 weeks for $1 million bucks. Now it says 750 miles in less than 4 weeks for a half million.



It could be entertaining..."

My fear is that an ever-shrinking budget will eventually have the teams racing across Lake Calhoun, with the winner being the first to reach a Hudson Hornet parked on the shore and winning a slice of pizza from Punch Pizza Lake Calhoun. "

Lake Calhoun? That is so 2018.

Kelso: "On the subject of Hudson Bay and reality TV, the 2001 show Quest for the Bay (free on Amazon Prime) is excellent. A group of 7 men and 1 woman row a traditional 19th century York Boat from Winnipeg to York Factory on Hudson Bay. The reenactment is authentic and honest - they don't take shortcuts or rely on modern tech. Hauling their one-ton York Boat over the Robinson Portage with traditional methods was truly remarkable. Even more impressive was that they managed to repair a large hole in the boat after capsizing in rapids on the Hayes River, in order to finish the journey. The show focuses on the interactions between the team members, especially the optimist boat navigator and the realist boat repairman. At one point on the Robinson Portage they stage a coup and ask for outside help, but the producers refuse and the show goes on. Worth checking out.

Hopefully the producers of this new half-million dollar race to the Hudson take a similar authentic approach to reality TV."

Thanks for the review! I'm sure I will check this out in the coming weeks.