The 5th annual Border Route Challenges are a go! The dates are as follows: meet up in Ely on Friday afternoon September 13th, get shuttle ride to entry point(s) on Saturday September 14th, and paddle/portage like heck to get to Lake Superior at Grand Portage Monument no later than Sunday September 22rd to catch shuttle ride back to Ely. So where is the start you may ask? This can vary depending on your goals with the following options.

1) Kruger/Waddell Challenge- 260 mile route International Falls through Voyageurs Nat'l Park and all the BWCA
2) Voyageurs Challenge- 205 mile route Crane Lake though all the BWCA west to east
3) Moose Lake Challenge- 125 mile route Ely @ Moose Lake

A group called WaterTribe is setting up the details and making shuttle arrangements. More details are given at the WaterTribe website: http://www.watertribe.com/Default.aspx The above start dates are going to be flexible due to Entry Point permit availability. All the challenge routes finish on Lake Superior at Grand Portage National Monument. The route to be followed should be the international boundary with Canada. Of course, longer routes are fine and maybe needed if the wind is blowing hard when you want to paddle one of many big lakes.

At least one person in each group needs to register with WaterTribe and have a Spot and PLB. All participants will equally split shuttling costs.

WaterTribe has a customized Spot tracking map that will show all groups as they progress along the route. This is why each group needs a Spot. InReaches do not work with their shared map.

Your safety is strictly up to you and your team, if you go as a group- that is why at least one PLB is required.

This is an unsupported challenge. Unsupported means no preplanned assistance such as a support crew, phone calls to home for navigation assistance, and food resupply. Take what you need from the start. What really makes this a challenge is the time constraint component. The harder you push the greater the challenge. Paddling legends Verlen Kruger and Clint Waddell hold the fastest known tandem time, International Falls to Grand Portage, at 80 hours and 40 minutes set back in 1968.

Feel free to express your interest in doing this and post any questions you may have here or you can email me direct. Post here if you’re looking to form a team, join a team, or have room for someone to join your team.

The WaterTribe site is where you register and see the current roster list.

WARNING! This Challenge may be come addictive!

What's the cost of this?

AmarilloJim: "What's the cost of this?"

Cost- ...shuttling cost is all we split. We have Piragis shuttle us to the start and pick us up at the finish. Last year, they charged us about $200 per van to get to Crane Lake or International Falls. The return shuttle from Grand Portage back to Ely was about $350 per van. Cost per person will depend on number of people in each van. Some people don't need a shuttle if family drops them off or picks them up.

I used a shuttle on both ends and it cost me around $100 +/-, I think.

Food, lodging, permits and rental gear is the responsibility of each individual.

I'd love to see the routes to do this... If my son doesn't kill me on our May trip, he might be able to on this.

bombinbrian: "I'd love to see the routes to do this... If my son doesn't kill me on our May trip, he might be able to on this. "

The routes were established by the Native Americans a long, long time ago. Then the fur traders known as Voyageurs used these routes, then at some point the United States made this the border with Canada, then Verlen Kruger and Clint Waddell used the route, and now we follow it. Hence the general name of these challenges "Border Route".

All three optional routes overlap, it's just a matter of where you want to start. In general, everyone follows the international boundary except in a couple spots where there are shorter routes, if you want to cut a few miles. Your exact route would be determined by you, except there are some virtual checkpoints that you need to go past and hit an "OK" message on your Spot to document your time of arrival at these locations.

If you want to see a map of the route and where others have traveled, go to the WaterTribe site, click on the "Tracking Map" button, and select all the drop down criteria, and this will show you the Spot tracking of any participant from prior years.

Do teams often paddle at night during this challenge?

bobbernumber3: "Do teams often paddle at night during this challenge?"

That would be a positive if you wanna make distance in mid September. Some of my best memories in all of my paddling "career?" ( and I have paddled many times at night- just not navigating ) is paddling at 3am across Crooked - crescent moon and Orion rising in the East- 1-2' chop on your stern , hard to explain. Totally surreal .
Rose Lake after a long - long day seeing the stars reflect in water at 11pm-- (I've seen stars before In the water) but this night was surreal with no moon and the stars "setting" on the water like agate pebbles on the shore and seeing your trip partners highlighted buy the "starshine" on your left/right. It's not for everyone- but everyone should try it. (The Kruger Challenge)- or the offshoots/

If one is doing the full route through Voyageur's, how do you handle picking up your permit for EP 12? If I understand correctly, you can only pick up a permit on the entry day or the day prior. Do you pick up the permit at the Cook Ranger station on the morning you are starting in Voyageur's, with an entry date for the next day? The ranger station doesn't open until 8:00, and it's over an hour drive to International Falls, which means you wouldn't be on the water until around 10:00. This obviously commits you then to making it to Little Vermillion by the end of day 2, correct? Is there an alternative that I am overlooking?

I've been thinking of doing this for some time, and finally giving some thought to the logistics. Don't mean to hijack the thread, but this seems fairly related.

Porkeater: "If one is doing the full route through Voyageur's, how do you handle picking up your permit for EP 12? If I understand correctly, you can only pick up a permit on the entry day or the day prior. Do you pick up the permit at the Cook Ranger station on the morning you are starting in Voyageur's, with an entry date for the next day? The ranger station doesn't open until 8:00, and it's over an hour drive to International Falls, which means you wouldn't be on the water until around 10:00. This obviously commits you then to making it to Little Vermillion by the end of day 2, correct? Is there an alternative that I am overlooking?


I've been thinking of doing this for some time, and finally giving some thought to the logistics. Don't mean to hijack the thread, but this seems fairly related. "

For those of us doing the Border Route Challenges, we pick up our permit at our outfitter, Piragis, the morning we shuttle. They open earlier than the Forest Service offices as you know. And yes, we are committed to making the Entry Point 12 either the same day or the next to be in compliance.

If you weren't in a hurry like us, you could paddle through the Voyageurs National Park and then take a slight detour down to Crane Lake to an outfitter located there, pickup up your Entry Permit and paddle only 5 more miles to EP 12.

BeaV:

For those of us doing the Border Route Challenges, we pick up our permit at our outfitter, Piragis, the morning we shuttle. They open earlier than the Forest Service offices as you know. And yes, we are committed to making the Entry Point 12 either the same day or the next to be in compliance.


If you weren't in a hurry like us, you could paddle through the Voyageurs National Park and then take a slight detour down to Crane Lake to an outfitter located there, pickup up your Entry Permit and paddle only 5 more miles to EP 12."

Thank you. Appreciate the advice. Even at a non-insane pace, making it to Little Vermillion by the end of day 2 looks reasonable with decent weather and winds. My concern would be getting delayed and then having a permit that is technically not valid (although unless you get stopped in the vicinity of the EP, it would be hard to question).

Ok, ready to go - just melt this snow!

Really! I paddled 5 miles today, cold and windy every day here lately. I've been paddling with a dry bag containing water lashed in the stern. The Blackwater tames right down in the wind and of course is more stable. As far as arriving at EP 12 on the appropriate date, I don't think it's ever been a problem making it on time. It certainly might be if those big lakes kicked up. I'm praying for calm waters all week this year. Trying to lighten pack load. About at the limit there. I did finally buy a titanium kettle. Unlike Matt and Peter, I will pack a tooth brush. I think I can keep it to #40, and canoe tricked out to # 32. I considered cuben fiber dry bags, but was skeptical of there durability and ability to keep out all water.







3

LB OZ Discription
0.70625 11.3 Alkohl stove, stand bottle 8.5Fl Oz Alchol
1.84375 29.5 Summer sleeping bag
5.09375 81.5 BlackBird UQ UQP suspenion
0.60625 9.7 Platipus water filter
0.28125 4.5 Cook pot
0.29375 4.7 tooth brush
0.5375 8.6 poncho
1.81875 29.1 Tarp
0.0375 0.6 Spoon
1.51875 24.3 BackPack Gorilla gossimer
0.99375 15.9 FirstAid repair Strip Down
3.25 52 Clothes bag tp soap towl
2.475 39.6 PFD & 10 OZ Survival kit
1.125 18 SPOT, GPS, Camera
0 PLB
0.35 5.6 Headlight
0.175 2.8 Skirt
0.45 7.2 Leather Gloves
29.3 468.8 Rapidfire painter bail spung seatback No fishdetector
2.84375 45.5 RapidFire Portage Yoke
0
53.7 859.2 Total OZ
This is my packing list for now. I would guess about 12 LB for food.

Looking over the latest info...

-Grandma L is the first to be ready
-Voyager refuses to leave his tooth brush behind
-MagicPaddler's toothbrush weighs more than his cook pot

Welcome to the fray MagicPaddler!

All right Beav you made me go did out my gear and weigh it again. My tooth brush bag weighs 4.6 Oz. That is a water proof bag with tooth brush, paste, Floss bandages and some hydrocortisone. Could not remember what was in there. My pot still weighs 4.5 Oz.
I am looking at having one hot meal in the evening each day. It will be a one pot put it in water bring to a boil put in a cozy for a few minutes and eat. I can cook each of those with 1Fl Oz of alcohol. What do the pros do for food?

MagicPaddler: "What do the pros do for food?
"

How fancy I get with food depends on how fast and hard I plan to travel. I go no cook food for the long days and quick boil stuff for when there's time. It helps when with a group if the cook has someone else that will setup and takedown tents. But when you're by yourself, time spent taking out a stove, boiling water, and cleanup takes away from resting time. I know when I stop at midnight, I just want to get in the tent as soon as possible.

I do like a hot meal in the evening so I'll maybe boil up some flavored noodle stuff and add spam and cheese to it, for those evenings I stop to camp at a more normal time.

Even if you "plan" to stop at a reasonable time everynight.....I would still recommend bringing something ready to eat. "Plans" seem to get changed along the way.

BeaV offers great advice. I think the Challengers eat a lot of peanut M & M and Vitamin powder in their water. Consider that last year the Challengers paddled almost as many hours in the dark as in the daylight. Hot meals are nice - is sleep better? Sometimes a hard choice?
Oh, and Magic Paddler - glad to have you with the group!

So I'm following this thread and getting really intrigued. At my age, I would do the shortest challenge (not this year, though, since I am still probationary at my teaching job...hard to get permission to take off a week in September when you are a teacher).

How many people participate at each different length on average?
What is the make up of the groups...mostly tandem canoe or solo? Larger groups?

I am really obsessing about how cool this would be to do.

BeaV and Grandma Thanks for the welcome.
I think daylight is more important to camp setup than take down so I plan on stopping before dark. When I get up my eyes will be use to the dark so I won’t need a lot of light to eat and take down camp. At least that is how I got it planned if the weather cooperates.
On normal trips I double portage with each carry load being 55 pounds or less. For this trip I have my total load down to about 65 pounds for a single carry. I would like to shave a couple of pounds off of that but don’t know where.

straighthairedcurly: "How many people participate at each different length on average?
What is the make up of the groups...mostly tandem canoe or solo? Larger groups?

I am really obsessing about how cool this would be to do."

Let's see...the first couple of years we only had the Voyageurs Challenge Route and 8 people +/- participated.
In 2017, the Moose Lake and the Kruger Challenge Routes were added. Two did the Moose and 3 did the Kruger.
In 2018, 2 did the Moose Lake, 3 did the Voyageurs, and 15 did the Kruger.
This coming year, 21 are signed up already all doing the Kruger. And there are others seriously considering but not signed up yet.

Solo is the most frequent make up. My group of 6 last year is the largest so far. This year my group is expected to be max'ed out at 9. Sometimes small groups combine enroute, especially solo paddlers.

Thanks BeaV, very interesting. That is a big jump for the Kruger.

I am signed up for the Voyageurs Challenge at least I think I am.
EDIT
Ok I checked the roster. I am in the wrong place. Wonder if any one else made the same mistake.

My meal planning is Mtn. House for dinners, with a couple of " eat on the fly " dinners, ( fortified blueberry pancakes, frozen at home ) Hopefully 1 of these will be consumed the 1st P.M. There's a full moon the 1st P.M. and I'd like to wrack up the miles, as sooner or later we'll run into wind. You do add a lot of extra miles by not having a lunch stop over the course of the challenge. Peter referred to them last year as " hull foods". My hull foods for each day are kept in a super light fanny pack, minus the waist belt , snapped to my thwart. I vacuum seal each tidbit and keep a small exacto knife in the same pack to quickly zip them open. I have a small tupperware container with screw on lid with a paddle clip holder screwed to the bottom, that I attach to the thwart. I place the food there for handy grabbing as needed. Last year I had peanut butter and crackers, trail mix ( homemade with 3 different flavors of M&Ms) coconut cashews and pecan pralines, ( delicious and always the 1st to go every day ), fig bars, Cheese nip crackers ( not this yr.) Fritos corn chips( not this yr.) and the big surprise for me, as far as what gave me the biggest immediate energy boost, ( contrary to what I had read for energy foods ) JERKY! I ate it every day. ( bringing a bit more this year) Mark P., who has finished many WT challenges told me the same thing afterwards. My breakfast is no cook, cold cereal with 1/2 powdered milk and 1/2 muscle milk. You've got time to experiment while training. That's the fun part. Everyone is different, I eat a lot, my solo planned traveling partner , in my opinion, eats like a bird.

The planned start date for the Minnesota events is September 14th and 24 paddlers have already signed up! All of the BWCA Entry Permits are gone for Little Vermillion Lake Entry Point for both 9/14 and 9/15. Those doing the Kruger and the Voyageurs Challenges pass through this location on those 2 days and need to have a permit. So what are the options for anyone else wanting to join but not part of a group with one of those preferred Entry Point permits….

Kruger/Waddell Challenge- join an existing group; or start a day early or a day later (pull your Entry Permit for Friday 9/13 or Monday 9/16). This would require making arrangements for another shuttle.

Voyageurs Challenge- join an existing group; or start a day early or two days later; or start at a different location “Indian Sioux North”. Challengers doing the Voyageurs, starting at either location, will likely share the same shuttle for the Saturday 9/14 start. Other start dates would require making shuttle arrangements.

Moose Lake Challenge- Lots of Entry Permits still available for this starting location.

Alright, Voyageurs: I’m looking forward to joining you on the 2019 Challenge.
Can I share some brief inspiration from today?

The end of this week had me incredibly stressed at work. The bulk of my Saturday today was reluctantly spent helping my kids attend some other kid’s birthday party. At a social dinner, I attempted to raise my spirits by gorging myself with too much pizza and beer; somewhat depressed about scoring a zero for any Saturday athletic achievements. I got home and put the kids to bed… and had a moment:

“the daylight is mine to waste or paddle on”

It was true: I could fall asleep to a movie, or *just maybe* get in a quick paddle on a nice night. I quickly changed clothes and announced I was headed to the river- stashing a headlamp in my pack cause I knew there wasn’t more than an hour of light left. 200 rods down the street to the landing and I was off. I started rather fast- heading upriver against the strong spring current only strengthened my resolve to make this one count. I have only been in the canoe three times this year so far, but I hammered the paddle as I felt my frustrations streaming away in the wake behind me. The pontoon out for a sunset cruise didn’t know we were racing, but I won anyways. At three miles I turned around- drank some water and stashed the sunglasses I no longer needed in the twilight. Now going with the river I was flying and could only paddle harder to improve my average speed. As I pulled into the landing, I clicked off the tracking app and looked at the stats: My April effort matched that I had only previously achieved in late August after training for the 2017 challenge. AND I HAVE ALL SUMMER TO IMPROVE THE MOTOR FURTHER!

The 200 rod carry home was cold in the dark, but I felt fresh and strong- physically and mentally. I had challenged myself today and achieved something I didn’t think possible. We’ll see what September brings us, but I’m looking forward to the challenge, and though Grand Portage is still very far away, I am already seeing some of the rewards.

Good to see you onboard Muddy!! Can't wait to meet you. Train On!!

Welcome back muddyfeet!

"toe the line of the unknown to push the limits of my capability, and learn more about what I’m really made of." (muddyfeet '17)

I like that quote of your's.

Wow, exciting to see the "band getting back together". so glad to see your registrations on the Water Tribe site! This Challenges is shaping up nicely! Now if it would just stop snowing. (had snow today out my cabin window).

The map shows Crane Lake open.
https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ice_out/index.html

I read the threads on this last year and am very intrigued. My wife and I are young, in shape, and like to move all day. We use ultralight gear and have only ever single portaged. I portage the canoe, my wife carries the backpack, and I paddle like heck.

We don't have any crazy friends (well, as crazy as us)-which group should we register under? Do we have to travel with the group or are we free to go our own pace once we reach the BWCA?

dex8425: "I read the threads on this last year and am very intrigued. My wife and I are young, in shape, and like to move all day. We use ultralight gear and have only ever single portaged. I portage the canoe, my wife carries the backpack, and I paddle like heck.
We don't have any crazy friends (well, as crazy as us)-which group should we register under? Do we have to travel with the group or are we free to go our own pace once we reach the BWCA?"

BeaV's responses above might help answer your questions. Challengers meet in Ely, share shuttles to International Falls (Kruger/Waddell) or Crane (Voyageur) and from there you are on your own to travel at your own speed. Unsupported all the way to Grand Portage to meet the shuttle back to Ely. It all starts this year on September 13 with a meeting in Ely, then shuttle very early on Saturday morning, September 14. The shuttle back to Ely will pick up Challengers at the Casino in Grand Portage on Sunday morning, September 22. Shuttle costs will be shared. You will need to get your own permit and be prepared for the cost of meals and lodging on both ends. Check out the Water Tribe website events. The Challenges are pretty well laid out there. Feel free to send and e-mail to me or to any of the past Challengers, though BeaV is the real authority and can best answer.

Dex 8425 My opinion, as just another competitor, would be to do the Voyageurs
Challenge. Reserve a Little Indian Sioux North permit ( there are still 5 available ) As BeaV stated, the permits for EP 12 are gone for Sat. and Sun. This would allow you ( I think ) to share the Crane Lake shuttle, and to travel at your own pace. It sounds like this is right up your alley, you'll love it.

Muddy Feet, it'll be good to see you again ( as you are passing us by, after spotting us a day or 2 head start) I hope your experimental craft turns out, I'm anxious to see it. Maybe we can swap canoes at Superior ( if I get there early enough). You can paddle my Blackwater, if you haven't paddled one by then.

dex8425: " -which group should we register under? Do we have to travel with the group or are we free to go our own pace once we reach the BWCA?"

I discussed "the options" on my 4/22 post above for people still wanting to join in the fun. As far as joining an existing group....well, you'd have to be invited to join by a group or individual. I don't know if anyone is looking for people to join their group or not. Joining a group is not required but I mentioned it on 4/22 because of Entry Permit limitations. As Voyager stated, if you and your wife want to travel on your own, entering at Indian Sioux North is a good option or starting at Moose Lake.

If you did find a group with compatible travel goals to join, you would have to stay together while in the BWCA, because of the Wilderness rules that require all members to camp together.

I hope I answered the questions you had.

Any reason we could not take the Dawson portage? I think that would save a few hours.

MagicPaddler: "Any reason we could not take the Dawson portage? I think that would save a few hours. "

No one has in the past and the question has not been addressed by WaterTribe.

If allowed....

This would be entering Canada and would require obtaining a RABC permit, obtaining a "From Canada" Entry Permit, and presenting oneself to US Customs after reentering the USA.

MagicPaddler: "Any reason we could not take the Dawson portage? I think that would save a few hours. "

I like the thinking that has come to this question, MP...

I’ve looked at this a fair amount, and think that the 4-mile portage while heavily loaded at the beginning of the trip would take more time and effort than paddling around the loon river with the two small portages into Lacroix.

What is equally interesting is the option of (instead of paddling Lacroix) to portage small lakes loon>hustler>oyster>Agnes, etc. My calculating has time on both routes as a wash, but you’d need to be awfully efficient at portaging! Maybe something to think about as you are crossing loon lake with a huge NE wind, though.....!

BeaV: "

MagicPaddler: "Any reason we could not take the Dawson portage? I think that would save a few hours. "

No one has in the past and the question has not been addressed by WaterTribe.

If allowed....

This would be entering Canada and would require obtaining a RABC permit, obtaining a "From Canada" Entry Permit, and presenting oneself to US Customs after reentering the USA."

Here's the WaterTribe response on use of the Dawson- It is not an option for the Voyageur's and an allowed option for the Kruger's. Reasoning because....

-The Dawson Portage did not exist(was not used) by the Voyageurs and therefore would not be in the "spirit" of the Voyageurs Challenge.

-Verlen Kruger and Clint Waddell took the Dawson Portage during their record-setting challenge in 1968. Therefore, this route option would be appropriate for those doing the Kruger/Waddell Challenge.

Looking forward to watching the September challenges! Unfortunately I'll be sitting this one out, but it will be fun to be a spectator this time. How are all the preparations and training coming along?

Kelso: "Looking forward to watching the September challenges! Unfortunately I'll be sitting this one out, but it will be fun to be a spectator this time. How are all the preparations and training coming along?"

I think the Challengers are all doing training on their own. I get comments now and then but mostly seems to be paddling weekends and personal trips. I have had your friend Ryan for the U of M Tesla Lab do a new spread sheet for me to use in tracking Challengers, document their progress and it will do all the math for me. I just picked up this year's batch of cleaned, polished and drilled bear claws for the award necklaces and the hair pipe bone beads have arrived. Reservations have been made for the Casino and we are all on track to be ready! You will be missed. Hope you are doing well in your new home!

I have developed some habits that I need to change for this challenge. On my normal solo I travel for about 6 hours than find a camp. By the time I set up camp I am beat. I eat my lunch and within a few minutes I am ready to go. It had been 7- 8 hours between meals. I can see as mentioned above eat on the go meals would not only eliminate the time lost in eating but keep my energy up. I have about 200 miles of canoe travel in so far this summer but no long days. It has been with a much heavier loaded canoe than I will have on the challenge. I am satisfied with my speed but need to more than double the hours in each day.
How much water do you start the grand portage with?

Kelso: "Looking forward to watching the September challenges! Unfortunately I'll be sitting this one out, but it will be fun to be a spectator this time. How are all the preparations and training coming along?"

You might find it hard just "watching" this time around.

I'm hoping my team members will be ready, in whatever way they can train. My team will be a group of 8 or 9 and we are scattered around the country- Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Pennsylvania, and Florida. So getting together beforehand as a team to train isn't possible. We will all meet up the night before and then find out how ready we are when the Challenge starts the next day. Looking forward to the fun once again!

MagicPaddler: "How much water do you start the grand portage with?
"

I just bring one pint and ration that out, drinking most of it before I get near the end.

If a person needed more water, there may be opportunities to filter along the way. At 2 miles down the trail, there is the swampy beaver pond. Then there are a couple of gullies that may have a tiny creek flowing if it rained recently. Or they could be dry. None of the water ever looked very appealing to me. I just keep on walking and looking forward to rehydrating at Grand Portage. You know you can go about 3 days without water before you die? :)

BeaV: I just keep on walking and looking forward to rehydrating at Grand Portage. You know you can go about 3 days without water before you die? :)

If you don't want to die of dehydration like BeaV, a reasonable rule of thumb is 1 liter for every 4-5 miles of strenuous hiking. :D

If I'm reading it right you travel in a group because of permit restraints. If that's correct how do you choose which group? I assume it's based on how far you plan to paddle each day because you'll have to camp with the person with the permit. I'm seriously considering this for the following year.

Blatz, some travel alone and some group up. There are no requirements for the challenges about grouping up, although BeaV's larger groups are very admirable. He turns it into an awesome team effort, setting tough goals but ensuring that all are working together and no one falls behind. Check out his trip report from last fall - it's pretty cool to get a glimpse of Team BeaV's high-spirited dynamic.

I guess what I'm asking is not everybody can get a permit for the EP on that day. So don't you have to travel and camp with a permit holder.

Blatz: "I guess what I'm asking is not everybody can get a permit for the EP on that day. So don't you have to travel and camp with a permit holder."

Yes BWCA rules are that you need to camp with a permit holder. Everyone on the permit must stay together. There are not as many permits as people who want to participate. I think some are starting a day early or a day late. The event starts for you when you push your SPOT OK button at the start.

I would suggest looking over the Water Tribe website. There is lots of Challenge information there. BeaV has put out a "Primer" to get you started.
watertribe.com