River Domination

Day 9 was the first day we set an alarm, we were determined to make some miles.

7:30 couldn't have come sooner, as Crazy James' Point was the least hospitable campsite thus far. Clouds of mosquitos offered free acupuncture and the overnight downpour left our gear more than damp.

We entered the river without cleaning or organizing anything in the boat (a big no-no in my book). There was no other choice though; as one can only inhale so many mosquitos while trying to do the dishes. On the river 5 minutes behind schedule, I'd say we were doing pretty well.

Got a great jump on the day. We made progress while preparing the gear for travel on the river rather than land.

Our first leg yielded 27 miles with a few stops to refuel and rehydrate.

We decided to push ourselves and paddle another 17 miles downriver to the Pokegama Lake Area Dam, cruising in as the sun dipped.

We met Trinity and Jessica at the campground, and they offered us a ride to restock our food. Clutch!

It seems that morale level directly correlates to food availability; especially during the long hauls.

Sure the Dam had great people, campsites, and stars, but it held one more great treasure, showers.

A bar of soap and a dip in the river will only get a man so clean. So we spent some much needed time scrubbing and buffing ourselves up to par.

Jane and I slept in on Day 10 to catch up on our beauty sleep.

Video Log Announcement

Today kicks off our first video log. These are going to be short, low production videos, that give you a flavor of what your adventurers are experiencing.

Links to videos are posted on our twitter feed which is located on the right side of the blog.

Good buds

While traversing Winnie, We met some anglers along the way. One pair of guys offered us a walleye and a perch. Another gave us a bag of ice to keep our fish fresh.

We just ate those fish over a Craig-made fire, and they were incredible, a huge burst of energy/confidence.

Lake Winnibigoshish History

We feel that history and tradition play a large role in communities.

Speaking to locals has been great, but we have begun to realize how much the Indian tribes that resided here in the past have lost.

From our map:

The U.S. Congress authorized construction of the dam regulating the level of Lake Winnie in 1881 on lands it had already granted to the Ojibwe people of Minnesota.

"No white man knows of the damage that will be done to us," Sturgeon Man, a Lake Winnie resident, told a government commission appointed to address the problem.

"Every year what supports us grows in this place. If the dam is built, we will all be scattered, we will have nothing to live on."

The dam was built and compensation was provided to Sturgeon Man's ancestors 104 years later, in 1985.

The dam elevated water levels about eight feet, wiping out cemeteries, villages, shoreline crops and plants.

Today, the Leech Lake Indian
Reservation's fish hatchery is located near the dam site.

Lake Winnibigoshish Conquered

The weather cleared up nicely for us this morning. Lake Winnibigoshish was no problem, Luke and Jane eventually went for a dip.

Just cleared the Lake Winnie Dam.

Time to get out of the sun for a bit an let our phones recharge.

Start of Week 2

Paddling across Lake Winnibigoshish today as the weather has cleared.

Hoping to make up some lost time and paddle a ways downriver late today.

Phone batteries on the verge of death. Hoping to charge them at the Winnie Dam area.

Pit Stop

Dangerous weather is keeping us from crossing our next obstacle. Need it to clear by 6:30 to make it across Lake Winnibigoshish.

If it doesn't clear up tonight, forecast calls for slow winds tomorrow morning.

Phones almost dead, will update ASAP.