Trips

Kristina Leidums successfully paddled across Canada this summer after slight changes to her original plan.

The purpose of Kristina's expedition was to spend 60 days following the historic Voyageur canoe route from Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, to Lake Superior, Minnesota.

The 3000 km route travelled along the North Saskatchewan River to the Pas, Manitoba and through Cedar Lake, down Lake Winnipeg, up the Winnipeg River and through the chain of lakes and rivers along the Canada-US border.  The final stretch out to Lake Superior was via the Pigeon River.

After 10 days into her trip Kristina's original trip partner and co-planner Angela found that a back injury from the previous winter would prevent her from continuing on with the journey.

Kristina decided to continue on with the journey on her own and put a call out for someone to join her for the rest.

After paddling for herself for a bit she was joined by other paddling friends to help complete the journey.

Kristina's friend Erich met up with her in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. According to Kristina that stretch was physically intense month, paddling about 500 km non-stop from Great Falls, on the Winnipeg River, to Fort Frances.

They finished the North Saskatchewan, tackled the winds of Tobin Lake and dealt with the bugs and marshy delta of Manitoba. Once they reached the Pas they hopped on a train to Winnipeg, and then traveled upstream on the Winnipeg River. 

Kristina was thankful for Erich's water-reading ability and whitewater skills, allowing them to use eddies, river features, slow current lines and slack water to their advantage. After portageing all of the dams on the Winnipeg River system and experiencing glassy, perfect waters on Lake of the Woods, they barely escaped the wrath of U.S. border guards in International Falls and ended up at the home of a crazy "bear man" in Emo. After Fort Frances Kristina was sad to see Erich go, but was excited to finish the trip with her boyfriend Karl.

This was Karl's first canoe trip and was thrown right into the full experience. After putting in on Rainy Lake they experienced beautiful weather right up until the last two days. Following the chain of lakes and rivers along the International Border they paddled through the Quetico/Boundary Waters area and beyond. Being a low water year they tackled the nearly dry Pigeon River and whipped off the historic Grand Portage in 1.5 days (doing double-carries with heavy, wet gear).

Emerging from the bush after all that hiking to a sunny, calm, ocean-like Lake Superior it was emotional and bittersweet. The ending to a perfect summer.

For more information on the expedition check out Kristina's website and blog for more details from her trip.