Photo by Erik Simula Erik Simula near Hovland on the first leg of his 1,000-mile canoe journey.
The web blog detailing Hovland resident Erik Simula’s 1,000-mile birch bark canoe journey had an appropriate entry on May 12: It’s really not an adventure if everything goes well. Simula made news in Duluth when his trek from the Pigeon River in Grand Portage, along the North Shore to Duluth and ultimately along the Old Northwest Trail to Grand Rapids, was interrupted by a rescue by the U.S. Coast Guard in Duluth. Despite a spray skirt, the waves that hit Simula’s canoe as he entered the Duluth High Bridge canal partially swamped his birch bark vessel. Bystanders called the US Coast Guard, which responded quickly, helping Simula and his dog, Kitigan, up a pier ladder. Coast Guard personnel in a motorized raft towed the canoe to the Coast Guard station.
According to Sue McCloughan of Bearskin Lodge who is writing about Simula’s trip on her web blog, despite a dire report in the Duluth News-Tribune, Simula maintains that he could have “self-rescued,” but accepted help. Both he and Kitigan are doing fine.
Reporting to the web blog himself, Simula wrote, “Most of my gear stayed dry inside the plastic pack liners and I didn’t lose anything. It’s good to be off Lake Superior safely. The people responding to my aid were very helpful and I appreciate their help.”
Simula spent some time at the Park Point home of North Shore author Andrew Slade, and after a visit over hot coffee and a change into dry clothes, he set off again.
Simula is now heading up the St. Louis River to the Mississippi River, hoping to arrive in time to attend his daughter Anna’s high school graduation in Grand Rapids. After that he will travel to the Canadian border via Lake Winnibigoshish, Bowstring Lake, and the Bigfork River. He will follow the border through International Falls, Voyageur’s National Park, Quetico Provincial Park, and the Boundary Waters, ending up back on the Pigeon River.
Simula plans to finish his trip like the voyageurs of old, at the Grand Portage Rendezvous on August 7.
Follow his journey at arrowheadjourney. wordpress.com/.
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