Dave and Amy Freeman will be setting off on another adventure soon, paddling from Ely to Washington, D.C. The trek will take 100 days and along the way they will talk to people about their concerns regarding non-ferrous metals (sulfide) mining. They will also be collecting signatures like the ones already covering their canoe and paddles.
While they are no strangers to long, back country canoe and dogsled trips, outdoor instructors and nature lovers Dave and Amy Freeman are taking this next 2,000-mile sail and paddle personally.
The 2014 National Geographic Adventurers of the Year, the Freemans will soon travel from Ely to Washington, D.C., a journey of 2,000 miles that will take 100 days, hoping to stop along the way and inform people about the dangers nonferrous metals (sulfide mining) may pose to the water, fish, animals and plant life.
Dave is the executive director of The Wilderness Classroom, an online classroom he and his friend Eric Frost started in 2001 as a way to teach students about the outdoors.
To date, the Freemans have traveled 11,647 miles by canoe, dogsled, and on foot, educating 85,000 students along the way.
Amy, who holds a master’s degree in art therapy, is as integral to the couple’s adventures and outdoor classroom as her husband.
“We will leave Ely August 24 and arrive in Grand Marais September 2 and take part in a Clean Water Celebration at Sydney’s Frozen Custard from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.,” said Amy.
Once they leave Grand Marais, the Freemans will sail to Duluth, then along the south shore of Lake Superior into Lake Huron. From there they will switch back to canoe and paddle the Killarney River, following a Voyageur route that will lead them to the St. Lawrence River to Montreal, then gaining access to Lake Champlain, the Hudson River, and travel a series of smaller rivers to reach the Potomac River and Washington, D.C.
In Washington the Freemans will submit a petition with signatures of people that they met on their journey who are also opposed to mining projects in northern Minnesota.
“Our first taste of learning about issues through a trip like this was when we assisted Frank Moe on his Sled Dogs to St. Paul.
“This concept of doing an expedition to raise concerns about issues was new to us, but we decided this would be the best way for us to get our concerns out to people about the dangers of sulfide mining,” said Amy.
“We are traveling by water from Ely to Washington, D.C. to tell our story to everyone who will listen,” said Dave Freeman. “Our jobs and our way of life are at risk and we are fighting back the only way we know how. Please join us when we sail through Grand Marais, sign the petition, learn more about sulfide mining and eat some tasty pizza,” said Dave.
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