Tessa Larson and her dog Avery are part of a group of canoeists spending most of their summer paddling and portaging to Hudson Bay. The group of four women—all former employees of Wilderness Canoe Base—are using the trip to raise funds for the camp.
“After a full day of being wind bound, we decided to night paddle to ring in the solstice! The moon lit our path along the glassy water,” wrote Tessa Larson on her journey4renewal blog.
Larson posted her blog on June 21. She and three friends, Chelsea Froemke, Stephanie Branchaud, and Whitney Vogel, all of whom have worked as wilderness guides at Wilderness Canoe Base, are on an adventure of a lifetime as they paddle and portage their way to Hudson Bay this summer. But adventure is secondary to their main cause, which is to raise funds for the camp so it can purchase Fishook Island, Dominion Island and the Cove.
At least the night offered smooth sailing. The first 10 days the women experienced 50 mile per hour winds, hail, and rain. Slowed but undeterred, they made progress when they could catch a break in the weather.
According to Tessa’s father Bob, who blogged about the team’s voyage, while holed up to pass the time they played thumb wars, did mind melding games and sang.
Tessa’s parents met the group after they crossed Rainy Lake and they gave them their first, and largest re-supply drop.
The foursome has completed the first leg of their six-leg journey. They began on Seagull Lake on May 29 paddling across six lakes to International Falls, a distance of 193 miles. From there they will paddle 160 miles on Rainy River and Lake of the Woods to Kenora, then take the Winnipeg River, Lac Du Bonnet River and Winnipeg River again to Pine Falls, covering 157 miles on that leg. From Pine Falls they will paddle Winnipeg River, Lake Winnipeg, and Evergreen Lake to Norway House, a distance of 260 miles.
The last two legs the women will face some of their toughest canoeing/portaging when they traverse God’s River and God’s Lake and the famous Hayes River, ending at York’s Factory, covering 500 miles of wilderness.
Joining them on their voyage is Tessa’s dog Avery, who is sponsored by Ruffwear Performance Dog Gear.
Avery, a black lab, is not only there to keep bears away, she is also along to provide company and looks sporting in her Ruffwear yellow life jacket and red pack that allows her to help carry gear on portages.
A device called DeLorme inReach allows the crew to occasionally post updates about their progress, and it can be used to track the women.
To keep electronic devices powered the ladies have brought a solar charger from PowerFilm Solar. It’s a long thin sheet with solar cells that can be unfolded and placed in a sunny spot so it can make electricity.
Along the way the travelers will make artwork to process the adventure. Larson is an art therapist who is passionate about using art to create a deeper meaning and understanding about wilderness experiences.
Bill and Cindy Hansen of Sawbill Canoe Outfitters donated two Rolex canoes and a tent for them to use on their adventure. Sanborn Canoe Company donated custom canoe paddles.
If you want to donate to Wilderness Canoe Base or keep up on the expedition to Hudson Bay, visit journey4renewal.org.
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