Itinerary Update

We decided with such great weather to leave early.... just kidding! So really, weather permitting we intend to leave tomorrow 7/1/2008 - the only change we have made is to kick off from Bayfield. All our gear ,boats and ducks seemed to all be in a row up there so the logistics work quite smooth... We plan to depart from the beach behind the Cooperage building between 9:30 -10:00 a.m. so if you're in the area feel free to stop by and lift a sea kayak or two-free of charge! but really if you are around, drop on by and say hey...


Just a random shot from an earlier training run to Red Cliff Point...

Down to the Wire

Alissa's magical packing skills turned the food drop boxes into a work of art and science...


Me getting distracted by some left over Mexican cuisine




Day before departure our world turns into a malstrom of intensity. Gear, bags, more bags, gear, a boat you know all that fun stuff to pack on up and make work for your during the next two months...

Education Station

Recently we had the opportunity to share some Lake Superior trivia and factoids with our friends at the Bad River Boys and Girls Club. We covered size of the lake, imporant things to think about, and most important some cool stuff about the kayaks. The students hope to follow along by checking the blog, cleaning up on Lake Superior day and pledging an hour of hiking for every day we are on the lake...









At some point I had to explain that sometimes when you are paddling on the big lake, the conditions can drive you a little batty... For that reason we have students spin around the paddle a few times to simulate that life-like ambiance of scattered mind syndrom before one gets on the water...

Fueling on Fuel

Food, food, food, gotta have it.





Initial stages arrive and we get acquainted with the goodies.... Divide it up so there are equal opportunity drop boxes and hope all the chaos pays off...




Fascinating...


Alissa being stoked as all get out, making sure the goods are here to sustain the caloric cause while paddling around the big lake.

Boat Work

With every journey it seems as though there is some form of pre travel manual labor... Through out the previous few weeks we've been at it, fixing, glassing and making dern sure the boats float.








Juneau our malamute friend making sure the perimeter is secure from squirels, bears and other sources of shiny things while we work.

Intro to the Session

As nomadic outdoor educators we feel it is important to instill a mission to our travels and outreach. The following posts essentially detail the, who, what, where, when, and why of our journey this summer.

Mission

With our Session on Superior we aim to travel around the Lake with minimal to no impact while promoting conservation; thus blending exploration with awareness, we intend to bring forth the issues needed to protect the Lake Superior region.

Through our years in the North Country we have come to appreciate Lake Superior as one of the largest fresh water resources in the world. With enough volume to contain the lower four great lakes within its’ boundaries, it is certain this resource will be heavily sought after in our near future. The Session on Superior expedition aims to shed light on current threats to the lake and its’ watershed. Through articles and photo essays etc., we hope to provide a positive impact on local communities and the regions this affects.

What's Really Going On?

During the months of July and August 2008, Alissa Weitz and Brian Castillo will commence a 1,300-mile kayaking expedition around the shores of Lake Superior, dubbed 'Session on Superior'. Their session, (or Seshwhan if you annunciate like Brian) is slated to take roughly eight weeks assuming the weather cooperates with their travels. They will be carrying all their goodies including camping gear, rescue and photographic equiptment, poetry, repair kit, and positive energy within the hatches of their mighty sea going vessels. They will travel with seven to ten days worth of food and resupply roughly every seven days through food drops along their route.

As outdoor educators they intend to make their mentors proud via demonstrating proper prior planning will produce a purly phun product. That and they actually have a solid menu planned out so they are not eating Snickers bars everyday. Both Brian and Alissa understand that an expedition of thie nature can be very influencial on a personal level, while also presenting an immense opportunity to share the beauties and importance on one of the most important bodies of water in the world. They plan to travel with minimal to no impact while educating people about the importance of this 'Greatest' Lake. Alissa and Brian are excited to work with Clean Wisconsin who has provided an empowering amount of information regarding the Great Lakes Compact, restoration and conservation issues revolving around Lake Superior as well as the Great Lakes.

Through their seasons of kayak guiding they are well aware that burly winds and wild waves can rapidly turn tranquil travel into an awe- inspiring display of natural force (literally!) With that understanding they will do their best to document their journey from the safety of local hotels and B&Bs... Just kidding, rather they will be doing what they can to best document their journey through the use of still photography, video and written accounts (RIGHT HERE) of the vivacious scenery and luxurious locations they encounter. Modern technology has outsmarted each of these adventurers on more than one occasion, but inspite of technological uncertainties they plan to keep the outside world informed about their travels (and where cookies+haikus can be sent) through this here WEB LOG...

When this is going down...

Tentative Itinerary

July 1-5 Ashland, Wisconsin to FJ McLain State Park, Michigan
July 6-10 FJ McLain State Park, Michigan to Baraga, Michigan
July 11-17 Baraga, Michigan to Marquette, Michigan
July 20-24 Marquette, Michigan to Grand Marais, Michigan
July 25-29 Grand Marais, Michigan to Agawa River, Ontario
July 30- August 3 Agawa River, Ontario to Michipicoten, Ontario
August 4-8 Ontario to Michipicoten, Ontario to Marathon, Ontario
August 9-13 Marathon, Ontario to Mt. Saint Ignace, Ontario
**August 14-18 Mt. Saint Ignace, Ontario to Pigeon Point, Minnesota
August 19-23 Pigeon Point, Minnesota to Castle Danger, Minnesota
August 24-28 Castle Danger, Minnesota to West Side of Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, WIsconsin
August 29-September 3 Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Wisconsin to Ashland, Wisconsin

*Dates and Locations are subject to change due to weather conditions, camping permits and community events which may be integrated into the itinerary

**This stretch may incur some additional days due to the glorious vow exchanges of two dear friends. (WAY TO GO CO-UNION OF CRAIGLAND and SCHAEFERNATION!!!)

Meet dem Paddlers rd i

Alissa Weitz hails from Dubuque Iowa and grew up paddling the Big Muddy (Mississippi River). She has held an ambivalent appreciation for the outdoors and never seemed to mind the ‘corn husking’ slander. Through her youth she traveled near and far with family and friends exploring the wilds nature had to offer. Canoeing became her means of exploration in the waterways around southern Wisconsin, and the Midwest. Somewhere along the line she was drawn to Northland College where she graduated with a degree in Outdoor Education (with an emphasis in adventure education). After her sophomore year in college she was dared by some friends to become a sea kayak guide, one season on Lake Superior lead to another and she has been calling the south shore ‘home’ for the past seven summers. Alissa’s passion for teaching and outdoor adventure have lead her to work with various environmental programs in the North Country and share her knowledge of local flora, fauna and geology. She has taught under the British Canoe Union for several years as well with a local company in Bayfield. Somewhere between summer adventures and travels in the Quetico she shared her ambition to paddle around the lake. As seasons changed and dreams were put into action she and Brian will head out this summer to enjoy a truly superior experience.

Meet dem Paddlers rd ii

Brian Castillo was reared in the Madcity, (Madison, Wisconsin); which for some reason doesn’t surprise most people. That city of five lakes has fed his fascination by water, whether it swell the rivers in the spring, or dump loads of snow in the winter. Little did he know one innocent day on vacation in Door County, Wisconsin, his parents would shove him off in a rental kayak and create a turning point in his pre-adolescent life. Kayaking has become a means of self- expression and geographical exploration for him. Over the years he’s paddled with world champion white water kayakers and learned from some of the top coaches who spend their days on the sea. Under the guidance of the American Canoe Association he has enjoyed sharing kayaking with people of all ages for several programs. His travels and instructional exploits have taken him to Alaska, Canada, the East Coast, all over the Midwest and most recently Mexico. Brian attended Northland College, in Ashland Wisconsin, where he received a degree in Outdoor Education (with and emphasis in therapeutic and universal design) and a deeper appreciation for Lake Superior. This summer he is taking a break from guiding to circumnavigate the lake, educating communities about clean water and the importance of that iconic body of water.