The Voyageur Hudson Bay Expedition Crew returned to Minnesota Sunday after a 1,300-mile journey that included a portion of Voyageurs National Park.
Andrew Spaeth, Adam Maxwell, Will Turner and Mike Swenson traveled from Lake Superior to Hudson Bay, more than 1,300 miles, on their 77-day adventure, which began in late May. They paddled and portaged the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and Quetico Provincial Park, through Voyageurs National Park and Lake of the Woods, then up to Lake Winnipeg and north on the rivers flowing to Hudson Bay.
The expedition celebrated the 50th anniversary of Voyageur Canoe Outfitters in Grand Marais, one of the main supporters of the journey.
“This expedition tied in really nice with the anniversary,” said Voyageur Canoe Outfitters owner Mike Prom.
The crew left Voyageur Canoe Outfitters May 23, and after paddling and portaging their way from Lake Superior to Hudson Bay they are back at the canoe outfitters to celebrate what they called “the trip of a lifetime.”
“It is great to have them home,” Prom told The Journal.
Over the course of the journey, the group saw moose, deer, caribou, seals and a polar bear. They caught their fill of northern pike, brook trout, walleye and other game fish over the many days spent paddling. They paddled rushing rapids, tranquil lakes and portaged some of the same routes of the early voyagers.
A news release said the crew returned from their expedition as men with a stronger passion and appreciation of the wild waterways that flow north to Hudson Bay.
The group came through International Falls in June and told The Journal they were enjoying their journey so far, and didn’t mind eating trail mix and freeze dried foods for dinner.
Prom said they all agreed they would probably never eat trail mix again.
On Aug. 8, the group reached York Factory, a former settlement and trading post located on the southwestern shore of Hudson Bay in northeastern Manitoba. From there, they boarded a float plane and then a train to Winnipeg where friends transported them back to Voyageur Canoe Outfitters.
The crew celebrated their trip Monday and Prom said about 100 people came to congratulate the men.
“People were able to ask them questions about their trip through a Q&A session. The guys also drew names and acted out the other crew members,” Prom said.
The group was happy to be back in their home state, but are already back out in the wilderness, he said
“A few of the guys went up to the Boundary Waters on vacation with their families,” Prom said with a laugh. “They got a couple of nights in a bed and now they’re back sleeping on the ground.”
