Post date: May 25, 2009 6:43:12 PM
Will he make it to the Gun Flint Lodge today? It looks along way to me. We got two spot checks today 6:51 AM and 12:05 PM. He's never checked in as early as 6:51 AM before I woulnder how much sleep he got with the rain and if he was just wet and frustrated and got up and hit the trail early today. He thought he could reach the Gun Flint Lodge late tonight or tomorrow. Also I'm woundering how he is doing on food. He was carring a fourday suppliy of food and oil for the camp stove with him. Today is the fourth day and I don't think he's going to make it to the lodge. The first day of hiking he ate breakfast before he left so that saved him a hiking meal. He also ate dinner with the trail crew two nights ago, I don't know if he ate their food or his but that might of saved him a meal. I think as long as he can make it to the lodge by supper on Tuesday he should be ok. It's suppose to rain tonight and Tuesday so hopefully he can put a lot of miles in and make it to the lodge and take a break. Carol
Email from Greg Mackler
I updated the Google map with these latest waypoints. On the Google map of Todd's Kekakabic trip you can click on the different waypoints and get information about them. Some of them just have the coordinates and such, while others have more detailed anecdotal information. Clicking on the 'On the Trail' waypoints will describe how much progress Todd has made that day, or for that leg of the journey. Its kind of fun to compare your day to Todd's. I haven't gotten anything done so far today, but Todd has carried a heavy backpack almost three and half miles across the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area so far.
I think there is a link to access the map for Todd's Kekakabic trip on his main web page:
http://sites.google.com/site/isawtman/Home
Looking forward to seeing some pictures when Todd mails his memory cards from the Gunflint Lodge.
Todd you missed Bratfest!
Go Todd!
Greg has added a distance to Gunflint Lodge link on the map . The map is on tmans web site under the home section.
Based on Todd's last 'OK' message he has to go about 13.05 miles to the Gunflint Lodge. That's as the crow flies, so his actual mileage will be slightly more...
Todd's decision to go with the ultralight floorless tent will become relevant tonight if it rains heavily. Everything in backpacking is a compromise of weight, comfort, and performance. Todd's single pole tent is very sophisticated, and if properly guyed out should keep him dry. The only concern is if the ground is too hard (rocky) to get his guy lines in considering that the tent is NOT freestanding. Neither does it have a floor. Todd will know to set up camp early to make sure he sets up tent over dry ground. Looking forward to getting a good evaluation of his new tent after a good rainstorm from Todd, to see if he still loves it. I've used a single pole tent that was floorless in the Smoky Mountain National Park, and we stayed dry through some downpours.