Another Jim Kurz Adventure

Wondering where Jim is? Now you can find him!. Every night (when possible) he checks in with his SPOT GPS locator, and that location is automatically added to the map. To see recent stopping points, follow the map link, then when that graphic appears, click on the sailboat graphic and Jim's route will appear.

I am making progress on processing pictures from Jim's digital camera. Go ahead and check out the photo gallery from May, 2008. Some of them will need futher explanation from Jim upon his return, others you can make out some wildlife or picturesque scenery. I see bears, turtles, cranes (I think) and other larger beasts. Please enjoy!

UPDATE AS OF TUESDAY, AUGUST 5
I have received another update from the Ignace area. Jim sought out Dennis Smyk, the Editor and Publisher of Ignace's community newspaper, Ignace Driftwood, because of his knowledge of area waterways. There will be a piece about Jim in that local paper this week, which Dennis included in his message:

Last week, I met a grizzled tourist passing through Ignace. Unlike all others, he wasnąt driving, riding a horse or walking along the highway, travelling by rail or flying; he was canoeing!

Jim Kurz has been on the "road" for three months, starting his trek in Wisconsin and reaching as far north as Lake St. Joseph.

In our brief time together, Jim, on his way north, described finding his way from Lac des Mille Lacs to English River, which included a four mile portage! Nearing Ignace, he encountered a couple of carries not nearly as long but long enough at Barrel Falls and between Indian and Sandbar Lakes. The "portage" from Sandbar to Ignace was made in a taxi...

UPDATE AS OF MONDAY, AUGUST 4
We have an update from the Whatleys who saw Jim recently near Ignace, Ontario. They were fishing Barrel Falls on the Agimak River and noticed Jim in the distance. Notes from Thomas W.: "The spot is very secluded and we were at the very bottom of a farely big set of rapids. We talked in excess with (Jim) about his amazing journey and have all been talking about how great it was being able to run into him. He's doing great, we had sandwiches with him and sent him along with fruit and water that was in our cooler. We offered him a beer, yet he told us he was a soda man."

Jim did a portage up the side of the river to get to calmer waters at the top. "We were lucky enough to help him as much as he let us and (he) even let me and my friends paddle with him through some rapids to check the top of the falls. He is and amazing guy who is on an amazing adventure," Thomas continued.

Thanks to Thomas, Shannon, Gloria, Brian and Laura for the update! photos added 8/10

UPDATE AS OF THURSDAY, JULY 17
Jim appeared on Churchill Lake, Ontario, when he portaged in from Rapheal Lake, Ontario. Bill Chervenak from St. Paul, Minn., was out fishing when he passed by. He and his group gave Jim a can of beans and some night crawlers for bait, and a nice walleye for supper.

Thanks Bill for the update, and for sharing your food with him!

UPDATE AS OF THURSDAY, JULY 10
Jim was at Lake Kimmewin near Sioux Lookout, Ontario, with new friends, and fellow Wisconsinites, Mary J., Millard J. and Kale J., John R. and Darley C. This group had just gotten back from their own three-day canoe trip on the same waters Jim was headed toward. After sharing some maps and tales from the water, they treated the hairy traveller to some pie and other food. Jim continues to report bad bugs, "one of the worst seasons I’ve experienced up there for them" says Mary J.

When last seen, Jim was catching a walleye on the Marchington River. Please enjoy some pictures submitted by Mary and her sister Darley in a new photo gallery.

UPDATE AS OF TUESDAY JUNE 24
Talked to Jim, and indeed he has met up with friendly people in English River. He seemed to be doing well, with the possible exception of the mosquitoes, black flies, deer flies, horse flies, and some fearsome creature he described as 'like a horsefly but bigger and meaner'. He said his plan is to head north toward Lake Saint Joseph, and then return passing through English River again in a month or so. Obviously, they must have treated him well! He thought he'd probably be out of phone contact until then, although the updates to the map should continue.

UPDATE AS OF MONDAY JUNE 23
Haven't heard from Jim lately, but according to the GPS locations he's been sending he just made it to the town of English River, Ontario. Check out the map for more details.

UPDATE AS OF MONDAY JUNE 9
Jim is near Atikokan and the Quetico Provincial Park. When he called on Monday, he was sharing a meal with new friends at a restaurant. He found transporation to get to ??? Lake on his way to Lac des Mille Lacs. His plan is to get to the Seine River then on to the English River and continue North.

He says he had a good time in Quetico Provincial Park, though the weather could have been better. Like the Jim Kurz adventures we may be more familiar with, he has suffered a broken a tent pole- since repaired, and a rain jacket that doesn't repel rain.

He had been catching fish: northern, walleye, bass, and a couple of lake trout. He hopes to catch more walleye soon. We will be using his SPOT to capture latitude and longitude updates which will be posted on this page soon.

UPDATE AS OF SUNDAY MAY 25
Travelling the toward the Kawishiwi River, Jim took on water in a rapids. He wisely chose a 3 hour portage around a rapids, completing six trips of his then-dry belongings. He chose to run the rapids at the next opportunity- and then proceeded to bale out the canoe for 30 minutes.

Jim reached Ely, MN, with a pit stop at the Silver Rapids Lodge for pizza and a cherry coke. Some folks have even recognized him from the write up in the Duluth newspaper last week.

UPDATE AS OF SUNDAY MAY 18
Departing on Wednesday, May 7 from his backyard on the Flambeau River in Ladysmith, Wisconsin, Jim is on a trek into Canada. Making his way through Trego, Wisc., where he stopped for a Subway sandwich, he seems to be on target to make his entrance date into the boundary waters.

I will need to review my notes between Trego and the most recent updates from this past weekend, a gap of nearly a week.

Over the weekend, Jim stayed overnight with friend Tom Lee, and continued on through a fierce wind on Saturday, May 17 where he lost a hat and a milk jug. More paddling, even three hours in the wrong direction, led him to the top of the St. Croix River to Solon Spring, Wisc. on Sunday, May 18, where among the swampy wetlands he found a dry spot to spend the night.

With help from Brian of Brule Canoe Rentals he made it to North Duluth on Monday, May 19. He has continued into Two Harbors, Minn. on Tuesday, May 20, with some re-fueling assistance by Kathy & Dale Dodge of Dodge's Lodges. How did Kathy know about Jim's fondness for brownies and milk?

With initial coverage of his departure in the Ladsmith News published Thursday, May 15, 2008, he was interviewed by some folks of the Duluth News Tribune on Tuesday. Unlike his previous canoe voyage West to Montana, we may see more about accepting the occasional ride instead of long portages and hear more about the occasional pop being consumed as well as the dried foods he packed for his travels.



For additional updates, you can try listening to the answering machine recording at Sisters' Farm: 715-532-7246.

If you have an update on Jim's where abouts or would like to contribute or correct the details here, please send e-mail to me (Jim's daughter Polly) at polly_kurz@yahoo.com.



Sisters Farm Dried Foods will re-open for business upon Jim's return to Wisconsin, thank you for your interest.