Lake of the Woods Kiting Challenge March 8th - 15th

Bryce · Post by **Bryce** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 10:51 pm

Interested in winter camping and expedition kiting?

I am looking for 1-5 people for a trip from 3 to 8 days

There are a few options for a trip.
1. Warroad to Kenora. 75 Miles
2. Warroad to Kenora and back. 150 miles
3. Warroad to the Oak Island in the Northwest Angle and back. 70 miles

The mileage is based on if you have decent wind.

Lake of the Woods Map

Give me a call at 701.361.3999
Or an email at sieg01@gmail.com

DavidKnight · Post by **DavidKnight** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 6:19 am

Bryce,

I might be interested. I'm heading out to Yellowstone on Monday for 2 weeks of backcountry skiing/igloo camping. I'll be well-primed for some late season lake style camping/crossing. I have one of Pulky Ed's pulks and tow systems... check 'em out here. They are the cat's meow.

http://skipulk.com/

We could also build a few of these...

http://www.grandshelters.com

I come back from Yellowstone 2/27.

Tighe · Post by **Tighe** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 9:37 am

I'm interested though not sure if I can make those dates. Will look into it. Sounds fun.

Dave, we found on the last trip that we took that the single pulk tended to roll over a lot. A lot of explorers including, Will Steger and Sarah McNair Laundry are now using two pulks side by side for stability. The downside is there would be more drag. We were considering outriggers of some sort. When a pulk like these roll, it is a major pain to flip it back. You have to put down the kite, unhook the poles or harness, etc etc. I think the speeds reached with the kite increases the flipping as well as the body lean that a rider takes on under power. The crossed poles are nice but they may not work as well when your hips are at a 45 degree angle to the snow.

One of the biggest issues that we encountered was the integration of kite harness, pulk harness, and back pack. Will Steger showed me a prototype of system he was working on that was a body harness that both the kite attachment and the pulk pole attachments affixed to. Looked pretty slick. Might also want to check in with Granite Gear. I know they were working with Ozone on an integrated harness. I highly suggest trial runs of all the gear together prior to the big trip.

When you get the geometries to work out, you can make good time.

John Pedersen Photography

Greenland expedition
Some interesting items. Real long tow rope to the pulk, short lined high wind kites, etc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeEO0p8E ... re=related

Bryce · Post by **Bryce** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 11:35 am

I have been doing some experimenting with my sled lately.

I attached the sled to a 6 ft rope which hooked into my handlepass loop on the back of my harness. I pulled around one of my buddies that is around ~170 lbs. I was surprised with how well this worked. I expected to more of a strain on my body... but all it really felt like was that I had gotten heavier and I had to work the kite more. (I'll see if we have pictures of the event)

I can't speak for the flipping stability. I could see that two side by side would help that a lot.

I will be bringing the final sled design and such to the crossing if people are interested in checking it out.

Dave, How long does it take to setup a igloo?

jp_photog · Post by **jp_photog** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 12:42 pm

Bryce,

Here, Here!

I'd like to do this, and I think I can make those dates work too.

On the trip Tighe referred to, we gathered a few good insights and it would be great to get out again. I have been informally planning a little trip back up to Voyageurs, but nothing's final.

Tighe,

I talked to the Granite Gear guys this fall, and it sounds like they didn't ever really put anything together, but from the look of Ozone's new harness, I think something they do may have rubbed off on them. Also, I used to work at Midwest Mountaineering, and still have good connections there. I'm pretty sure I could round up a demo unit of Igloo Ed's igloo builder. Probably best for a "base camp" situation, but still might be good to try. I've know quite a few gear reps as well, so it's possible that I could track down some extra gear if needed too.

Look forward to hearing more.

Thanks,
John Pedersen

six one two - seven oh three - three three six one
john at john pedersen photography dot com

DavidKnight · Post by **DavidKnight** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 12:46 am

That Greenland video was a trip- crazy Norski's. Looks like the tandem sleds with a long tow rope is the way to go. I've yet to pull my sled with my kite but I can see how the pole setup would get a little tweaked from the kiting hip angle.

It takes 2 people less than 2 hours to build a 7 foot diameter igloo (sleeps 1)... but probably close to 2-1/2 to 3 hours for an 8 footer (sleeps 2). I'm guessing it'll take us around 5 hours to build an 11 footer (sleeps 4). I have 2 of Igloo Ed's Igloo tools- I've built up to a 10 footer before but we'll be building 11 footers out in Yellowstone. I'm going out there with Igloo Ed... so I'm sure I'll get some insider tips on building it faster. If we go the igloo route, it'll be best served as a basecamp- if we're just going for time/distance, it won't make sense to build igloos. But if it's windy, the igloos are warm and quiet- no tents flapping all night.

Bryce · Post by **Bryce** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 9:57 am

Here is a video of me pulling my friend on the sled.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ey0c-y3Q-jI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zghGMcHQL3E

It was a pretty lightwind day.. but it still worked pretty well.

krazykatie · Post by **krazykatie** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 12:27 pm

I'm really intested in doing something like this but my spring break doesnt begin until the 14th, maybe next time

Woody · Post by **Woody** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 10:29 pm

Just to add a bit of local knowledge to this thread...

Lots of current in and around the Kenora area, so if you're planning on going all the way to Kenora, be careful! I was there yesterday for hockey with my son and I could see open water in a few spots.

Woody

Bryce · Post by **Bryce** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 12:36 pm

I am still planning on the trip! I want to leave warroad on thursday and come back sunday.

I don't know if I'll do the full kenora trip. But I'll probably at least go from warroad up Flag Island and then do day trips from there.

If anyone is interested let me know!

Bryce
sieg01@gmail.com
701.361.3999

Bryce · Post by **Bryce** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 12:45 pm

'm thinking of launching at lakeview park as my first choice. (I'm assumeing I can leave my car there for the long weekend)
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=48.9 ... 4&t=h&z=16

If there is a northeast windI'm be launching from here
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=48.9 ... 5&t=h&z=12

UpNorth · Post by **UpNorth** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 8:49 pm

Bryce,

If you park at lakeview, you should be alright. However, you might check with the casino about parking in their lot, it would be a bit more secure than leaving it at the public parking lot.

Roughly when do you plan on launching? If it was thursday afternoon I might sneek out of work to ride a bit and see you off.

Jack

Bryce · Post by **Bryce** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 8:17 am

Sorry for the late notice... But I am planning to leave this morning from warroad at around ~10.

If anyone to say hi, I'll be setting up at the park there.

I'll be coming back sun or mon if anyone wants to meet up then!
Give me a call and leave me a message I'll be checking my phone along the way
701.361.3999

Bryce