Go get ‘em Champ!
Published November 10, 2007 | 
Some
say maybe tomorrow
New direction, hello
What I know
- u2
I got a nice email a couple days back from Jason Leach who is currently a student at Plattsbrugh State University in upstate New York. Jason has a plan. He has set his mind on a circumnavigation of “all” of the Great Lakes within the next 5-7 years. His plan is to start with the smallest and then do one lake per year working up to Lake Superior. Big mission!
Now Jason plans to start nearer to home with Lake Champlain next summer. Yes, he knows too that the home of “Champ” the wayward plesiosaur, is not actually a great lake. But you have to start somewhere. From there he and his partner Alex can move onto Lakes Ontario, Erie, Huron, Michigan and Superior.
I like the idea of this expedition. At first glance I could see all sorts of questions; How do you stick to a plan that far into the future? How long before your partner hates you and moves to the tropics? What if the Great Lakes dry up before then? Yeah, you could come up with a million reasons to question it. Of course Jason is majoring in Expeditionary studies and is probably a bit more aware than most what it will take to pull this off. In the end with whatever you do in life, you just have to say “Damn the Torpedoes!” and get on with it.
Good luck guys. (and keep an eye out for Champ!)
- Kayak The Earth ( Expediton Blog)
- Expeditonary Studies – Plattsbrugh
- EPA Great Lakes Information
- The Legend of Champ
- David Farragut
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2 Responses to Go get ‘em Champ!
I’ve paddled on Lake Champlain on several occasions and can tell you it’s a great place to begin. It’s got varied shorelines and sufficient fetch to put up some sizeable waves at times including a great clapotis wall. A great place to begin testing your skills before you get out on the bigger lakes. Go for it and remember, it’s all about having fun!
If I find Champ I will let you know Derrick and be sure to take a picture. It is a tenative plan but that is the ultimate goal as far as my research shows it hasnt been done (maybe a reason for that I havent arrived at yet) but even if it has it will be a great time.