The Countdown Begins

This week's conference call focused on finalizing our schedule for the summer so that we could purchase our tickets home from Kugluktuk. Here's the rough plan:

• Mid-May: Emily, Meg and Nina meet in Madison to finish packing out.
• June 4: Begin the drive north -- Madison to Yellowknife via Boulder Junction.
• June 9: Start paddling at the Northwest corner of Great Slave Lake.

• July 22ish: Resupply at the Dismal Lakes on the Kendall River.

• August 10: Reach Kugluktuk, Nunavut on the Arctic Ocean.
• August 11: Fly out of Kugluktuk for Yellowknife where we'll have left the van.
• August 16: Back at Manito-wish to give a slideshow during the 90th Anniversary Celebrations.

This plan puts us on the water in just 50 days! Within that time Meg will be relocating her life to the East Coast, I have to write a Second Year paper, Karen has to get Seafarer up and running for the summer, Beth needs to finish her first year of Medical school and Em plans to run a half Iron Man in Idaho. Not to mention packing out 600 pounds of food, checking, rechecking and triple checking our gear list, putting some hours in on the river, and squeezing in as much time as possible in flip-flops and sundresses.... Wish us luck!

BTW: If you're planning to paddle up north this summer and need to fly home on First Air, buy your tickets soon -- they are currently having a Summer Seat Sale.