DustyRoads - Mississippi River Journal - 2020
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Dustin Stensland
City: Laporte
State: Minnesota
Country: United States
Begins: Jun 19, 2020
Direction: Southbound
Daily Summary
Date: Fri, Jun 19th, 2020
Start: Mississippi River Headwaters - Itasca State Park
End: Coffee Pot Landing
Daily Distance: 17
Trip Distance: 17.0
Hours Hiked: 10
Min Temp: 54
Max Temp: 72
Breaks: 0
People Met: 4
Journal Stats
Entry Visits: 1,033
Journal Visits: 8,571
Guestbook Views: 95
Guestbook Entrys: 10
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Start Day
First Day on the River
The adventure down the Mississippi River started today! It felt so new and hectic, not knowing where to put things in the canoe, guessing what I will need and not need.I know I over packed, but it felt good as I’m used to carrying less than 20 pounds on my back when I hiked the PCT, now that I’m in a canoe I can pack a hundred if I like.My parents dropped my off at the headwaters to send me off on my journey.After they waved goodbye to me, it was frustrating as my camera equipment wasn’t working as it should. In particular my drone was not working well after I got outside of the state park and could use it. I reached some challenging rapids in the afternoon, many trees down over the river.There’d be bend in the river, with a tree branch hanging over, then a large boulder in the middle right after the tree.I got hungup on rocks more than a few times, had to cut out some paths with my handsaw a few times as well. I spent maybe 2 total hours cutting tree branches out of the way of the river. After those few miles of rapids I was sore and exhausted, although it was a fun challenge.After the rapids I wanted to camp but I found myself in 5 more miles of marshlands with no place to setup camp or trees to hang my hammock.I finally reached camp at 9pm, with just a little light left.I made some food while getting eaten by mosquitoes when 4 young women paddled up and asked to setup camp next to me.It was dark by then so we didn’t chat much but it was enjoyable to be around other people when I thought I might be alone for a bit.This part of the river is so gorgeous, I seen a few deer jumping in the marshes, I seen a beaver and may have heard a black bear! My lower back in a bit sore, as well as my left forearm is burning!It was those faster moving bends during the rapids where I pushed it, but I did manage to get some good videos!I can’t wait to check em out.
