My two cents
By Mike Alan Steinfeldt

"There is cleanliness, a breadth and sweep and strength in the north, A purifying realization that one is living close to the fundamental elements of life. Yes, the north has a spell." Eric Sevareid, "Canoeing with the Cree."

A lot of times, growing up, I've wondered to myself if I was born a few hundred years too late. I've talked to other people who have wondered the same thing.
I've always enjoyed history. Especially learning about the age of exploration has always intrigued me.

I've often wondered what it was like for explorers and frontiersman like DeSoto, Radisson, Daniel Boone, Lewis and Clark and the like, who witnessed parts of the continent before modern civilization.

It's true, there aren't many true wildernesses left undiscovered, but there is still plenty of adventure left for those who are willing to find it.

Ever since I've been young, I have concentrated on the bit of "Wilderness" closest to me, namely, the north woods of Minnesota. I've spent many days canoeing fishing and camping there.

When I was in my early twenties, I first read the book "Canoeing with the Cree," which was written by Eric Sevareid. Sevaried, who was born in Velva North Dakota, moved with his family to Minnesota. Upon graduating from high school in St. Paul, Minn. in 1930, he and a friend, Walter Port, canoed from Fort Snelling in the Twin Cities area all the way to Hudson Bay, a trip of some 2,250 miles.

After their journey, Sevareid gained fame as a correspondent during World War II and embarked on nearly a 40-year career as a reporter for CBS news.
Port, although not as famous, served in the Navy during the Second World War and later settled in Bemidji, Minn.

The book, "Canoeing with the Cree," chronicles their adventure undertaken 75-years-ago this summer.

The trip has always been one that I have dreamed about and that's why when I found out that a group of Minnesota adventurers, Todd Foster and Scott Miller were retracing the route, I was intrigued, not to say a little jealous.

In fact, the book written by Sevareid has been such an inspiration, that many people in the last three-quarters of a century have retraced all if not significant parts of the trip.

One aspect of the trip that should be of local interest is that the route to the bay travels right along the familiar waters of the Red River in our "own back yard."
About six weeks ago I had the privilege to visit with Foster and Miller to learn more about them and their trip. The fruits of that interview appear in a story in this week's edition of The Walsh County Record.

If you are interested in learning more about this summer's trip and about "Canoeing with the Cree," you can visit Foster and Miller's website at www.hudsonbayexpedition.com.

To help offset expenses of the trip you can help sponsor the expedition on several different levels. Expedition T-Shirts are for sale through the website you can find out how to order 75th anniversary editions of "Canoeing with the Cree" re-printed by the Minnesota Historical Society Press.

Not only does the Twin Cities to Hudson Bay canoe trip exemplify what can be done if you set your mind to it, it taps into the spirit of adventure within us all.

I for one will be looking forward to tracking the progress of Foster and Miller in the months to come. I encourage you to do the same.