WITH DEEP APPRECIATION
This journey is in honor of my late friend, classmate, and wilderness canoe traveller, Scott Anderson (author of Distant Fires), who inspired many people young and old. I dedicate this voyage to his parents, Paul and Carol Anderson, and to his family and friends who still grieve his loss. May we live honorably and respectfully in his remembrance and be forever inspired by his passion of life.
I am sincerely grateful to my family, friends and the following people for inspiration and support: Thank You!
My Family: Vern Simula, Naomi Brigan, Tim Sedor, Becky & Denny Randelin, Dan Simula, Kyle Simula, Ben Simula, Anna Simula, Dawn Simula: (niinimoshe/my sweetheart), Kevin Fairbanks, Leann Fairbanks, Brian Fairbanks, Tim Braford, Shannon Braford, Chris Doty, Harry Murphy, Howard Simula, Herb Simula, Steve & Kathy Simula, Bear Carlson, Jay & Billi, Cassi & Jake Carlson, Todd Carlson & family, Doug & Barb Norbeck and all my aunts, uncles, cousins and other relatives. I love you all.
SPONSORS:
Duluth Pack
WTIP Northshore Radio (90.7 FM)
Ames Farm
Ryden’s Border Store
Anderson’s Canoe Outfitters – Crane Lake
SUPPORTERS / MENTORS / INSPIRATION:
Randy Schwalbach
Ev Roley
Ted Ford
Ken Gilbertson
Linda & Bob Watson
Steve Emerson (Frost River)
Mindy Alberman & Frank Koppala
Terry Horejshi
Robert Stangler
David Gilligan
Seth Wotten (Water For Future Generations)
Brian & Dayna Gallagher (Irish Creek Kennels)
Jim Brandenburg (Brandenburg Gallery)
Bob, Sue, Kaitlin & Quinn McCloughan (Bearskin Lodge)
Andy McDonnell
Eric Kemp
Jim Raml, Jay Hutchinson, Tom Peever, Greg Perry, Michael Scribner-O’Pray, Tukaluk, Digger, Steve, Terry, Eric, David, Ernest and many others (canoe builders)
Scott Pollock, Tom Suprenant, Greg Wright, (North House Folk School)
Lonnie & Kelly Dupre
Bert Hyde
Bigfork River Jack Todd
Tim Cochrane, Jon Sage, Bun Gagnon, Pam Neil, Dave Cooper, David Riehm, Daniel Walker, Jake Korf, Bern Olker, Karl Koster & Amber Pfeil, Jeremy Kingsbury, Steve & Deb Veit, Ron Anderson, Jerry Waha, Duane Spry, Carolyn and other staff (Grand Portage National Monument)
Mike & Margaret Plummer-Steen
Todd & Cheryl Carlson
Sam Cook
Scott Ollila
Jeremy Ward (Canadian Canoe Museum)
Ralph Frese (Chicagoland Canoe Base)
Henri Vallaincourt
Pat Kruse
Johnny Mitchell
Frank Sherman
Curtis Gagnon, Beth Drost & Pete Gagnon
Cameron Norman
Layne Kennedy
Dave Olesen
Arleigh Jorgenson (Jorgenson’s Sled Dog Adventures)
Jane Comee
Brian Stewart
Maureen Donahue
David & Martha Tomeo
Tim & Beth George
Brian Fredericksen (Ames Farm)
Mike Link (Audubon Center of the Northwoods)
Travis Novitsky
Jack & Sherri Hayden (Denali West Lodge)
Rueben Fasthorse
Carl Gawboy
Earl Nyholm
Ferde Goode
Adam & Mica Harju
Matthias Herling
Linda Henry
Kerry Donars
Ron Hobart
Mark Hansen (Hansen Boat Works)
Bert Hyde
Anna Lujan & Jackson Sneve
Henri ja Anu Munne
Michael Nordskog
George Ottenbrett
Will Steger
John Pierce & Karen Pick
Peter Pestalozzi & Jeanne Bourquin (Bourquin Boats)
Hans Smith
Leroy Yoki
Tim White
Kelly Murphy
Bob Swanson
Jim Brekke
David Christopherson
Mike Anderson
Megan Kress
Charles Smith (Capt., Duluth Fire Department)
Duluth Fire Dept./Police Dept./St. Louis County Sheriff Dept./MN DNR/US Coast Guard/and other 5/12/09 responders and volunteers
Andrew Slade
J.D. (Lutsen)
John Abrams
Marty Torgerson
Steve Heinle
Ron Coleman
Frank Nelson
Butch Egan
Jerry Nelson
Charlie Bergstedt
Stellar
John Duke
Bobby Johnson
Davey Warner
Joe Mattson
Sheryl Hinderman
Justine Curgenven
John Powers
Calvin Ottertail
MENTORS (no longer with us):
Russ Merritt
Joe Seliga
Bob Cary
Gilbert Caribou
Hal Murphy
Stan Walsh
KIITOS / MIIGWETCH (THANK YOU)!
Arrowhead Journey 
What a challenge… why doesn’t this surprise me? Sending you energy and travelling mercies!
By: EvaLyn Carlson on July 8, 2009
at 9:24 pm
Just arrived back in the area. Talked to your old friend Scott and he directed us to this site. What a journey. Wishing you wind at your back and a successful journey! Will keep watching the progress.
Take care!
By: LeRoy Yoki on June 14, 2009
at 7:51 pm
Erik,
Hello from your old friend and neighbor. Best wishes on your epic and impressive adventure.
Scott Ollila
By: Scott Ollila on June 1, 2009
at 7:46 pm
Erik,
I was happy to see that you are on yet another wonderful journey with the birchbark canoe! What an adventure! Best of luck to you! I am hoping to get in on the NHFS wild rice course you are teaching this fall. PS, just returned from a weekend trip near Grand Rapids on a bark hunt–found some big trees but not quite tall or straight enough. Sadly found a wonderful birch sawed/destroyed into a firewood pile….the search will continue….take care 🙂
By: Greg Perry on May 18, 2009
at 9:55 am
Greg,
Sounds as if you are on your way to building your own canoe–great! Good luck on the search for bark. I’m anxious to check in with Erik somewhere soon along his route.
Jay Hutchinson
hutch5440@gmail.com
By: Jay Hutchinson on May 20, 2009
at 5:18 pm
Hi Erik,
A friend who attended a talk you gave last winter heard about the trip and that it was in honor of Scott. She told us about it, but we didn’t hear more until reading about you in the Duluth paper about your travels through here a day ago. Sam Cook filled us in. Sure wish we would have known, we’d have loved to put you up overnight and hear your story. We’ll follow your progress and if lucky, maybe we can connect with you at some point and share some “granola!” What an exciting trip–Scott would definitely approve!! We wish you the very best!!
Paul and Carol Anderson
By: Paul and Carol Anderson on May 14, 2009
at 11:28 am
You still have a chance to share that granola with Erik. He’s doing a fireside chat tonight at Indian Point.
By: Bearskin on May 14, 2009
at 12:23 pm
Go get’em E. !!!! I will be thinking of you and wish you the best of a journey.
Naagaj,
Ike
By: Isaac on May 12, 2009
at 3:01 pm
To Erik from a guy who asked him a thousand questions about birchbark canoe building during the 3 years I was building my own canoe and attending Erik’s first Folk School canoe class at Grand Portage in 2005. He answered them all patiently, gave me many tips on sewing with roots, selecting bark, peeling bark, splitting cedar, and all the finer points that a master builder has learned over the years. Buena suerte (Sp.) and God Tur Vidare (Sw.) And keep the spruce gum handy!
By: Jay Hutchinson on April 21, 2009
at 2:12 pm
Erik,
Just wanted to let you know that we are all thinking of you on “launch day” and hope this trip is everything you’ve dreamed it will be. We are cheering you on and will be following your blog closely and sharing your travels with all the visitors who will no doubt be asking about you this summer! Safe travels to you! We look forward to welcoming you home at Rendezvous 🙂
By: Pam Neil on April 15, 2009
at 11:29 am