The Winnipeg Free Press newspaper on 31 Mar 2018 included an article called “A Reason to Ride” using some of Blake Anderson‘s excellent pictures he took during our “2018 ‘Alfred Barr’ Lake Winnipeg Fatbike Crossing & Campover“.
The 17 Wing Winnipeg Air Base “Voxair” Newspaper 21 Mar 18 Edition has an article called “Fatbikers Ride to Remember SAR Tech MCpl Alfred Barr” based on the reporter Martin Zeilig interviewing me and using a few of my pictures.Among the quotes he used were references to our excellent Leaders Team (including our British friend Patrick Stevens from Sweden) and key supporters Robert Paige of Xtreme Sports Medics and Dave MacDonald of ICSOS.
He did not quote my mentioning of how important was Kevin Champagne‘s snowmobile and sled support for transporting key supplies out to our camp and back! He also mentioned our American friend Thomas Woods who joined us, but obviously misplaced your specifics Thomas).
The Voxair also included a colour picture with a double line of fatbikers riding across the lake. They mistakenly mention in the caption that “Major Tom Kolesnik ‘leads’ the fatbikers …”, when in fact at the lead of the line of riders is Kurt Lehmann and Rick Shone.
Editing this video was a labour of love capturing all of the adventure, amazing winter vistas, the team work, the fun and the tribute to Alfred that our weekend adventure was – enjoy:
Check out Gregory ‘G-Mac’ McNeill’s wonderful collection of photos from this weekend’s “2018 ‘Alfred Barr’ Lake Winnipeg Fatbike Crossing and Campover” adventure weekend … over here at his Flickr Account Album:
Here’s a link to our CBC Radio-Canada ‘le tele journal’ TV story about our Lake Winnipeg Fatbike adventure (in French and some interviews in English including Keith Holm, Jeff Hobden, Kathryn Adams, Patrick Stevens and me):
Nice report from the CBC Manitoba News reporters who met us when we rode back off Lake Winnipeg into Grand Marais and interviewed Keith Holm, Jeff Hobden and me:
After a truly EPIC day and evening of Fatbiking adventure and Memorial tribute to Alfred on Saturday, our main group of 20+ hardy fatbikers and Xtreme Sports Medics still on the lake, enjoyed a cozy -15C campover; all snug in our 4-Season dome tents and our double insulated tent complete with Field Kitchen and Medic’s station!
Blake Anderson captured the scene as we started to get ready to slide into our sleeping bags.Okay, some of us stayed up later in our warm cozy double tent and shared stories of adventure!Did I mention last night that even cold drinks hit the spot out in the middle of the lake at -15C! 🙂Robert Helms snapped this view as we were awakening after a windy night, to see the overcast skies and the expected snow squalls approaching. Time to have breakie and pack up.David and Keith were up and ready to roll – especially when I delivered the news that some snow squalls were moving into the Lake Winnipeg area.Fortunately, while we packed up – our intrepid trio of Jonathan (Asst Guide turned ‘Asst Chef’), Kas (Medic turned Camp ‘Sgt-Major’) and Chris (CASARA Coord turned Camp ‘Field Major – Quarter Master’) were cooking up hashbrowns, sausage and bacon! Saweet! 🙂Did I mention BACON?! It had been a while since I had seen Gregory ‘cry’ during breakfast! 😉Here’s some of our hardy group of fatbikers enjoying warm breakie in our cozy main tent.Talk about your Team effort … Steven and Gregory help Keith with his breakie! 😉Hauling the Camp Barr gear and extras was made possible by good folks like Robert Paige of Xtreme Sports Medics – thanks Rob, you’re the Best! 🙂Here’s Kevin Champagne and Kas ready to take in a load of gear. HUGE KUDOS to Kevin for all his support before and during our Lake Winnipeg adventure! He came back out Sunday morning to help us haul in our camp gear quickly! You’re awesome Kevin! 🙂Our ‘Intrepid’ Asst Guide Patrick Stevens from England (via Sweden) agreed to let me record his thoughts about our adventure and I must say, with the backdrop looking rather ‘Polar’, it was not hard to imagine Patrick as a Great British Explorer of old! 🙂
Taking down the RCAF flag that we flew in Honour of Alfred was not easy for me … thank you Chris Black for helping me!Alfred … you are not forgotten … our friend and Rescue Brother!Our good American friend Thomas Woods had his own emotional task to complete and once again Chris stepped up to help ensure it was done with respect and due ceremony!Here’s Asst Guide Keith Holm leading the riders back into Grand Marais – followed by Steven Sloat and Asst Guide Jonathan Letkemann.Blake Anderson and Marty Roy both pulled pulks (sleds) full of extra gear. Blake even had ice fishing gear complete with auger – keener! 😉
This little pop-up shelter was very important this weekend – the outhouse! Look closely inside the door … I had one last nasty job left before pack up! Thank goodness for air fresheners!All packed and cleaned up! Just a bonfire ring left at Camp Barr 2018 … be back next year!Fatbikers approaching Grand Marais at the end of an epic three day adventure!Safely off the lake before the snow and ice pellets arrived a few hours later (yes our one hour drive to Winnipeg went well)! A hot meal at the Grand Marais Sand Bar Inn was a great way to wrap up the weekend with renewed friendship gained as adventurers! 🙂
So much more to be said, more pictures and videos to share and media reports pending (CBC was waiting for us when we rode into Grand Marais).
Alfred – you have not been forgotten and we have continued on what we had discussed about getting fellow Manitoban fatbikers out on more adventures and passing on skills to allow people to not just Survive, but also Thrive! RESCUE!
WOW!!! Yesterday afternoon and evening was an EPIC adventure as our main group of Lake Winnipeg Fatbikers rode from Camp Barr to Gimli (for supper at Kris Fish & Chips – thanks Jeff & Candy Badger for the free drinks) and then back out to camp starting at dusk and finishing in the dark!
It was a real trek and had a few obstacles enroute (pressure ridge ice cracks); but well worth the challenge and it was safely completed, thanks to good ride guides (thanks Keith, Jonathan and Patrick) and support from Robert Paige and his Xtreme Sports Medics! Here’s a few pics to tell the story …
Here’s Assistant Guide Keith leading our main group out from Camp Barr along with Robert Paige escorting with his snowmobile and trailer (with ladders for any crack crossings).Can you spot our Assistant Guide Patrick? The Swedish flag is a bit of a give away! 🙂Here’s Thomas (Honourary Manitoban from Minnesota, USA) – glad you could join us bud! 🙂A beautiful vista!We arrived at the large pressure ridge crack line, which was about 4 Kms out from the Gimli Harbour. Kevin Champagne and I had recce’s the route the week before and our track lead to a safe crossing spot.Finding a good crossing spot in advance of the ride was essential to our adventure.Yup, that’s me on the other side of the pressure ridge … “come on over guys – It’s all good”! 😉G-Mac says “it’s not what it was cracked up to be after all”! 😉One more small pressure ridge near the Gimli Harbour approach. Great place for G-Mac to snap some close-ups …A bit early on the snap here of Patrick near the bump … can anyone get some air? …YESSSSS! Well done Assistant Guide Jonathan! 🙂Passing the Lake Winnipeg Research boat as we enter Gimli Harbour.A pleasant view after a solid ride … the harbour and the town of Gimli! 🙂Kris’ Fish & Chips – our favourite Gimli food stop on all our lake crossings and thanks to hosts Jeff & Candy Badger (owners and Polar Bear Crossing Event organizers) we are always welcomed with a little extra (a free drink went down nicely)! 🙂Good food, good company and very good times! 🙂We headed back out onto the lake at dusk.The light was fading and we had a solid ride back ahead of us.Time to hydrate, turn on the lights, prepare for the ride ahead and contact Robert to arrange for him to meet us via snowmobile from Camp Barr at the main pressure ridge crossing.There’s Robert (in yellow with flashlight on the other side) assisting from the other side; while Keith monitors each rider from this side. Teamwork – nice! 🙂Just a simple crossing … when you plan it and do it right! Thanks Kevin & Robert! 🙂Speaking of Teamwork … while we were riding to Gimli & Back, Extreme Sports Medic Kas ‘Camp Barr Sgt-Major’ was prepping the rescue sled and helping prepare the camp for our arrival back!Kas and the crew back at Camp Barr got hot soup and drinks ready and then lit the bonfire! 🙂The signal flares they launched looked really close to us as we biked back to Camp Barr, but it was a long night ride yet ahead!Camp Barr was a welcome sight to us as we rode it to enjoy the comforts of our little ‘Tent City’!Nothing like a bonfire to warm bodies after a chilly ride and raise the spirits too! 🙂Warm drinks and good company make for fun! 🙂Even cool ones hit the spot … especially when Team Leaders are toasting an EPIC adventure! 🙂
WOW!!! This was a wonderful day in so many ways for our “2018 ‘Alfred Barr’ Lake Winnipeg Fatbike Crossing & Campover”! We had another 20+ fatbikers join our already 16 active fatbikers and Leaders Team today as we rode out from Grand Marais – with additional escorts from RCAF 435 Squadron (three SAR Technicians on snowmobiles – with a couple dogs) and made our ways to ‘Camp Barr’ on the middle of the lake. There we held a Memorial Service to honour or lost friend, fellow MB Fatbiker and RCAF SAR Technician MCpl Alfred Barr!
So much to say, but for now here are a few pictures and some drone aerial views of the adventure today (more on the crossing to Gimli and back during the night later):
Gregory ‘G-Mac’ McNeill’s beautiful picture of the sunrise this morning as our Leaders Team got ready to ride back into Grand Marais to meet the 20+ fatbikers meeting us for breakfast and to join the adventure!Time to get ready to roll …G-Mac’s picture of us riding in with me escorting on one of Dave MacDonald’s snowmobiles – thanks Dave!Back at Grand Marais, Janice was not to happy that she couldn’t stay for the rest of the adventure, but I assured her we would do it all again next year – hugs all around! 🙂20+ riders joined in for today ride out to Camp Barr and half of them stayed for the rest of the adventure beyond to Gimli and back to camp.Yes, that is my snowmobile ride for the morning … let it be known that Fat Tom K made full use of Dave’s sled to guide and position myself to fly my drone to capture the story!So out onto Lake Winnipeg we went and our fatbiking friend from the USA, Thomas Woods captured the start with this nice view.Here’s my view of the fatbike ‘gang’ heading out on the lake.
A drone view of the Saturday group heading out on the open lake.Here they are close up … Kurt and Rick leading with Artur and Michelle right behind.
The drone view of the group taking a break and checking out a ‘low snow’ area.Here’s G-Mac (on the other side of the camera lens for a change) riding with Steffi.We stopped to check out lots of ice chunks.Here Kim seems to be setting Dave up for launch! 😉Here’s our three supporting RCAF SAR Techs (on their dogs) with Steffi who fatbiked out with us for the Memorial Ceremony, our group lunch and then back into Grand Marais – awesome!Sunny skies and light winds made chat time rather pleasant today! 🙂Group break with our SAR Tech snowmobile escorts.As we approached Camp Bar, our welcoming party (Medic Kas holding a signal smoke) were waiting with hot food, signals and Scottish Highlands music playing (Alfred’s fav)!Dave Bell captured this view as he rode up to Camp Barr.Drone view of all the fatbikers and escorts arriving at Camp Barr!Can you spot Keith Holm (one of our Assistant Guides) riding on his fatbike unicycle (hint – the shadow shows!). Yes, those are empty KFC buckets in the fire pit (they burn great)! 🙂Here’s the full scene from high above. Camp Barr site was chosen for the good snow pack area, the nice protruding ice chunks nearby (they just look cool) and a slight bowl indent.We had a couple tents and a pop-up fishing shelter in reserve for Saturday night, but due to some folks camping over on different nights, they were not needed this year.We paused to remember Alfred and how he had impacted our lives and been a positive part of our Manitoba Fatbike Community!Alfred – you have not been forgotten! RESCUEHere’s G-Mac’s 2018 ‘Alfred Barr’ Lake Winnipeg Fatbike Adventure Memorial Group Photo.It was an important time to remember and share memories. Here I am chatting with my friend and former RCAF SAR Tech Dave MacDonald. He and I served together and carried out rescue missions together when I flew C-130 Hercules aircraft at 435 Transport & Rescue Squadron and he took the big risks parachuting out of them and carry direct medical and rescue activities.For some it was a time to reconnect and share the loss felt more deeply!We all took our turn signing Alfred Barr’s Royal Canadian Air Force Flag.Then we enjoyed good food together …… and savoured the moment! 🙂We enjoyed our time together at Camp Barr and then the ‘day trippers’ rode back into Grand Marais with SAR Tech snowmobile escort and our main group prepared to ride to Gimli in search of Kris Fish & Chips for supper and a ride back out to the camp for the night!
Good morning from the middle of Lake Winnipeg and a cozy ‘Camp Barr’ Leader’s Team and hardy fatbikers who slept over with us last night! It was a clear and crisp -20C over night, but we were all snug in our 4-Season tents and we awoke to a beautiful sunrise.
Here’s a few pictures taken by a few of us:
Steven Sloat snapped this one showing all the ‘hoar’ frost built up overnight (cold and moist air)!Patrick Stevens from Sweden snapped this one jus before sunrise of our frosty bikes. That’s his borrowed bike (Lori’s Mukluk) with the green helmet (notice the Swedish flag).Gregory ‘G-Mac’ McNeill (our Official Lake Winnipeg Adventure Photographer) took this amazing portrait of Leela the morning after her 50th Birthday adventure and party! 🙂G-Mac also took this great picture of Steven Sloat adjusting his gear at sunrise!Blake Anderson captured this excellent sunrise view of Camp Barr – complete with the Cdn Flag!Janice says goodbye to Camp Barr this morning. She was able to join us later in the evening last night before dark (escorted out by Dave MacDonald and me). She has to head back into town after an early breakfast at the Sand Bar Inn, where we will be meeting those (20+) riders joining our adventure this morning!
That’s all for now. Heading back into Grand Marais.
Today’s trip out from Grand Marais to our Lake Winnipeg Fatbike campsite went really well! We overcame a few challenges (quad and sled issues), had a fun bike and snowmobile ride out to the pre-chosen site and our little ‘Tent City’ on the lake is all set up, well provisioned (yes, there will be KFC leftovers for those of you coming out to join us tomorrow) and cozy!
So much to say, but I will let the pictures speak for now …
Leaders Team pre-ride lunch at the Sand Bar Inn in Grand Marais. Other riders joining our Team included David, Kathy, Steven and Leela (Birthday Gal!) and two Robert Paige’s Xtreme Sports Medics (Kas and Natasha). We even had Darcie drop by to wish us well. 🙂Lots of well-lit overnight parking available beside the Sand Bar Motor Inn.Robert Paige’s offer of free support by his Xtreme Sport Medics Team came complete with multiple vehicles, transport options and rescue-evacuation capabilities!Xtreme Sports Medics Rock! Thanks Robert! 🙂Everything loaded and ready to roll! 🙂Leading the way and hauling gear was Kevin Champagne – our key supporter in 2017 and again this year! Much thanks Kevin! 🙂Patrick Steven’s, one of our Assistant Guides, came all the way over from Sweden to join in the adventure and fun! 🙂There Robert Paige hauling camp and rescue gear!Kathy had no doubts as to whether she was ready for the challenge! 🙂STOP sign? TRAIL CLOSED? Not to worry, the SnoMan Snowmobile Trail across the lake was closed, but our route went went a different route – groomed ourselves.Now that’s more like it … off to the middle of the lake! 🙂Here’s Chris Black (our CASARA Coordinator & Camp ‘QuarterMaster’) and me heading out.You are all going to want to get your picture taken by these ice chunks we pass by enroute to camp. I only have this iPhone picture of myself, but I am sure Gregory will capture better ones!Setting up our campsite – just as we practiced on the frozen Red River a few weeks ago.It was a real team effort! 🙂Voila! Camp Barr is all set up with a few flags flying (RCAF flag to be signed by all and Canadian of course) already. Tomorrow we will be adding a UK ‘Union Jack’ for Steven and an American for Thomas! 🙂Our Xtreme Sport Medics (Natasha, Kas and Robert) Safety Team are happy to join us! 🙂Dave MacDonald (President of ICSOS – Survival Instructor and former RCAF 435 Squadron mate of mine) and Chris Black discussing plans for tomorrow. What a Leaders Team we have!Dave MacDonald’s snowmobiles and sled came in very handy today – thanks bud!Having time to settle in before sunset was a bonus!A priceless view from the middle of Lake Winnipeg!Nothing better than a rip roaring bonfire at any campsite!Mind you our cozy main double-tent (insulated, lit and hot drinks on) was a nice refuge! 🙂Did I mention the Birthday Gal? Leela found a great way to celebrate 50 years of adventure! 🙂Yes, there will be some cold KFC leftovers for tomorrow!Thanks Gregory ‘G-Mac’ McNeill for capturing this beautiful scene as we tucked into our cozy sleeping bags for the night!
Thats all for tonight!
See you tomorrow at the Sand Bar Inn at 9:00 AM for breakfast and then our large group ride out to camp (should be 35+ of us)!
Robert Paige (President of Xtreme Sports Medics and our weekend Safety manager) got called away from town yesterday, so it was just me (and my Mr. Moonie) being interviewed by John Sauder doing a weather intro and talk about the 2018 ‘Alfred Barr’ Lake Winnipeg Fatbike Crossing & Campover event, Fatbikes, the Alfred Barr Memorial part and how we will deal with any snow forecasted for the weekend (no biggy).
CBC’s John Sauder is great interviewer, a gentleman, a supporter of the RCAF (he has been an Honorary Colonel of 402 Sqn and 2 Cdn Air Division) and he appreciated the importance of the Alfred Barr Memorial aspect of the event.
See you all out at one Lake Winnipeg this weekend for biking and camping on Friday, Saturday or Sunday (any or all days) … all rides head out from Grand Marais (Sand Bar Inn).
Jonathan Letkemann’s rig from last year’s on Lake Winnipeg Fatbike Crossing & Campover. Jon’s returning this year as one of our Assistant Guides.Keith Holm’s rig from last year’s on Lake Winnipeg Fatbike Crossing & Campover. Keith’s also returning this year as one of our Assistant Guides.I will be riding my ‘Mr Moonie’ Surly Moonlander rig kitted out much like this.Steven Sloat from ‘Westman’ will be bringing his fully equipped Salsa Mukluk.Blake Anderson has his fatbike all kitted out but their are rumours of a pulk being towed …What’s a pulk you say? Here’s Ken Stojak’s from last year’s Lake Winnipeg trip.Jeff Hobden’s Fat Bike Rig is kitted out to ensure he will be warm for several nights!Kurt Lehmann’s Fat Bike Rig looks ideal for joining us for one night of camping.Our winter ultra racer friend Thomas Woods is joining us from the USA this year! 🙂Dave Bell is joining in this year for only the Saturday ride out to the campsite and back in, so he is kitted out with enough gear for the day. Mind you our fully kitted camp, rescue medics and snowmobile escorts will ensure any unexpected adversities are no issue.
So there you go, just a quick peek at a few of the 35+ fatbike rigs that will be on Lake Winnipeg this year.
Good times ahead and an important Memorial Adventure for Alfred are ahead!
Very interesting and successful Lake Winnipeg Recce! Huge thanks to Kevin Champagne and his wife Louise, who arranged for a third snowmobile for me to ride as we rode out from Grand Marais toward Gimli.
We had to find an initial crossing point just west of Grand Marais through a field of ice chunk pop ups and minor pressure ridge – no problem.
Pretty good conditions on the lake with plenty of snow on otherwise clear ice and sections of snow drift but not too deep.
Found a nice campsite with a bowl of snow surrounded by big and small ice chunks sticking up and one large one at the ‘entry’!
Good track made all the way about 85% across and then we came to a large and long (NE-SW) pressure ridge that was dicey to cross without a ‘ramp-plank’ (we can arrange that for Saturday). You could see the harbour area in general but it’s still about 4 Kms.
Anyways we cruised back over our same tracks and hopefully the mild conditions this week with overnight -10C ish temps will bond the snow to the ice and firm up the track we made.
Big Picture – looking good! We will need to monitor the weather and make a few provisions, but the basic plan still looks fine!
Among the quotes he used were references to our excellent Leaders Team (including our British friend Patrick Stevens from Sweden) and key supporters Robert Paige of Xtreme Sports Medics and Dave MacDonald of ICSOS.
They mistakenly mention in the caption that “Major Tom Kolesnik ‘leads’ the fatbikers …”, when in fact at the lead of the line of riders is Kurt Lehmann and Rick Shone.
FatBikeManitoba.com 