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In the spring of 1790 British trader Hugh Heward, together with seven French-Canadian
paddlers in two birchbark canoes, departed Detroit on a trip that would take them to the Chicago Portage and then via the
Des Plaines and Illinois Rivers to the Mississippi. Instead of following the usual exploration and fur trade route north through
Lake Huron and the Straits of Makinaw then south through Lake Michigan, the Heward party went downstream on the Detroit River
into Lake Erie, then upstream on the Huron River. They eventually worked their way to the divide between the Lake Erie and
Lake Michigan watersheds, portaged their canoes and goods into a tributary of the Grand River and then paddled down the Grand
to Lake Michigan. In effect, they took a shortcut across Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Once in Lake Michigan they skirted
the coast east and south all the way to Chicago.
As history has shown us and often was the case in those days,
Heward's party ran into a misunderstanding with some Native folks over fair trade agreements and had to rush their journey
down the first stretch of the Grand River. Heward and his men did outrun the Natives and because of this small misunderstanding
they ended up paddling over 50 miles in a single day, a distance that Michigan Historian and Topologist Jim Woodruff found
very interesting and quite amazing. Jim, being a very good friend of Verlen's, brought this historical information to
Verlen and asked him to re-enact Heward's race down the Grand River. Verlen jumped at the chance to prove it could be
done and since then there has been a growing number of paddlers that re-enact that 50 mile run down the Grand River on
the annuall Hugh Heward Challenge.
In addition to the annual 50 mile Hugh Heward Challenge the
Verlen Kruger Memorial would like to introduce a much longer and more difficult Challenge in 2009. The Ultimate
Hugh Heward Challenge will follow the original route of the Heward party from Detroit to Chicago including an 8 mile overland
portage from the Huron River watershed to the Grand River watershed. This Challenge will include many different water conditions
including up river travel, big open water on Lake Michigan and Lake Erie, many difficult portages and adverse springtime weather.
This Challenge is for experienced paddlers.
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Kruger Style Rules
- Unassisted by any and all preplanned shore crews except at official checkpoints.
-Self
supported at all times. Challengers must carry their own gear and supplies for entire length of Challenge. This includes
over water and portage miles.
-Craft must be Expedition ready and able to handle big open
water and upriver travel.
-Wheels for portaging are allowed and encouraged and must be carried by the Challenger
the entire length of the challenge.
-Sails are allowed.
-Challengers will be able to pick up open water
lake gear at CP2 for the final 150 miles to Chicago.
-Challengers must raise $500 as entree fee that will
go directly to the Verlen Kruger Memorial Project.
Checkpoints
There are two Checkpoints along the route.
The first will be at the Thompson Field canoe
landing in Portland, the future site of the Verlen Kruger Memorial Statue. This is about 195 miles into the Challenge and
the finish site for the annual Hugh Heward Challenge. Camping will be available for Ultimate Challengers and thier
support crew.
The second will be in the town of Grand Haven, just before we enter Lake Michigan. Challengers
will be allowed to take on additional open water gear including sail rigs. Camping will also be available here for Challenger
and support crew.
Cell Phone coverage is great along the entire route, we will ask Challengers to stay
in contact with folks at home as well as Challenge Organizers so we can update progress for all those interested.
Much more information to come. Please contact Mark or Dan with
questions and comments.
Contact Dan or Mark here
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