River Runs Full is an 8-week kayak journey down the Mississippi River to raise funds for Blessings for All, Empowered by Faith, and Feeding the Future Mississippi. Donate and follow along at riverrunsfull.com.
We’ve paddled more than 200 miles from Lake Itasca, leaving the narrow, winding headwaters behind.
The next section of the river flows through several clear, wide lakes. Cass Lake, which we crossed early in the week, contains an island with another lake inside of it. Nested, or recursive, lakes are a rare geographic formation. We opted to carry one of our kayaks across the island to explore the phenomena further.
The biggest challenge so far was Lake Winnibigoshish—“Lake Winnie”—a 13-mile crossing notorious among paddlers for its unpredictable weather. Our morning was blessed with only modest headwinds and waves.
As we continue past the lakes, we've begun to see the first hints of industry—a reminder that the Mississippi is both a wilderness route and a working artery. Next week, the towns will grow larger, but for now, we’re still riding the wild, open stretch of its northern run.
