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HANCOCK ’Äì Ultra-marathon athlete Jim Dreyer started his swim across Lake Superior for Big Brothers Big Sisters at 10 a.m. (EDT) Wednesday, August 15, taking off from Grand Portage, Minn. He will swim a 62.3-mile route to F.J. McLain State Park near Calumet, where he is expected to arrive on Friday, August 17. Dreyer’Äôs Web Site, which offers updates on his progress, reported at 11:15 a.m. (EDT) Thursday that the swimmer had covered 25 miles, with 37 miles to go for his Keweenaw destination: ’ÄúCurrents are from the north which is over Jim's left shoulder. Waves are building with some three-to-five foot whitecaps now. The Zodiak crew is in for a rough wet ride. Unlike Jim who has some blood flow, the person out there is stationary -- and hence cold for much of their ride. Feedings continue every forty minutes and Jim has been given some Immodium AD. He is not currently taking solid foods, but the crew hopes to re-introduce those as soon as possible.’Äù Minnesota Public Radio reported earlier on Thursday morning that Dreyer paused briefly to react to spectators wishing him a happy birthday and continued on his way in a balmy, 63-degree Lake Superior temperature. Dreyer’Äôs Web Site reported this early Thursday morning update: ’ÄúAs this cold dark day broke, the crew sang Happy Birthday to Jim. His response was to come upright and direct the crew (which didn't help much) like an orchestra leader. He is 19 miles out they say now (as you may gather, the mileage is usually an estimate) and swimming strong.’Äù Maggie Munch, Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) program director for the Western Upper Peninsula, said based on Dreyer’Äôs estimates he will be arriving at McLain State Park anytime between 4 a.m. and 5 p.m. Friday, August 17. Said Munch, ’ÄúAt
about 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday evening I had spoken
to one of the Team Members aboard the lead boat and
they reported that Dreyer is doing well, swimming
strong and his spirits are up! I sent best wishes to
Dreyer on behalf of BBBS of the Western Upper
Peninsula. I had been out at McLain State Park last
night for the sunset and the Lake was beautiful and
somewhat calm... The sunset for Team Dreyer was not
quite as beautiful ’Äì they were experiencing some
scattered showers and four-foot swells which were
pushing them slightly off course. As I shared update
information with campers and Park staff, we were all
somewhat amazed to think that as darkness fell and
the campgrounds were winding down for the evening
Jim Dreyer was out on that Lake and would be
pressing on as we all settled in for the evening!’Äù Big Brothers Big Sisters Agency
plans to be present at Dreyer’Äôs arrival at McLain
State Park and will have information about their
programs available to the public on site. ’ÄúAnyone is welcome to join me at the Park for his arrival to cheer him on,’Äù Munch noted. If Dreyer is successful he will become the first
person to make a direct swim of Lake Superior and
the only person to make a direct swim across all
five of the Great Lakes.
Dreyer started marathon swimming in hopes of making a difference in an effort to bring awareness to the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program. According to Dreyer, the entire adventure is estimated to require between 45 and 55 hours of continuous swimming for completion. Dreyer’Äôs
Web site quotes him on his latest challenge:
"`Two words come to mind when I think of Lake
Superior . . . Edmund Fitzgerald,’Äô Dreyer
stated, referring to the legendary ore carrier that
sank in a tremendous gale on Lake Superior in 1975,
claiming the lives of her crew. ’ÄòI will not be
sure that this feat is humanly possible until I do
it, but I do believe that, if it is possible, I am
the human who can do it,’Äô Dreyer added. He said,
"I must have this level of confidence in
myself, or I have no business stepping foot in Lake
Superior.’Äô" The Web
site also reports that Dreyer, a native of Lower
Michigan, is accompanied by the Silver Girl, home
port, Holland, Mich. The boat is piloted by Brian
Koeman, Captain, and Perry Weinberg, First Mate. His
swim team includes Bob Johnson, John Tunis and Mike
Wycoff. His uncle and paramedic, Al Dreyer, is also
on the boat to assure Dreyer’Äôs health and safety.
New to the crew this trip is ultramarathoner, Jim
Smith. Dreyer has successfully completed direct crossings of Lake Michigan (1998), Huron (1999), Erie (2000) and Ontario (2000). In honor of the Superior Swim the local Big Brothers Big Sisters Agency and McLain State Park have declared the Week of August 13-19, 2001, as Big Brothers Big Sisters Week at the Park. Activities have included a picnic for Bigs, Littles and Families of Littles and a workshop on painting nature T-shirts, offered by an Adventure Ranger from the Park.
’Äì Michele Anderson
August 16, 2001 |
