Two Leelanau County girls will have plenty to talk about when they return to school this week and are asked the age-old question, "What did you do over summer vacation?"

LAUREN LAMMY (above, left) and Kara Bunbury take a
brief break from paddling during an Ontario canoe trip
that also involved whitewater (left) on the river.

Lauren Lammy of Suttons Bay and Kara Bunbury of Leland completed a 350-mile canoe camping trip to James Bay, Canada — the southernmost point of Hudson Bay, in northern Ontario last month.

“We’ve been going to the same camp (Camp Dil-o-wood in Blind River, Ontario) for the past eight years,” said Lauren, who began her senior year at Suttons Bay this week. “We began with much shorter trips and each year they became progressively longer and more challenging.”

Their trips in 2006 and 2007 originated from Blind River, but Lammy and Bunbury traveled hours and hours north before putting their canoe in the water. The canoeists traveled in groups of eight, which included two “leaders” employed by the camp who werre in their early 20s.

The most recent trips were on the Missinaibi (2006) and Groundhog Rivers (2007), which flow from
south to north. Both feed into the Moose River, 30 miles south of Moosonee.

The Ontario canoe trip also involved
whitewater on the river.

“From Moosonee we catch a 5-hour southbound train called the Polar Bear Express to Cochrane, Ont. This is the only way to and from Moonsonee,” Lauren said. “There are no highways leading to Moosonee. Everything is either brought on train or by plane. This train is the last stop north — all other towns north of Moosonee you must fly into.”

The longtime friends carried everything they needed for wilderness survival in backpacks, which when completely filled weigh about 60 pounds apiece. That includes water purification devices, clothing, tents, maps, and of course, food.

“We eat a lot of pasta and oatmeal,” said Lauren.

Lauren, the daughter of Dr. Tom and Diane Lammy of Suttons Bay, paddles from the bow of their Old Town canoe. Kara, the daughter of Chris and Kim Bunbury of Leland, anchors the stern.

Admittedly, canoeing in pairs can be challenging for some, even in the most favorable circumstances. But the Leelanau girls say they do well navigating the rivers, which in some spots are technically challenging for experienced canoeist .

“It’s whitewater is some parts,” Kara said, adding that working together can sometimes be frustrating, but nothing that can’t be overcome. “Some of the toughest parts were the portages (up to three miles).”

Their group followed the path that many before them have set. The Missiabi is dotted by designated camp areas as it is surrounded by a Canadian Provinical Park and appeared to be more “wild” to Bunbury than the Groundhog, which includes shoreline cabins and fishing camps.

“I like the Missiabi the most,” Bunbury said. “It was my first time experiencing wilderness like that and was really eye-opening.”

THE 350-MILE canoe and camping trip
that Kara Bunbury and Lauren Lammy
participated in involved hard work
through portages.

The explorers began their trip July 30 and paddled anywhere from 40 to 60 miles per day. They spied moose, bear and coyotes — an experience most their age only get by watching the Discovery or Travel networks on television.

“I like being out in the wildlife,” Lauren said. “It’s great to be part of the wilderness … without civilization.”

While both looked forward to a nice hot shower at the end of their 12-day trip, “roughing it” to them was well worth what they gained as a result.

“My friends (at home) think I’m crazy. They don’t see how I could do it,” Kara said. “It definitely makes you more confident.”

Lauren, who would like to continue exploring as part of an outdoor club at the college level, agrees.

“It makes you tons more independent. It’s a whole different world which makes some of the things that happen in high school irrelevant.”