^{22nd Annual Winter Trek across Canada
February 4th, 2005 - February 13th, 2005}
 

A 2000 mile trek that crossed the bitterly cold winter lands of the Northern Michigan & Canada.

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Map of 2005 Route

Trip Status:  Day 9, 10 (Thursday, Feb. 11 & 12th, 2005) Previous days (click here)
We are safely back in Caro, Michigan. We left this morning from Searchmont, Ontario and drove south back to Michigan. Our only issue was George left his wallet back in Wawa at the motel, US customs let him back in anyways.. (He was very nervous), We left Wawa, Ont yesterday morning and rode south to Searchmont, Ont. It was a 200 mile run across great trails with a hot lunch at the Half-Way Haven outpost. Temps were in the 20's and comfortable. We stayed at the Driftwood Valley Chalets in a mannly log cabin with mounted fish,  moose, bear, deer and other animal heads on the wall.

This years riders are George and Betty Pattullo from Caro, Michigan, their son Pete Pattullo from Texas, Robert Herron of Farwell, Michigan and John Putnam of Marlette. Also riding this year is Robert Hamilton of Caseville, Michigan and Kevin Richter of Kingston, Michigan. This years Chase driver and support team (ono) is Russ Ostic of Caro, Michigan. Most of the runs in years past have been to support the American Cancer Society, which raised over $100,000 from the annual event.  Other runs have included raising funds for the restoration of the octagon barn near Gagetown Michigan and for the  Olympic hopeful Mike Ellsworth. This year we are doing the ride without charities.

The riders ride about 200 miles per day in wilderness and remote areas of Canada and Northern Michigan with temperatures well below zero.  This year's trip will begin on February 3rd and will completed on February 12th..  Participants ride between 25-50 mph with temperatures dropping into the double digits below zero after the wind chill factor.  Extra fuel and supplies are carried on each snowmobile.  One of the riders this year, Betty Pattullo is a  breast cancer survivor.