Local Kayaker Circumnavigates Lake Superior

DULUTH, Minn. — Cale Prosen began his journey around Lake Superior right on the shoreline near the lift bridge in Park Point.

“It was a nice protected location where I knew I would be safe from the waves of Superior,” said Prosen. “Being in a nice protected bay such as this where there wouldn’t be five foot waves. And of course it’s a nice public landing for me to start and finish my journey.”

Prosen travelled over a thousand miles, making his way around Lake Superior. Prosen’s journey took 42 days to complete. But even as a kid, he had grit and determination far beyond his years. He says parents were extremely supportive, but at the same time hoping he still might change his mind. They asked Prosen check in each night and let them know he was safe.

“I had a tracker that was intended to to that,” started Prosen. “But due to malfunctions I had to stop using the tracker. At times there wasn’t reception for my phone and I wouldn’t be able to talk to my family for a few days.”

For a while, Prosen had felt a stirring inside to do something significant. But he didn’t immediately warm to the idea of circumnavigating Lake Superior.

“I spoke with someone who had done it and I thought he was out of his mind,” laughed Prosen. “But then a month and a half later I became overtaken with the idea and pursue it as much as I could.”

Prosen was not committed to traversing the water all alone and first hoped a friend might join him. But eventually felt it was best to go it alone.

“This didn’t need to be a solo expedition, but I couldn’t find anyone that I trusted,” said Prosen.

In all that time alone, he learned a little bit about himself. And stood in awe and wonder of the environment around him, especially three moose he saw unfettered in their natural surroundings.

“They were just kind of running down the shore paying no attention to me and they just ran one hundred yards down the shore and dipped into the woods,” Prosen reminiscence. “That was amazing.”

Prosen continued his journey, all along the way committed to respecting nature. He carried out the philosophy of leaving no trace behind as he camped along the lakeshore all those long days during his journey.

“So I would pick my spots accordingly and find spots that were accessible but at the same time were available for me to use,” said Prosen.

So what’s next for Cale? He says he is done with big adventures for now, and wants to instead focus on finishing school at St. Scholastica and enjoying time with family and friends in Cloquet. But he advises anyone anyone wanting to pursue their dreams to do so without hesitation.

“Just dream on. It truly was an incredible experience and the dream is just as important as everything along the way,” said Prosen. “It’s not necessarily the destination of the dream, but the process along the way. It was just everything.”