Prompts winter weather advisories as cold air moves in Friday night

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

Six days and more than 600 miles into their attempt to break the record for fastest paddling trip down the Mississippi River, one member of the crew is leaving the canoe. 

Kevin Eckelkamp, Nate Lastinger and K.J. Millhone set off from Itasca State Park last week, hoping to paddle the full length of the Mississippi River in less than 18 days, the previous world record. 

But Wednesday, Lastinger had to leave the boat and head home to St. Petersburg, Fla., due to a family health issue. 

Mississippi River paddlers attempt to break record

"Nate can't concentrate on paddling," said Kevin Eckelkamp's mother, Terry Eckelkamp, who's also a member of the expedition's support team. "He's looking for flights home right now, to be with his family."

Eckelkamp and Millhone are still hoping to break the record on their own. They're one man down, and, paddling along the southern border of Wisconsin Wednesday afternoon, already slightly behind where they'd hoped to be by this point in the trip, but Terry Eckelkamp says the team doesn't plan on giving up.

Sports

John Enger

Author

Six days and more than 600 miles into their Mississippi trip, one member of the crew is leaving the canoe due to a family health issue.

Nate Lastinger, Kevin Eckelkamp and K.J. Millhone pose for a photo.

Mississippi paddler leaves record-breaking expedition attempt

Go Deeper.

Like this?