Elgin resident to kayak down Mississippi River

For two months, Will Lytle's life will fit around his feet.

Equipped with camping gear, a laptop computer and not much else, the 20-year-old from Elgin will attempt to kayak the 2,350-mile length of the Mississippi River, from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico.

Lytle will capture and share his experience on his blog, www.willbewild.com, with both journal and video entries. The Michigan Tech University sophomore plans to complete the journey in 50 days, paddling as much as 14 hours a day, starting mid-June.

"I've talked to some people, and they say there's not a great way to prepare for a trip this size," Lytle said. "I'm going to take it easy at the beginning until I build the muscle and the endurance."

Though Lytle has only been kayaking for six years, his love for water sports began early. He spent much of his childhood playing in the creek behind his house.

"I always envisioned that I could sail around the world, starting in my creek," he said.

His main motivation for the trip is to see the country from north to south and eventually see the effects of the recent oil spill on the Gulf Coast, Lytle said.

And fear is not a factor.

As an Army ROTC cadet, he says, he recently completed a 31/2-week course in airborne school, jumping out of a plane five times. He said he also participates in club soccer, volleyball, rugby, Frisbee and wrestling while at school. Even his athletic background was not enough to prepare him for this challenge.

"My family wanted me to take a safety class before I did any longer trips," Lytle said.

On Wednesday, he shared his love for kayaking, as well as his tips for safety and success, with kids at the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin. And then he showed off his skills in the Fox River.

Lytle's speech and show were a part of Gail Borden's summer reading program. Program participants can get credit by reading his blog throughout his trip. The library's marketing director, Denise Raleigh, noted that Lytle's mom, Miriam, works at the Gail Borden.

"That's how we came to be a part of his journey."

Raleigh hopes that Lytle's kayak trip, as well as the reading program's superhero theme, will spur greater interest in reading among local kids. More than 3,000 participants have signed up after one week of registration. Last summer, 6,000 total readers participated.