New Orleans → Chicago
The Mississippi UP represents the ultimate upstream challenge on North America's greatest river. Unlike the downstream record (well-documented with multiple historical attempts), the full New Orleans to Chicago route against current has never been officially completed or timed. This is virgin territory for Chasing Greatness—a genuine open category where the first record-holder will define what's possible for human-powered or small-craft upstream navigation on the mighty Mississippi.
The only documented upstream journeys on the Mississippi predate modern boating. Before steam power, keelboats and flatboats required 3-5x longer than downstream routes. Modern techniques and materials may reduce this, but the physics of fighting a 2-5 mph current for 1,500 miles remains the defining obstacle.
This isn't just a river crossing—it's an open invitation to challenge the oldest form of human navigation limitation. Every second saved represents a breakthrough in technique, vessel design, or strategy. The first to achieve this crossing will own a piece of American river history that's been untouched since the steamboat era.
Current: 3-5 mph steady, up to 8+ mph in flood conditions
Difficulty: Extreme. Free-flowing river with no locks means fighting current continuously. The lower Mississippi is the widest and slowest-moving, but its sheer volume of water creates persistent push-back.
Strategy: Hug inside bends where current is slower. Use eddies behind points, sandbars, and dikes. Close to shore, the current weakens significantly—this is where the battle is won.
Current: 2-4 mph, more variable due to lock system
Difficulty: Moderate-to-hard. The lock system (18-20 locks total, same as DOWN but reversed) creates a tactical game—locks either help or hinder depending on fill/empty timing. Between locks, current is manageable but relentless.
Strategy: Work locks efficiently. Shorter distances between locks mean more frequent lock traversals, but also more opportunities to rest. Current is more predictable here, allowing for better pacing.
Current: 1-3 mph, influenced by Mississippi backwater
Difficulty: Moderate. The Illinois is narrower and calmer than the main stem. Current is slower but still present. Lock system continues here.
Strategy: The Illinois provides psychological relief—water is calmer, scenery changes, you're clearly making progress toward Chicago. Use this segment to build confidence and recover.
Current: Minimal to reversed (water flows into Lake Michigan)
Difficulty: Easy. The Chicago River is urban, narrow, and has almost no current. This is the "victory lap"—you've beaten the current, now navigate to the finish.
Strategy: Straight shot to DuSable Bridge / Michigan Avenue. Portillo's hot dog awaits at the finish line as your verification task and your well-earned reward.
The contrast couldn't be clearer: start in the humid, subtropical French Quarter, finish on the shores of Lake Michigan in the heart of America's industrial heartland. 1,500 miles of river, 18-20 locks, one historic current to conquer.