It was supposed to be a 40–mile hike from Ely to Grand Marias but it turned into an adventure of a lifetime for Maria Jacenko and Grace Knezevich.
Family members alerted authorities that the two women were overdue from their hiking trip on the Kekekabec Trail.
The women spoke for the first time on Friday about their adventure and say they never worried about getting out.

"I don't think it was biting off more than you can chew I think the hardest thing you know maybe having a spare set of maps in your pack."

The duo did face some hardships on the trail, including losing their map, which contributed to their lateness, and towards the end of their ordeal only had trail mix and instant coffee left for food.
The pair says after they lost their map they just headed east and knew they would reach the Gunflint Trail.
Jacenko and Knezevich say they were more concerned about their family and friends rather than their own situation.

"I can only imagine what goes through your mind when you're expecting people to exit a trail and they don't and your mind all sorts of things can be created so we just want to say thank you very much to everyone.'

The pair attributed their safety and good health to having a compass and preparation.

"We knew it was going to be a challenge going into and that's why we did some training we both did some extra exercising before we went on this trip to get in shape, we did some hiking with our packs to be prepared as best we could."
In Duluth, Trevor Roy, The NorthlandsNewscenter.

Both Jacenko and Knezevich say they were warm and in good spirits for the entire trip, and that they are happy to still be employed by the Benedictine Health Center.