It was my third year to organize and lead our Team River Runner kayak camping trip in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Sept. 14-19, 2019. This year 12 participants, (including eight military veterans with disabilities) enjoyed spectacular weather, paddling, camping and hiking in this kayakers’ paradise. For some it was […]
Tag: veterans
One Year After: Team River Runner in Grand Canyon
One year ago today I set out on a 12-day Team River Runner kayak trip on the mighty Colorado River through 226 miles of Grand Canyon. I had a feeling it would be special but I didn’t know at the time how profoundly this remarkable journey through the canyon would […]
Grand Canyon — Day 10: Lava Falls
Monday, September 10 This morning the mood is different. There’s the usual friendly banter over coffee and breakfast. But as we pack the rafts and kayaks the tone is quieter, more subdued. Each of us is thinking about the giant rapid waiting for us. Before we launch from our campsite […]
Grand Canyon – Day 6: Crystal and Other Gems
Thursday, September 6 Our sixth day in the Canyon. Last night our camp was at mile 96.5. This morning we’re up at 5:30 a.m. anticipating another day of big rapids, including a series known as “the Gems” because they’re named after precious stones. The rapid we’re most concerned about today […]
Grand Canyon – Day 5: “Tell Me Why It’s Beautiful”
Sept. 4, 2018. Tonight as our fourth day on the Colorado River comes to an end, we camp at Vishnu Creek just above Grapevine Rapid. It rains again this evening as we’re setting up tents, so afterwards we huddle together in a small rain-free spot formed by the overhanging canyon […]
Grand Canyon – And Google Maps!
I was asked to not share this news until today. If you’ve been following posts about my experience with Team River Runner’s Grand Canyon trip (The First Three Days and Day 4, Part 1), you may remember I mentioned we had a photo/video crew accompany us during our 12-day whitewater […]
Grand Canyon – The First 3 Days
YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/gOZDYDI7tzw “For us, there is only the trying. The rest is not our business. ― T.S. Eliot Over the coming days I’m posting excerpts from the journal I kept during our recent Team River Runner Grand Canyon kayaking trip. I was honored to be chosen as one of the […]
News Coverage of our Grand Canyon Adventure
The Colorado Sun published a story about our Team River Runner trip, which included five blind military veterans kayaking the Grand Canyon. It offers good insights about our experience. At the end of the story there’s also a link to a heartfelt video by Iraq war vet Steve Baskis. “Post-traumatic […]
Grand Canyon Adventure with a Mission
It’s starting to sink in. As I prepare to leave for our Team River Runner Grand Canyon adventure, I’m reading a riveting book, No Barriers, by Erik Weihenmayer. It includes photos of our trip organizer, Lonnie Bedwell, the first blind person to kayak the Grand Canyon; and Steve Baskis, who […]
Team River Runner – Apostle Islands 2018
For the second year in a row, it was a pleasure to lead a Team River Runner kayak camping trip in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Last week, 17 participants, (including nine military veterans, some with disabilities) enjoyed the spectacular beauty of this Lake Superior archipelago of 21 islands. SATURDAY, […]