[Editor’s note: The events in this video took place prior to 2024 Hurricane Helene.]
The Linville Gorge is one of the most impressive stretches of whitewater in the eastern United States. Seventeen miles of class V falling down the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina at an average descent of 110 feet per mile. Through this stretch, the Linville River cascades over bedrock waterfalls and forces itself through cracks between huge boulders choking the riverbed.
The wilderness character of the Linville draws the desire of the most experienced whitewater paddlers. Meanwhile, the dangerous geology of the river continually demands respect no matter your ability. This humbling fact was shown firsthand in a rescue video recently published by Ben Atherton from an incident that took place in the fall of 2021.
“The one thing that saves people’s lives is getting your hands on them.”
Kayaker pinned in a siphon on the Linville Gorge
Atherton and his regular river running accomplice Josh Huber had rallied with a group for an after school lap down the Linville, which they had both run previously. In the video, we watch Huber enter Jailhouse rapid, a class IV+ drop according to American Whitewater.
“The middle of that rapid is a huge siphon, a jailhouse,” Atherton reflects on the incident and the fitting name for the precarious boulder garden. “Josh’s spot used to be good to go, but it had changed.”
As Atherton shares, Huber reaches a section of the rapid where it appears there is no clear path to exit. He is then pushed toward a corner which turns out to be a dangerous rock sieve, or in this case a siphon—a spot where the water flows under rocks like a funnel going who knows where before it eventually rejoins the rest of the river. The force of the current builds on the stern of Huber’s kayak, stands it up, and begins to push Huber under the rocks.
Rescuers pulling kayaker out of siphon on the Linville River. Image: Ben Atherton | YouTube
Against river and time
Within moments of Huber being pinned, his paddling partners Ben Atherton and Bernie Engelman are nearby to recognize the situation and act.
Engelman is still climbing out of his kayak as he grabs a hold of Huber’s lifejacket and reassures the paddler they’ve got him. Simultaneously Atherton leaves his kayak in a calm spot and wades out, reaching Huber and blasting his whistle.
“[Expletive] the whistle dude, we need to get him,” Engelman communicates to his fellow rescuer. Atherton’s whistle blasts to communicate with another paddler in their group are important, the equivalent of calling in backup. Engelman, however, recognizes the dire significance to having immediate contact with Huber before he’s pulled any deeper—complicating the effort.
“The one thing that saves people’s lives is getting your hands on them,” Atherton, who is also a kayak instructor, shares as he looks back at Huber’s rescue and his years of experience since. It’s a point he tries to get students to remember if nothing else when it comes to the reality of the scenario.
They quickly have Huber stabilized above the water, preventing him from drowning. Atherton and Engelman slow down their process and avoid breaking Huber’s leg as they extract him from the kayak.
All told, from the moment the paddler is entrapped in the siphon, to the time he is out of his kayak and standing is less than one minute—with barely a moment underwater.
“Yo, tell him I’m alive,” Huber tells his rescuers to communicate to the rest of their party as he’s standing waist-deep in the river. Then the reality of the situation flows from Huber’s tone as he repeats himself. “I’m [expletive] alive.”
“I was 17 and feeling invincible,” Atherton reflects on his perspective before his friend’s rescue. “That was the first time I’d ever seen something like that. I don’t even think it sunk in until years later.”
What stands out most in the rescue are the decisive actions and composure of the rescuers, and of Huber himself. They communicate clearly with each other and the entrapped, and do what is needed in the moment to save his life. Huber’s leg wasn’t broken but it was injured, and the rest of the paddle out became stressful knowing they were running out of sunlight with miles remaining in the gorge.
As old and permanent as rivers seem, they change regularly, big and small. A run like the Linville Gorge can see movement of rocks following even a modest high-water event. Atherton shares the rapids in the Linville Gorge are notorious for shifting. Slow-moving rivers can also see changing hazards like fallen trees from one day to the next. All the reason kayakers constantly survey stretches of river and monitor their paddling group.
The rescue video published by Atherton also took place before recent historic flooding ripped through Western North Carolina. In the time ahead, kayakers will begin to access classic stretches like the Linville. They’ll encounter sections of whitewater completely altered by the flood waters, and with it, entirely new hazards.
Grace Zeller lands helicopter on remote rock shelf in the BWCAW; image courtesy of Tony Maynard
On May 18, 2024, around midnight, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources pilot Grace Zeller landed her helicopter on a rock shelf in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). The mission: begin the evacuation of injured canoeists.
Overall, Zeller would make two flights into the BWCAW, transporting three medics and two canoeists. Because of her actions, Zeller was recognized in September for lifesaving efforts beyond the call of duty and awarded the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Division of Enforcement Lifesaving Award.
Canoeists swept over falls in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
It was around 4 p.m. on May 18 when brothers Erik and Reis Grams watched their friends, Jesse Haugen and Kyle Sellers, approach Curtain Falls on Crooked Lake in the BWCAW. They witnessed the canoe move closer to the falls, then turn parallel to the falls, and then capsize. Immediately, Sellers went over with the canoe; Haugen, according to a report in the Minnesota Star Tribune, appeared to be standing in chest-deep water at the lip. None of the four were wearing PFDs or life jackets.
The Grams brothers approached cautiously, hoping to pull their friend from the top of the falls. Seconds later, all three went over the 30-foot cascade.
Erik Grams and Kyle Sellers survived the incident, sustaining a range of injuries including broken bones and hypothermia. Jesse Haugen and Reis Grams were missing.
Downstream, canoeists Tony Maynard and his friend Nick came upon Erik Grams and Kyle Sellers and immediately recognized the situation was serious. Maynard hiked back to high ground at the portage, where he remembered he had cell service, to call 911 to initiate the rescue. Later, Maynard and his friend also used a Garmin InReach to communicate with first responders as the rescue continued.
In all of this, there was a fifth member of the party with Sellers, Haugen and the Grams brothers, who had elected to sit out for an afternoon of fishing from shore. The group of five had paddled into the Boundary Waters with just two canoes, and were camped upstream of the falls. Maynard made a trip back upstream to let the friend know what had happened before returning downstream to his camp and the survivors before dark.
As the night wore on, Maynard and his friend focused on staying with the survivors, communicating with search and rescue and keeping the fire going. Sometime before midnight, they received a message through the Garmin InReach that a helicopter was coming.
Rescue in the remote Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
At the other end of the EMS system, in Brainerd, Minnesota, pilot Grace Zeller received a call in the night to see if she was willing and able to fly. She knew something bad had happened deep in the BWCAW, and there were no other aircraft available or able to access that location, but little was known beyond that.
“When Grace originally landed, she came in on the southwest side of the island and landed on a little tiny rock right in the middle of the river, and they couldn’t get to land from that rock,” Maynard explained.
“They had to go back up again and bring it to the other side of the little island and there’s just the perfect tiny little spot to land a helicopter. She was able to fit there and get them out that way. It was something I’ll probably never see again.”
Zeller made two trips into the BWCAW, first transporting an injured Sellers and two medics, then Erik Grams with an additional medic about an hour later.
In the morning, a float plane came to retrieve the group’s fifth member and volunteers from the St. Louis County Rescue Squad streamed in to begin the search for Jesse Haugen and Reis Grams, who were still missing.
Haugen’s body was recovered on May 31 and Reis Grams’ on June 2, 2024.
Overall, the St. Louis County Rescue Squad logged almost 6,000 hours during the rescue and recovery of the canoeists, making this the largest operation in the all-volunteer squad’s history.
According to Maynard, the information he provided to rescuers included the number of people involved, their injuries, location and landmarks, resources available and resources needed, and the fact that there were two people still missing.
“They needed to know where we were in the vicinity of Curtain Falls. They were able to see us probably a couple miles out because we had a fire going,” Maynard added.
After the incident, Maynard said he’s a lot more diligent in wearing his PFD on the water, and paying closer attention to conditions.
“I’m wearing it everywhere, even on a pond,” Maynard said.
According to Rick Slatten, captain of the St. Louis County Rescue Squad who responded to the incident, of the over 500 water fatalities in the squad’s history, less than three percent were wearing life jackets.
Pilot Grace Zeller receives state lifesaving award
On September 16, 2024, Zeller was honored for her rescue efforts above and beyond the call of duty with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Division of Enforcement Lifesaving Award.
“Normally, we’re just the search party. We don’t really get involved in the rescue part,” said Jacob Willis, Chief Enforcement Pilot, in a DNR video highlighting Zeller’s award.
Both Erik Grams, Kyle Sellers, and members of their families were present for the award ceremony.
“Most rescue pilots or EMS pilots, they don’t even get to know if their patient made it,” said Zeller following the award ceremony. “Not only did I get to do that, I got to meet their family members, and that is really special.”
Pilot Grace Zeller lands a helicopter in the BWCAW to evacuate two injured canoeists swept over a waterfall. | Featured photo: Tony Maynard
Make yourself at home. | Feature photo: Michael Hewis
Some campers are content with a bivy sack and a bag of oatmeal. If that’s not your style, you’re in the right place! From a four-season tent that feels like a portable palace to a luxury sleep system that elevates your shuteye, these 12 wilderness camping essentials make sure you’re not quite roughin’ it in style.
12 essentials for wilderness campers who crave comfort
A versatile four-season tent for not-so-lightweight camping, the traditional Safir 7 offers such comfort and livability you’ll be tempted to bring it on all your adventures just because it’s so cool. The Swedish design is crafted from breathable cotton polyester impregnated with a long-lasting water repellant, making it resilient to challenging weather. We tested the Safir in pleasant spring conditions, but it has also withstood storm-force gales on glacial icefields.
Our tester arrived in a tidy package, about 10 by 10 by 24 inches and weighing 27 pounds. After you’ve set up the Safir once, you can erect the straightforward single-pole design in under five minutes. Towering over the campsite at nine feet tall, it features standing room height and a spacious interior. The Safir 7 can comfortably accommodate six to eight sleepers or a dozen people sitting for story time.
To get the most out of your Tentipi, you’ll want to pair it with a woodstove or firepan for warmth, cooking and just because you can—more on this below. The Safir has many optional upgrades, including a removable floor, porch, drying rail and more. Available in a wide variety of sizes, fitting up to 35 people.
Referred to as the heart of the Tentipi tents, the stainless steel Eldfell Stove is designed to pair with the tipi design. Use it to cook, dry clothes, and create a warm and cozy home away from home, regardless of the temperatures outside.
The Eldfell features an extendable insulation pipe that slides over the upper stove pipe to safeguard the tent fabric. It’s stable on its feet and in strong winds, too. The Eldfell comes in one size—25 by 15 by 12 inches—but offers different chimney lengths to match various tent sizes. The stove weighs 32 pounds and comes in its own purpose-made wooden box.
Another option for campers who want to cut down on heft is Tentipi’s collapsible Hekla firebox. It weighs just eight pounds and allows for an open fire in the tent thanks to its efficient burning design. The Paddling Mag team didn’t have the opportunity to test the Hekla, but it’s said to reduce wood fuel use by 75 percent.
Exped’s Dura series is a jack of all trades, balancing durability, weight, warmth, comfort and packability. The 5R sleeping pad is our new go-to for any adventure; it promises a super comfortable sleep thanks to three inches of loft and whisper-quiet insulation. It also boasts a toasty 4.8 R-value, claiming to keep campers comfortable down to -4°F/-20°C, making it a solid year-round option for many. Rolls up larger than a Nalgene bottle, but not by much.
Exped’s Schnozzel Pumpbag is included. The accessory makes inflation quick and easy, inflating the pad in just three bags of air. It also keeps moisture out of the pad’s interior, extending its life. Available in mummy and rectangular shapes, as well as long and wide options. Exped’s track record of bomber reliability—our last mat is still going strong a decade later—speaks volumes.
At 3.2 ounces, this pillow offers comfort at a weight you won’t even notice. Its X-shaped design cradles your noggin, perfect for back sleepers. Leave a little air out for a more comfortable feel. Stuffs down to the size of a wallet.
The synthetic-filled Bozeman from Mountain Hardwear is an entry-level, three-pound bag perfect for car camping. Designed for warmer weather adventures with a 20°F/-1°C limit, its generous mummy cut maximizes warmth without constriction. Its fleece-lined stuff sack can double as a pillow when stuffed with clothes. Zip together with a matching bag for snuggling.
No duffle bag we’ve ever tested matches the durability and waterproofness of Yeti’s Panga. Living up to its claim of being an all-weather gear fortress, the Panga is a burly beast, made to last and dry on the inside even when dunked and dragged. Comfortable shoulder straps transform it into a backpack, making it as ideal for river trips as travel. It offers a generous interior, though the single zipper design is a challenge when packing larger items. Also available in 50- and 100-liter sizes, the Panga’s only drawback is its price. We even picked the Panga as one of the year’s best dry bags.
Easily portable, if not especially practical, our favorite thing about Mpowerd’s Luci Solar Lights is its cozy atmosphere around the campsite. The 18-foot-long string puts out 100 lumens, bringing a soft, warm glow that instantly makes your site more Instagrammable. Fully waterproof and fueled by a full day of summer sun or a six-hour USB charge, these lights keep the night alight for up to 20 hours.
We’ve been fans of Helinox since their Chair One revolutionized ultralight camp comfort in 2012. The Chair Zero Highback takes all the best of the original—a durable aluminum alloy frame that snaps together like tent poles with 100-denier polyester Kevlar-reinforced fabric—and pairs it with even more support.
At 1.5 pounds, it’s double the weight of the original but just a sixth of the weight of your typical clunky superstore camp chair. Supportive and stable, you can lean back without fear of toppling. For folks under six feet tall, your shoulders will likely rest just below the back of the chair. If you slouch down a little, you can also rest your head on the high back. For broader paddlers, the 15-inch shoulder width might be a bit tight.
This compact, leak-proof cooler from Engel measures 15 by 10 by 11 inches, weighs 3.5 pounds, and holds up to 18 twelve-ounce cans in its 13-quart capacity. You could spend four times as much on a cooler, but this one has proven to be perfectly adequate for keeping things on ice for weekend adventures—especially when you only need your brews and brisket kept cold until tomorrow, not dinner five days from now.
Leave it to the Swedes to make a luxury item with such minimalism we want to bring it on more than our base camp trips. Handmade by craftsman Svante Fredén himself, we borrowed this 1.5-pound reflector oven from The Canadian Outdoor Equipment Co. and were impressed by its easy assembly, folds-flat compact size and spectacular snacks we easily made. No more searing your baked goods on too-hot embers or painstaking pan rotation over a gas stove. Bring this svelte little unit and eat your heart out. Think bannock, pizza, cookies, cakes, brownies and cinnamon bun rolls. Need we go on?
Goodbye, gritty cowboy coffee. So long, bitter instant brew. The light and compact AeroPress Original is a quick and simple way to make a cup of coffee that tastes almost as good as one your favorite barista lovingly prepares. Just add medium-ground beans and hot water, stir and press. It makes 10 ounces of regular coffee per pressing, or one to three espresso-style shots for lattes and cappuccinos. And it’s all done in about one minute.
This article was first published in the Issue 72 of Paddling Magazine. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.
Make yourself at home. | Feature photo: Michael Hewis
Many standup paddleboarders have a vivid memory of their first time encountering the sport. Maybe they witnessed someone gliding across the water at the beach, or perhaps they saw a crazy SUP surfing video on the internet. No matter how we first came in contact with the sport, the reaction is often the same: I want to try that.
As someone who introduces people to the sport, a common question I’m asked is, “How hard is it to do?” Often, people will see someone else paddleboarding and think that it’s an extremely difficult balancing act, like walking on a slackline or riding a unicycle.
However, the answer to the question is quite simple: stand up, relax and have fun. Unlike slacklining or riding a unicycle, the worst consequence of losing your balance is falling in the water. You may fall in at first, but with proper technique and a bit of practice, you’ll be exploring your local body of water in no time.
Once you do learn how to paddleboard, the most beautiful aspect is whether you cover miles, carve waves, or just sit and enjoy an after-work sunset, it soon becomes not just an activity but a way of living.
PFD (low-profile life jackets and inflatable belt packs are popular options)
Fin (integral to the board going in a straight line)
Leash (recommended on open waterways like lakes, bays and oceans; very conditional and even controversial on rivers)
Proper attire (dress for weather and water conditions)
Cellphone or VHF radio (phone should be stored in a drybag or case)
Whistle or sound-producing device
Fin configurations are often set up in single-fin, twin-fin and three-fin layouts. The reasons vary by paddling activity, but all will help your board track straighter on flatwater. | Photo: Joe Potoczak
Getting on the board
For people who have never been on a SUP before, this can be the hardest and most intimidating part once you’ve figured out how to transport your paddleboard to the water for the first time. To do so, you are going to want to find a good SUP rack for your vehicle.
A quick note: The handle in the center of the board is an important reference point we’ll use, as it’s the center of balance for carrying and standing.
We’ll start with the easiest launch point, which is a beach with a sandy bottom. Walk the board out into the water deep enough to the point where the fin isn’t touching the bottom when you push down on the back of the board. Hold your paddle across the board in front of the center handle. Next, climb onto the board on your knees. From here, you can start by paddling while on your knees to get a feel for how the paddleboard moves under you, or just take the next step (literally) and push yourself up into a standing position.
From a dock, you have to be slightly more careful because falling could lead to hitting the dock structure. Depending on the dock’s height, you can sit on the edge with your feet on the board, set your paddle onto it and then either kneel or stand up, using the dock for stability as you push off.
Have the blade exit when it reaches your feet to get the most out of your stroke. | Photo: Scott MacGregor
Some people find getting back onto the board after falling off in deeper water challenging. You won’t have the benefit of pushing off the lake or river bottom, so you’ll need to pull yourself onto the board stomach first and then, from a prone position, work yourself up to your knees and then your feet.
If you need rest, you can sit on a paddleboard. Climb onto the board, sit yourself down and give yourself a minute to catch your breath.
Finding where to stand
Knowing where to stand on a paddleboard is key to balance and comfort. As mentioned before, the handle is the center point and generally the widest part of the board, making it the most stable.
Since the handle is at the center, it also keeps your board laying as flat as it is designed to on the water’s surface. By being centered and having your board flat on the water, you produce the best glide to travel. So start with your feet shoulder-width apart in line with the handle. Later, you may need to adjust your foot positioning, especially for maneuvers and conditions.
Try to relax your legs. The more you can use your knees to absorb the movement of the water through the board, the more stable you’ll be. On calm water, shift your weight left and right to unbalance the board and learn how stable the board is.
To hold the paddle correctly, you should be able to rest it on your head and have your arms bent at around a 90-degree angle. | Photo: Raquel Bauer
How to hold your paddle
Unlike a kayak paddle, where your hands are spaced on the shaft, a paddleboard paddle should be held with one hand on top of the T-shaped handle at the end of the paddle, and the other part way down the shaft. When holding the paddle, you should be able to place it across your head and have both arms bent at a 90-degree angle.
Figuring out the exact length for your SUP paddle is a science unto itself. Some paddles are a fixed length, but many are adjustable, which is great for figuring out what length works best and for versatility. A good place to start is that the paddle should be a few inches longer than you are tall. From here you can make adjustments for board size and paddling activity.
You’ll also notice it’s common for SUP paddles to have an offset, where the end of the blade is pointed outward. Have it pointed out toward the front of your paddleboard, which is how it’s designed to provide you with more effective strokes.
Start by standing on the paddleboard with your feet even with the center handle and about shoulder-width apart. | Photo: Raquel Bauer.
How to paddle a standup paddleboard
Learning proper SUP paddling technique takes some time, but the basic maneuver is to pivot at the hips, reach forward to plant the whole blade in the water, and then move the blade toward your feet as you stand up straight. Rather than thinking about moving the water with your paddle, think of it as planting your blade in the water and then pulling your board forward.
To stay in a straight line, keep your paddle as vertical as possible as you go through the stroke, and slice the blade out of the water when it’s reached your feet. The fin of your board is largely there to keep you traveling straight. You may need to occasionally switch between paddling on the left and right side of the board until you learn correctional strokes.
The basics of turning
Wondering how to turn on a standup paddleboard? The best option for beginners to turn their paddle board is the reverse, or backstroke. This turns the board relatively quickly because the backstroke throws the brakes on your momentum, especially the side the paddle is on, and the drag helps the board spin in that direction.
Variations of reverse strokes are one of the best ways to turn the board. Here the paddler steps back to lift the nose. | Photo: Scott MacGregor
You’ll see experienced paddlers use impressive pivot turns, where they step toward the back of the board, pop the nose out of the water, and plant or sweep the paddle. As the name of the technique suggests, you can make very tight turns this way.
The pivot is a difficult maneuver for a beginner to pull off. The cross bow is more doable but can be tricky too. This is when you take your paddle from one side and reach across to the other side of the board without switching hands. Then you pull the blade and nose together like a pair of closing scissors. It’s a great turning technique that maintains some of your momentum.
Additional tips for paddleboarding
The best place to start
As you begin to standup paddleboard, you’ll start to become aware of every lake, river and pond around you because you’ll want to explore them.
Standup paddleboarders just starting out should stick to water they’re familiar with that doesn’t have a strong current, undertow or big waves. The flatter the water, the better as you learn the balance and technique of being on a SUP. Of course, even a lake or bay can change day-to-day so check weather forecasts and marine conditions to see if the day meets your ability level.
As you get more comfortable on the board, expand your horizons and enjoy the adventure that comes with gliding across bodies of water.
Practicing good vertical strokes is an essential aspect of learning how to paddleboard. | Photo: Scott MacGregor
How to get back on your paddleboard
It’s bound to happen, and safe to say we’ve all fallen off our board. Once it does, and you aren’t in a place where you can simply stand up, you may realize climbing back on is trickier than you thought. There are a few methods you can use to get back on the paddleboard.
The best way is to use the handle we keep mentioning at the center of the board to pull your chest across. Stay low until you can center and stabilize yourself and stand up from there. It’s helpful to lay your paddle parallel with the board on the far side while you climb on so it doesn’t float away.
Some people also find success going to the tail and crawling up from the back of the board. Again, stay low until you find yourself in a centered and stable position to stand up.
If you’re struggling or tired, remember your paddleboard is a giant inflatable or foam-filled flotation aid you can rest on until you are ready to climb back on or swim with it to shore. You can also have a paddling buddy put their hands on the board on the opposite side of you to hold it steady.
How to improve your balance
At first glance, standup paddleboarding appears to be entirely an arm workout, but newcomers to the sport often find it’s their legs and core that are more sore than anything.
The better your balance gets, the more the workout will shift to being about the arms or whole body. To improve your balance for paddleboarding, things like balance boards or bosu balls are extremely beneficial. Weight training to strengthen your legs will help you stabilize on the board. Wide, inflatable paddleboards also provide a good, stable platform for beginners.
Beyond that, strengthening your core, back, shoulders and arms will help make you a better, more well-rounded standup paddler.
An inflatable belt pack is a popular PFD choice for SUP. | Photo: Scott MacGregor
More on dressing for success
The lifestyle of SUPing conjures images of board shorts and bikinis, but when you are dressing for a paddlesport, you need to factor in weather, sun exposure and water temperatures in the event of falling in. In paddleboarding, there’s a high likelihood that you’ll get wet.
If you’re thinking about paddling in colder seasons, even the most experienced paddlers will wear full drysuits with sealed boots in the winter so they won’t experience the dangerous shock of cold water. Wetsuits are another good option, especially if you are coming to the sport from surfing and already have one appropriate for your water temperatures.
When it comes to personal safety, the unsinkable nature of paddleboards can be both a blessing and a curse. Many people think that because they’re paddling on a vessel that won’t sink, they don’t need to wear a personal flotation device (PFD). The problem is that accidents do still happen, and you should always be wearing a PFD—regardless of what the local marine regulations or the sometimes lenient rules at rental places might say.
A low-profile life jacket provides adequate flotation without restricting movement or bumping into your strokes. Inflatable belt-pack PFDs have become another popular option for standup paddling because they sit around your waist and are the size of a small hip pack. These inflatables come in both automatic and manual deploying designs.
The deal with leashes
The other hugely important piece of safety equipment you should almost never go without on open waterways like oceans, bays and lakes is a leash. These attach to the rear of the board and then wrap around your ankle or calf.
If you fall off your paddleboard, the leash is your lifeline. This is what keeps you attached to the board, and allows you to pull the SUP back toward you if you fall in the water. They’re crucial pieces of safety gear worn by even the most experienced standup paddleboarders.
Rivers and leashes are a different story. The use of leashes on rivers and other moving waterways is strongly debated and requires specialized gear and an understanding of considerations. The issue is, if you use a traditional leash on a flowing river and it gets snagged on an object, any current will be too strong for you to reach and release it.
Because of this danger, leashes used on a river should feature a minimum of a quick-release mechanism that is within close reach. Those who do use a leash on a river often wear these quick releases around their waist or on their life jacket. Paddleboarders considering a river leash system should consult with experienced river SUPers and have a strong understanding of implementing these safety mechanisms.
FT. MORGAN, ALABAMA — The 2024 Great Alabama 650, a 650-mile paddle race across the waterways of Alabama, concluded on October 1, 2024, at 2:45 PM. Over the 10 days, paddlers from around the world pushed their limits through rain and shine. The Alabama Scenic River Trail congratulates all participants, especially the record-setting finishers in each category, for their achievements.
Notable highlights of this year’s race include:
The 1st ever back-to-back solo winner of the race.
A new 5-time finisher of the race who joined the 3250 club.
The 1st woman to complete the course on exclusively on standup paddleboard.
The 1st person to finish the race twice exclusively on a paddleboard.
The toughness of the race is evident in the fact that only 47 percent of those who started made it to the Ft. Morgan finish line. This statistic, however, is a testament to the resilience and determination of the participants, who faced the challenge head-on and emerged victorious. Here are the official times and finishing standings of 10 people who finished this year’s Great Alabama 650:
2024 Great Alabama 650 Finishers
Race Director Greg Wingo and Trey Reaves celebrating at the finish line
Overall Winner & Male Solo 1st Place: Trey Reaves – 7d 03h 20m (first back-to-back solo winner of the race)
Joseph Bolton greeted by his dog and fans at the finish line
John Knippers arriving at the finish line
Mirko Pruefer being awarded trophy at finish line
David Miller at the finish line with trophy
Nathan Gueltzau celebrating with exclusive AL650 Finisher Patch
Male Solo Category:
2nd Place: David Miller – 8d 00h 25m
3rd Place: Mirko Pruefer – 8d 05h 38m
4th Place: John Knippers – 8d 19h 03m (completed the course exclusively on a paddleboard; first to do the course on a paddleboard last year and the only person to do it twice)
5th Place: Joseph Bolton – 8d 22h 47m
6th Place: Nathaniel Gueltzau – 9d 20h 07m
Lindsey Tilton celebrating with trophy at the finish line
Ryan Gillikin is awarded into the 3250 Club (5-time Finisher)
Female Solo Category:
Female Solo 1st Place Winner: Ryan Gillikin – 8d 18h 37m (5-time Finisher, Joined 3250 Club)
2nd Place: Lindsey Tilton – 9d 19h 35m (first female to complete the course exclusively on a paddleboard)
Jessica Nace and Candi Hill arriving at the finish line
Tandem Category:
Tandem Team 1st Place Winners: Jessica Nance & Candi Hill – 8d 22h 35m
The Alabama Scenic River Trail, host and facilitator of the race, thanks all volunteers and staff who worked tirelessly to assist in the success of this year’s race. Their efforts made the Great Alabama 650 a memorable experience for all. Race Director Greg Wingo and his company, ROAM Projects, contracted to execute the race, did a marvelous job ensuring the event’s success. Under Greg Wingo’s leadership for the 6th edition of the Great Alabama 650, the state saw record-breaking performances and attracted paddlers from around the globe. The Alabama Scenic River Trail Board and Staff congratulate Roam Projects on the professional, safe and fun atmosphere that the race staff prioritized, especially in the face of planning around the impact of Hurricane Helene.
This event would not have been possible without the generous support of our AL650 sponsors. Their commitment to promoting water recreation in Alabama through their donations has been crucial to the Great Alabama 650’s success. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our sponsor and donors for their unwavering support for the 6th year. A full list of sponsors of the event’s 2024 sponsors is available below and on AL650.com. Companies or partners interested in sponsoring next year’s race should contact ASRT at media@alabamascenicrivertrail.com.
Trophies of the Great Alabama 650
About the Alabama Scenic River Trail
The Alabama Scenic River Trail (ASRT) maintains and promotes the National Water Recreation Trail, which stretches 630 miles, along with a network of over 6,500 miles of river trails throughout the state. The organization’s trail network spans from North Alabama mountain streams and whitewater rapids to South Alabama’s river deltas, making it one of the most varied water trail networks in the nation. Through collaborations with local partners, members, organizations, and outfitters, ASRT serves as the state’s premier paddling resource for all skill levels. ASRT works to ensure fun, safe, and welcoming opportunities for people to explore Alabama’s diverse waterways. The Great Alabama 650, ASRT’s signature race, highlights the full scope of these waterways, promoting appreciation and recognition of the state’s exceptional water recreation opportunities. Learn more by visiting ASRT.me.
North Carolina and Tennessee have absorbed the brunt of widespread damage from Hurricane Helene. News coverage and social media have shared the destruction around the city of Asheville, and towns in the Southern Appalachians, especially river communities, which have been devastated by the storm’s impact.
Throughout both rural Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee, we are still learning the magnitude of the hurricane’s destruction to life, property and infrastructure—witnessing a place forever altered.
Paddling community launches into rescue and recovery following the wake of Helene
In the wake of the storm on Saturday, September 28, Mason Hargrove and Dane Jackson went to Big Hungry Creek and down the Green River Narrows in order to access Green River Cove Road near Saluda, NC, a community hard hit by the storm and cut off from conventional access.
“As soon as we got past the last rapid we started seeing cars and RVs and houses stacked on top of each other, and 40-foot tall wood stacks,” Hargrove said. “I think that was the moment it finally hit me how hard these people got hit and how much this is going to take to get back to semi-normal. I think it’s going to be a lot longer than a lot of people realize.”
“We both had 25 cans of non-perishable food in drybags. We paddled the Narrows but mostly just hiked everything—we’re not here for the kayaking. We’re here to check on the people. With the landslides that had happened and how high the river got here, it was a completely different river,” said Hargrove.
Officials do not endorse entering the landscape the way the paddlers did. They are asking people not to self-deploy into affected areas. Instead, within the region, you can call 2-1-1 to connect with community services, and there are numerous ways to volunteer, including paddler-organized recovery efforts.
How Helene became a catastrophic flooding event
At nearly 300 miles from the nearest coast, the mountains of North Carolina and East Tennessee were not likely suspects for severe hurricane damage. However, the heavy winds and rains of Hurricane Helene combined with a cold front in the region that had already left the rivers high before the storm even hit. The rainfall combined with the mountain terrain itself amplified the effect, resulting in historic flooding and never-before-recorded river levels.
On Wednesday, September 25, Hurricane Helene was a Category 1 storm, just over a day away from its eventual landfall as a Category 4 storm on September 26. Hours later in the Southern Appalachians, the storm brought catastrophic winds and rains, with the highest rain total in Busick, North Carolina, reaching 31.33 inches over three days.
Most communities in the region are in valleys along rivers; pairing this with steep slopes and shallow soil created a worst-case scenario for flooding, NOAA Climatic Data Center Chief of the Scientific Services Division David Easterling told USA Today.
The French Broad River in Asheville reached a water level of 24.67 feet—the highest flood stage observed in Asheville since measurements began in 1895. Downstream, the mountain communities of Marshall and Hot Springs were run through.
In the scenic town of Chimney Rock, North Carolina, the Broad River gauges do not appear to reflect what occurred, but close by, the small tributary Cove Creek showed a water level higher than 24 feet on September 27, before recorded measurements ceased. It measured just two feet before the flooding. Reports indicate Chimney Rock has been heavily swept away in the flood waters.
There are already 175 confirmed deaths in total from Hurricane Helene and search operations continue. Throughout the region, hundreds of thousands of people remain without power, without gas, limited access to clean drinking water and isolated due to damage to roadways.
While small river towns are among the hardest hit, the communities have quickly banded together to initiate recovery.
River community-led rescue and recovery efforts
According to a statement online, the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Bryson City, North Carolina, is largely intact after the storm and has been offering the local community a place for a hot meal and to charge electronics. In addition, the Nantahala Outdoor Center wrote on Tuesday that it is serving as a local relief donation drop-off point to collect and deliver supplies directly to those impacted by Hurricane Helene.
“We have partners reaching out like Astral with vans to help transport supplies and have 200 blankets going to Asheville and Hendersonville today [October 2], and 50+ cases of water coming today or tomorrow and lots of other partners willing to help,” the Nantahala Outdoor Center shared.
“Our goal is to survey the need and take it to our river communities like Hartford, Hot Springs and Asheville areas for now. Our Hot Springs river guides lost everything as our staff housing was a total loss, but they are okay.”
In Saluda, North Carolina, Green Riverkeeper at MountainTrue, an Environmental Conservation Organization committed to protecting the Blue Ridge and Western North Carolina, is accepting and distributing supplies.
After paddling into Green River Cove on the 28th with supplies, Hargrove and Jackson shared a video on social media, hoping the video would shed some light on the destruction in small communities and help rally aid for these communities.
“I think kayakers are really resilient people and it’s all one big family. We’re going to take care of each other,” Hargrove said. “Obviously, the Green has a special place in a lot of people’s hearts, so to see that video and to see that community hurting and so many people, kayakers, came together and they evacuated around 28 to 30 people.”
Since Saturday, Hargrove and Jackson have made several trips into the Gorge on foot carrying hundreds of pounds of supplies for the people who remain.
“Don’t forget small towns,” Hargrove urged. ”The smaller towns are so remote, they don’t have Wi-Fi, or even power or water.”
The Norse Ask is a versatile and playful companion on your next adventure. | Feature photo: Kaydi Pyette
Henry, Goodman, Lockwood, Dennis, Foster—some sea kayak designers possess such consistency of purpose and personal expression, I know the moment I sit in one of their boats whose hand shaped it. Jesper Kromann-Andersen is such a designer.
Inspired by the surging North Atlantic swells and rugged coastline of his native Denmark, Kromann-Andersen designs sea kayaks that excel at transforming rock gardens and surf breaks into playgrounds, yet paddle efficiently with hatches packed for a longer tour.
A proficient paddler and sailor, Kromann-Andersen, 53, has been designing kayaks for most of his adult life. He describes his approach as “dynamic efficiency”—meaning a kayak must respond as a natural extension of paddler input. He’s best known in Scandinavia for creating the popular Arrow kayaks—including the Play, Nuka and Empower—now produced by Zegul. In 2015, he made a splash in North American waters with the first of three “Danish-style” kayaks developed for Current Designs—the Prana, Sisu and Karla.
Enter Norse Kayaks. As the name suggests, Norse is a Norwegian brand that began producing composite sea kayaks in 2013. With designs for touring, expedition and fitness paddling, Norse cofounders Kjetil Sandvik and Torgeir Toppe wanted to add a playful, surf-oriented sea kayak to their lineup. There was no question who should design the new boat.
“We have been fans of Jesper’s designs for a long time,” says Sandvik, “the way his designs are maneuverable without giving up speed is just impressive.”
The Norse Ask is a versatile and playful companion on your next adventure. | Feature photo: Kaydi Pyette
Kromann-Andersen paddled the fjord-fractured coast of Norway for inspiration, sketching out a compact and low-profile design with responsive handling characteristics.
The result is a pair of nimble performance sea kayaks—named Ask and Embla—designed over the same template in two sizes. At 16’3”, the smaller Embla suits paddlers from 120 to 200 pounds, while the Ask adds a modest amount of depth and five inches of length to accommodate taller and larger paddlers up to 240 pounds. Released in 2023, both models are available through Norse’s North American dealer network.
Full disclosure: I’m a huge fan of the genre of versatile and playful kayaks Kromann-Andersen is so skilled at designing. A sea kayak that is capable and efficient for multiday tours, yet lively and agile for dancing in waves, current and surf? Yes, please!
Norse Ask on the water
I’ve enjoyed all three of Current Designs’ Danish kayaks, so I’m not surprised when I slip into a Norse Ask and feel an immediate affinity. The Ask paddles like a Kromann-Andersen design, but like any work of art, it’s also beguilingly unique.
For starters, the Embla and Ask are designed around a double hard chine hull—meaning it has two distinct edges between the bottom of the kayak and its side.
“The double hard chine provides secure and well-defined secondary stability, making it effortless to hold the kayak on edge,” explains Kromann-Andersen.
“Round hatches make for the most watertight seal, which is a priority in these designs,” says Jesper Kromann-Andersen. | Photo: Kaydi Pyette
Features that enable the kayak to feel like an extension of the paddler’s body: contoured thigh braces, adjustable backband and a low-friction seat for efficient leg drive. Add hip padding to suit, and you’re ready to surf and roll. | Photo: Kaydi Pyette
Add forward momentum, and the ability to hold a deep edge translates to responsive carved turns. Tilting the hull, you’re not only shortening the waterline, but also engaging one or both edges of the double chine. The chines act like arced keels to carve the boat with noticeably more oomph than a hull with a softer chine. With no initiation from the paddle, I could weave the Ask through linked turns simply by rocking my hips from side to side.
This allowed Kromann-Andersen to optimize the waterline and rocker for speed without sacrificing maneuverability. Good hull speed makes for easier cruising and longer miles when touring. But it’s just as valuable when playing in the surf, where swift acceleration means I can catch faster-moving waves.
Norse uses vacuum-infused composites and aramid reinforcement to reduce weight, maximize strength and produce a flawless finish. | Photo: Kaydi Pyette
Manufacturing techniques play a critical role in bringing any kayak design to life. Norse builds their kayaks at a dedicated factory in Sri Lanka, using vacuum-infused composites, including a standard fiberglass layup and carbon option.
“Norse has the capability to build very pronounced, hard chines,” says Kromann-Andersen, adding the company uses ultra-high-strength Dyneema fibers to reinforce higher wear areas like the chines and keel.
Above the waterline, the Ask and Embla’s low-profile decks catch very little wind. As a result, tracking is well behaved for such a responsive kayak, and engaging a slight edge—or dropping the adjustable skeg—quickly takes care of any weathercocking.
Both kayaks offer a four-hatch layout, including a centrally fitted day hatch and a deck hatch accessing a small grab bag just in front of the cockpit. There’s ample space behind the bulkheads to pack for a multiday tour.
By combining effortless agility with efficient touring speed, the Ask and Embla reward both experienced rough water paddlers and aspiring novices looking for a playful companion in which to unlock more advanced skills. But don’t take my word for it.
“A kayak’s character and performance is something you have to experience and feel,” says Jesper Kromann-Andersen, “it is hard to do it justice in words.”
This article was first published in Issue 72 of Paddling Magazine. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.
The Norse Ask is a versatile and playful companion on your next adventure. | Feature photo: Kaydi Pyette
It was about five hours into his paddle that kayaker Gavin Metcalfe felt an unexpected visitor in his boat.
“Gavin has just found a mouse in his pants,” says paddler Evan Metcalfe, Gavin’s brother, in the opening of the video.
“There is literally a mouse in my pants,” confirms Gavin.
Five hours in paddler finds mouse in kayak
Gavin speculates that the mouse entered his kayak through a mouse nest at his home, where he stored his kayak in a woodshed. The mouse hitched a ride for five hours while he and his brother and father were paddling Lake Huron’s Bruce Peninsula on day one of a five day sea kayak trip.
After a morning paddle in waves, the Metcalfes paddled out to Flowerpot Island. It was on the way back to the mainland about four kilometers from shore that the mouse emerged from under Gavin’s kayak seat—and into his pants.
“My leg was itching and I went to scratch it and there was a lump in my pants,” Gavin explained. “I went to see what is in my pants and it moved.”
While the paddle continued on well for the Metcalfes with four more days of paddling, unfortunately the hitchhike proved fatal for the mouse who fell out of the pants and into the water.
“Sorry, pal. That’s not a good finish but I apologize. Better you than me,” Gavin ends the video.
Critter-proofing your kayak
Unwelcome paddling partners of the critter variety are not an uncommon experience for paddlers who store their boats outside. Take for example,this 2021 video of a paddler discovering a nonvenomous snake in her kayak.
At best, they make for a funny story or video. At worst, they can ruin your day.
Boats stored outside are most prone to hitchhikers, but the presence of unwelcome paddling partners can be mitigated by both checking the cockpit of your boat for mice, snakes, and other passengers before launching or using a cockpit cover on boats stored outdoors.
In addition, boats stored suspended rather than on the ground are less likely to see unwanted critters.
Still, storing your kayak in a garage and with a cockpit cover is ideal for both care of your kayak in the long term and protection from unwanted critters taking up residence.
This is how artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT envisions the future of wilderness tripping. Love it? Hate it? Let us know at editor@paddlingmag.com. | Feature photo: DALL-E
Even a casual fan of The Weather Channel will know prognostications about the future lie firmly in the realm of fiction. Interesting speculation based on available information, perhaps, but fiction, nonetheless. Still, thinking ahead can be fun because sometimes wishes do come true.
And, unlike the weather, what we dream of today can affect what we make real in the future. I’m thinking about canoes and canoeing in 2050.
For starters, despite all manner of contraptions to encourage us to get off the couch, we’ve spent decades getting less physically active and spending more time online. The average American adult now clocks more than 11 hours of screen time daily. Heading down the virtual reality rabbit hole just a little leads inexorably to imagining sophisticated virtual wilderness experiences—whitewater, flatwater, ocean surfing, and fully outfitted canoe trips on just about any river in any exotic place from the comfort of your home. It might tempt some of us with the ‘bin der dun dat’ sense of accomplishment, all the while wondering why we’re feeling strangely unsatisfied with the experience.
But for those of us who expect to keep on keeping on with the delicious pain and discomfort of getting out in real boats in the real world, the technological writing is on the proverbial boathouse wall with glimpses of what we have to look forward to. Fortunately, it’s not all bleak Black Mirror predictions.
This is how artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT envisions the future of wilderness tripping. Love it? Hate it? Let us know at editor@paddlingmag.com. | Feature photo: DALL-E
The future is now
Autonomous vehicles may have been slower to roll out than was predicted a decade ago, but Waymo and Cruise’s driverless ride-hailing services now operate in a half-dozen U.S. cities. In another two decades, self-driving cars might drop us off at the put-in, park themselves and then drive the gravel roads of the back beyond to pick us up at the take-out a week later.
Search and rescue organizations already use drones to find lost hikers and paddlers. Soon, drones may deliver medical supplies to injured wilderness canoeists or guide lost paddlers back home. With Amazon now using drones to deliver products in two U.S. cities and Nepal using cargo drones to remove trash from Everest, a future resupply by drone on a lengthy remote river trip even sounds feasible.
And with the invention of colloidal quantum dot voltaics—nanoscale semiconductors, also known as photovoltaic paint—it’s only a matter of time before we can expect our boats to have a built-in reliable source of electricity. It could power everything from upmarket navigation and communication tools to food prep, illumination and storage gizmos—maybe even hologram paddling companions. If Whitney Houston’s digital likeness can perform for sold-out shows in Las Vegas for three years running, who’s to say Bill Mason can’t guide your future canoe trip?
If that’s too weird—and I think it is—how about hulls with augmented reality displays showcasing the underwater ecosystem? AI-assisted apps already help us recognize plants, animals and constellations, promoting a deeper understanding of the world. In 2049, just pop on your next-generation Apple Vision Pro goggles and get a virtual history lesson while glimpsing what your favorite paddling route looked like 400 hundred years ago, before colonization and complete with old-growth forest.
On the propulsion front, there’s much to imagine. A siphon tube along the keel with full forward and reverse functions for on-water aid to motion, which would be far more subtle and sophisticated than some of the old-school propeller designs in the SUP and kayak fishing marketplace. These products clearly demonstrate an appetite for mechanical assist, so there’s every reason to expect fans of canoes and kayaks to follow suit. We might as well add a stroke-correcting autopilot while we’re at it.
And on the portage end of things, who knows? Maybe hovercraft innovations allow us to walk our canoes from lake to lake, like a designer muffy dog on a leash. Far more likely are even stronger hull materials at a fraction of the weight.
Optimized performance from paddlers to boats
For the paddler, today’s wearable tech monitors vitals like heart rate and blood oxygen saturation. Future wearables might monitor hydration and energy expenditure to prevent overexertion on a nasty portage. Get an alert when you need to take a break or hydrate. It could even suggest optimal nutrition. Unfortunately, it’s probably not a Mars bar, meat stick or other standard tripping fare.
We might as well add a stroke-correcting autopilot while we’re at it.
A little further out there, imagine a canoe or kayak hull that could stiffen, soften or change waterline configurations to meet the challenges of different conditions. A futurist piezoelectric boat could physically morph shape at an onboard computer’s command to maximize safety and efficiency. This would be a little like the mustache-shaped birchbark Beothuk canoe we’ve long since forgotten, which could be heeled over to make it maneuverable in river currents and then paddled straight up with ballast in the rolling breakers of the open sea with equal alacrity.
At last, one canoe to truly do it all.
But then, I think of the gorgeous, in-need-of-repair 16-foot Chestnut Pal canoe given to me by Bill Mason’s best friend, Don Morgan, back in the 1980s when I was researching Fire in the Bones, Bill’s biography. It was about 30 years old when he so kindly passed it on. Thirty years later, I reskinned it, and now, a couple of decades on, it’s as beautiful, functional and practical as it ever was and as it will be, I’m guessing, in 2049 and beyond. Some designs are timeless. That’s a fact. I’m just hoping somebody in the family will be around to love it, paddle it, and feel the deep connections to the wild lands and waters it connects us to and that will sustain us, even then.
James Raffan is the former executive director of the Canadian Canoe Museum. An author, explorer and occasional Zodiac driver, his Tumblehome column appears in every issue of Paddling Magazine.
This article was first published in Issue 72 of Paddling Magazine. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.
This is how artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT envisions the future of wilderness tripping. Love it? Hate it? Let us know at editor@paddlingmag.com. | Feature photo: DALL-E
Kokatat Announces Scott Frank as New Sales Manager | Photo: Kokatat
ARCATA, CA – Kokatat, a leading manufacturer of innovative paddlesports apparel and accessories, is pleased to announce Scott Frank as its new Sales Manager, effective immediately. In his new role at Kokatat, Scott will oversee the Sales Department, external Sales Representatives and the Warranty and Repair Department.
Scott has over 30 years of sales experience in the outdoor industry, working for multiple specialty outdoor retail shops prior to leading the Kokatat customer and dealer service department for the past 14 years.
Mark Loughmiller, Kokatat CEO, stated, “Scott has developed excellent relationships with Kokatat’s dealers and outside Sales Representatives, which will serve him well in his new role as Sales Manager. Scott has a thorough understanding of Kokatat’s business operations and product lines making Scott a perfect fit for his new role in the company.”
Kokatat is deeply committed to quality and excellence in customer service. Scott’s prior role as Customer Service Manager provided firsthand interactions with customers, both wholesale and consumer, putting him in a unique position to utilize their feedback in Kokatat and Scott’s shared goal of continual improvement.
“We will continue to focus on improving sustainable manufacturing through the use of less harmful chemicals, and increasing paddlesports participation through community engagement,” said Scott.
Scott brings much knowledge and enthusiasm to his new position at Kokatat, where he will give input to the company’s management team and provide leadership for the sales department. His responsibilities will be on the domestic and global scale for the company’s paddlesports business.
“From its founding and continuing to this day, Kokatat has been a small family business. In my new role as Sales Manager, I have been enabled with the opportunity to serve Kokatat and its customers in the tradition of all families; a tradition of encouraging the success of each other and having fun doing it,” said Scott.
About Kokatat Inc.
Kokatat has been manufacturing paddling gear in Arcata, California, for over 50 years. At a time when many technical apparel brands were moving manufacturing offshore, Kokatat continued to invest in infrastructure in the United States. Kokatat founder Steve O’Meara was committed to the development of the finest and driest paddling apparel in the world and recognized the need to control and continually evolve the development of our dry wear. In the early days, Kokatat worked closely with W.L. Gore& Associates, makers of GORE-TEX®, to refine the sewing and sealing techniques required for full immersion suits and tops.
This article was first published in the Issue 72 of Paddling Magazine. 
