River Sports and Shirakami Sanchi, Japan’s First Natural World Heritage Site

The sea alongside Fukaura Town, Aomori Prefecture, resembled a blue glass tabletop as we leisurely paddled our kayaks toward where the ocean touched a cloud-layered sky. Our guide pointed out Mt. Shirakami, part of Japan’s Shirakami Sanchi Natural World Heritage … Continue reading

Cold Weather Canoeing In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula Wilderness

Canoeing Upper Peninsula Michigan: man and woman paddling on lake

It was an early afternoon in late October as we launched our two canoes from a landing onto a winding lake in an Upper Michigan wilderness area. Temperatures were around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and winds were 5 to 10 mph … Continue reading

Hanford Reach: The Monument, The River, The Region

Columbia River near Hanford Reach

With summer activities now in reach, the opportunities to get out and explore are out there. One area well worth discovering is the Hanford Reach in the eastern half of Washington State. Hanford Reach abounds with sights and activities along … Continue reading

Paddling In Lion’s Head Along Ontario’s Bruce Peninsula

view of ridge near Lion's Head on Bruce Peninsula

With recreational paddling booming, it’s no surprise the water of Ontario’s Bruce Peninsula, the finger of land that along with Manitoulin Island, separates Lake Huron from Georgian Bay, is attracting kayakers from all over. There’s something about the deep, cold … Continue reading

Superb Fall & Winter Lake And River Sports In Aomori, Japan

Aomori prefecture jumps to the forefront of my recommendations when visitors request advice for canoeing, river exploring, camping, snowshoe trekking, and skiing in Japan.

Canoe tours in a lake surrounded by volcanic peaks, snowshoeing treks in protected forests, and long … Continue reading

River Tours and Pura Vida in Costa Rica

Loud as foghorns, the braying of howler monkeys erupted from the jungle to the right of our pontoon boat. Our eyes whipped across the verdant rainforest jungle. Something moved in the thick verdant wall of trees and vines along the … Continue reading

River Sports Fun: French Broad, Holston Rivers Conflux at Tennessee Confluence

Mighty Rivers rise from humble beginnings, often hundreds of miles from their final, stellar display of power as they rumble into a junction downstream. The Tennessee River’s founding ranks as one of the more interesting in river history and recreation.… Continue reading

Rafting British Columbia: A Summer Bucket List Requirement

British Columbia offers amazing, affordable, accessible adventures for river rats, and famed B.C. waterways like the Thompson, Fraser and Chilliwack Rivers are no secret to outdoor enthusiasts. Rafting is one of the few water sports where you’ll actually enjoy paddling … Continue reading

Kayaking Maine’s Orr’s and Bailey Islands

For thousands of years, humans have gone out on the sea alone in a kayak and experienced what might be the ultimate soul journey on the water. The Orr’s and Bailey Islands are part of the Harpswell Island chain located … Continue reading

Repose Along the Oswegatchie River In New York

Imagine days of paddling on a narrow, lazy river. You snake through marshes and pine forests, passing by large boulders and tiny beaches. The land is full of herons and beavers, prints of a muskrat, or raccoon that reveal their … Continue reading