STANDOUT PADDLING

I've lost count of how many times I have passed under Folsom's prominent Rainbow Bridge. The bridge is a historic landmark of the area. Built in 1917, the bridge crosses over the upper end of Lake Natoma and the American River. A 208-foot long concrete arch spans the rocky ledges of the canyon to help give the bridge it's fabled name. Photographed and painted time and time again the bridge is truly a magnificent sight.

I can remember last year when it loomed before me as I paddled up the lake. Before I had moved to California, I had only seen it in pictures. As I paddled under it, I felt a thrill in pushing against the current and past the silent monument. It was my welcome to Californian kayaking.

It is routine now. Lake Natoma is my home lake. I have kayaked it so much and so often that I could probably name the geese. Like all home lakes, I still find it beautiful and fun to paddle around. I enjoy the quietness of its sloughs and the loftiness of its high banks. I love that the water is just minutes from my home. But that's where I have taken the lake for granted. I'm used to visiting it day after day.

Great days fade into the next when I'm out kayaking alone. Sure, I have soloing days that are special. But, the lasting and great memories come from paddling with my wife. I love to watch her glide across the water. As an artist, she delights in changing colors of sky and water while making paintings in her mind. She will frown and voice disgust when a loud radio vanquishes the peaceful solitude of the lake. This is her moment to enjoy what God has painted before her eyes.

I paddle behind trying to keep up, while she reveals to me the wonders of the water. This is the first place we kayaked together when I came to visit her before we were married. We had rented a bulky tandem sit on top and paddled together across the lake through the sloughs. It was a cool day and we had the lake to ourselves. We toured through the marsh enjoying the trees, birds and each others company. Now, every time I pass through those sloughs I remember that day. Every time. It will always be one of my best memories of the lake.

Debbie and I shared a sunset paddle the other day. Nothing exemplary, we are heading into fall and the sun is setting faster each night. We had to race back now before the sun slammed into the horizon. A fleeting golden reflection illuminated the water and silhouetted Debbie and her kayak. The rainbow bridge is close and beaming in the setting sun.

We will leave no lasting imprint. Water has no memory. However, sharing it with each other will always make each visit to the lake standout.

This article was originally published in Outside Adventure to the Max September 19, 2014

MISSION 22: AN INTERVIEW WITH JOE MULLIN

The most fundamental part of paddling is always coming to the aid of a fellow boater. No matter what, when someone is sinking into the water, we will automatically step up to throw a rope, toss a bag and lend a hand.
That's why it's no surprise, that paddling community has embraced some nonprofits organizations that have healed and transformed lives through kayaking. Both Team River Runner and Heroes on the Water have benefited from volunteer paddlers across the nation helping to get our wounded veterans and their families out on the water. One veteran felt his calling to do even more for his fellow veterans.
According to a Department of Veterans Affairs study, each day over 20 veterans take their own lives. For Joseph Mullin that was staggering statistic he just couldn't accept. A disabled veteran with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Mullin felt he needed to generate national consciouses for this serious issue. To help create an awareness of Mission 22, a national organization aimed at suicide prevention among veterans and active military members, Mullin embarked on a 2,000-mile journey down the entire East Coast.
Called the, One Man, One Mission, To Save Thousands Expedition, Mullin started his trek last spring at Quoddy Head Lighthouse in Maine, heading south towards Key West Florida. Last week, Outside Adventure to the Max, caught up to Mullin while he was wintering after completing one-third of his trip. We asked him about his journey on the water and the veteran's cause he's paddling for.


OAM: As a disabled veteran yourself why did you get involved in Mission 22?
JM: I'm a disabled veteran with PTSD from 20 years of underwater recovery and a few life events. I was shot at when I was 17, so I know the sounds and feelings of having rounds whizzing by your head.
There is a bond between veterans cannot be explained nor can't be broken. My brother and sisters are hurting and need help. I think what I'm doing for Mission 22 is the best way for me to help them.

OAM: Your expedition is called: ONE MAN ONE MISSION TO SAVE THOUSANDS. How did you come up with the idea for this voyage and how long have you been planning it?
JM: I have been around the ocean all my life surfing, scuba diving, canoeing and kayaking. Lately, it has been mostly kayaking, so that's the perfect choice of vehicle for a trip.
What do they say go big or go home. If you do the math 22 (suicides) per day and the fact that I'm solo, The One Man One Mission to Save Thousands makes a great deal of sense. I thought 2,000 miles in a kayak would draw attention to the cause.
Living in Massachusetts with a direct access to Buzzards Bay made for the optimal training ground. The bay is like a bowl so when the water starts to move the chop comes at you from all sides. I trained in my 14-foot kayak in seas from flat to 7-feet. I trained for 2 years studying the movement of the water winds and currents. My route was 20 NM (nautical miles) down the coast across a harbor and many coves then stop for lunch and return in various conditions.
I had the Marion Harbormaster searching for me one day as someone called the coast guard saying I was in distress. They found me returning from Mattapoisett Harbor. I was fine the whole time. I had to promise to call him on CH 16 to let him know I was crossing the harbor.
On the day I was playing in 7-foot seas and when I had enough fun and was returning to calmer seas (3-4 ft) I could hear a diesel engine coming up behind me. It was the coast guard. We had an interesting radio conversation before I went back to my launch site.

OAM: How did you prep for this expedition? 
JM: I took a kayak camping trip with my buddy in Casco Bay in Maine 2015 and we ended up in 14-ft swells in 30-knot winds which I do not recommend anyone tries. We hit swells and wind at 22.5 degrees and maintained 3 mph with a constant rhythm.
I spent 2 years researching equipment and gathering data and charts plotting courses. Added some appropriate apps to my phone, USCG, Life360, Navionics, NOAA weather to name the main ones

OAM: You started your expedition to kayak the entire eastern seaboard last spring, Where are you at, how has been going and when do you expect to be underway again?
JM: I started at Quoddy Head Lighthouse in Maine on April 30, 2017, and ended at Watch Hill, Rhode Island. My original kayak (Necky Looksha Elite) developed problems when I reached Rhode Island and was losing buoyancy, stability and performance. I went from paddling 30-40 NM (nautical miles) a day to 10 NM.
I had to research, a new kayak and find a sponsor or a company willing to help me. After much research, I found Current Designs. I spoke directly with the owner of the company and explained to him my situation and my cause. I explained to him the conditions that I had paddled through so far and we talked about my course ahead. We came up with the best solution that I could live with a gently used Solstice GT.
You have to remember I am living out of the kayak, so transportation has been provided by family and friends. My new kayak was delivered, but it was too late in the year to continue. There were too many storms. So I am living with my girlfriend waiting for warmer weather and will start training once again in Buzzards Bay before departing hopefully in April. I will start where I left off in Watch Hill Rhode Island.

OAM: Tell us about your setbacks. I read your day #1 account and for many of us, we would have quit right there. What keeps you going?
JM: Day one kayak overloaded (ego bigger than common sense) I had paddled for over 2-hours. Was just coming to Baileys Mistake and was turning in when I capsized.
Because of the overloading I could no way self-rescue. I called the coast guard then spent one hour in 38-degree water. I was dressed for 45-minute immersion in 35-degree water. Ended up in the hospital with mild hypothermia.
I had unloaded all unnecessary gear, I basically went lean and mean and survival mode. Then I continued my trip.
If you are going to kayak the coast of Maine please join the Maine Island Trail Association. The information in their book is great. Also if you decide to kayak The Bold Coast (northern section) please hire a Maine guide for your safety. Trust me on that one I used every bit of knowledge technique and stamina to make it down that coast.
I did see a baby orca breach the surface three feet off my bow. That was fantastic.
I was stuck in Jonesport Maine for 5 days due to weather. Jonesport is a small lobstering town and I camped on a bluff the first two days in 50-knot winds and torrential downpours.

On the third day I packed my gear and headed into town (local hang out is Mooseabeck Video) I met a veteran there who gave me access to one of his houses for 3 days. The lobster men of Jonesport are excellent people who provided much information on currents and plotted my route. They also provided me with a radar reflector, don't let anyone tell you they don"t work, on a 44-inch light pole (Railblaza) it worked fine.

I capsized off of Rye, New Hampshire in shallow water. I was tired and was trying to take a short cut. I walked the kayak to shore and a surfer came out to help me. My son came to pick me up and while transporting me down the coast a bit the kayak folded in half so we went to his house where I could fix it. Those years of building surfboards come in handy. 

He took me Salisbury, Massachusetts to a state campground at the mouth of the Merrimack River. I waited 3 days for the mouth to calm down and it wasn't happening. There was 15 to 20-foot of surf. 

So talking with the local fishermen I went along the backside of Plum Island to enter further down the coast.
You need to be able to adjust plan on the fly as you may not always be able to camp or find lodging as you go.

Since I was in Massachusetts, I could call on friends to help. I won't have that luxury until I hit my hometown in Virginia. I can say there is nothing stranger looking than to see a kayak being transported in the back of your girlfriend's dump truck.
Watch Hill was my third capsize. I was a mile offshore going through a rip. I made it through the worst part and was going through the lesser part when I went to change course 4 degrees to head inland when it capsized so fast I could only wet exit and get it up right and install paddle float. 

Since the boat was traveling with the water above the transition strip I could not get any water out. I called a "mayday" and was contacted by coast guard but rescued by some local boaters. 

When I got to shore I noticed the top pin of my rudder system was missing which probably cause the abrupt flip. Luckily I do not panic nor quit.

OAM: OK, Gives us some highlights of the trip so. What has been the best part of the expedition so far?
JM: Seeing an orca breach the surface three feet off your bow is something you will never forget.
I will be forever grateful to the residents of Jonesport, Maine, and the 91-year-old veteran in Portland who gave me the grand tour of Portland and Cape Elizabeth. To all the other great people I have met along the way so far. The people who understand my cause and provide free camping and meals. 

To the media outlets that have covered my mission and journey. Catching the sunrise and sunsets out on the water. The tranquility of being out there man and nature in harmony.
Having PTSD, I'm at peace when I am on the water it's therapeutic to me.

OAM: Have you had any encounters with many veterans groups or veterans? 
JM: I have met with a number of veterans and we have shared our stories and experiences. We also have shared how many comrades we have lost to suicide. It saddens me that I didn't get the word out soon enough.
I have talked to veterans who belong to veterans groups who are willing to help spread the word about Mission 22. We have reduced the number from 22 to 20 (suicides per year) but our goal is zero. We still have a long way to go and much work to be done.

OAM: Have you been mostly going solo or have other paddlers come out to join you? What was that like?
JM: I get two reactions when I tell people. It's either great or they think I'm insane. They haven't convinced me yet on the insane part. 

It does take years of planning to get the right equipment. Having the right safety gear is paramount. You will be using all your skill sets as conditions are constantly changing. You will have to use every bit of your intelligence on kayaking and boating and every ounce of energy at times. 

When you think you are out of energy, you have to dig down and find more. Especially if you're going to kayak the Bold Coast north to south. There is no place to hide nor anyplace to duck in and rest.
I have sent out press releases to the (paddle) shops along the coast asking them to put up a notice if anyone wishes to come join me for any amount of time or length of the trip.
So far I have had only one Maine Island Trail member come out to the island I was on off of near Portland and we only got a short paddle as conditions changed and I went back to the island to camp.
I would enjoy some company and talk about the waters I'm in or heading into and also about the type of kayaking they do.

OAM: When do you expect to paddle into Key West? 

JM: I expect to leave Rhode Island sometime in April and I expect to make Key West, Florida by Christmas. However, I have extended my trip to include the gulf coast to Houston, TX.

OAM: How can people help? 
JM: First and foremost go to my website acske2017.org. At the top of the page click on the text with Mission 22 and donate.
Second I am paying for everything about this trip out of pocket. I'm on Social Security retirement so funds are very limited, you can help me at gofundme.com rkwvuqb8.
Kayakers can follow me on my site. When on the water, I post a blog every day. When I'm in your area and you want to join me send me a comment on the blog.
If you are willing to put me up for a night or to and feed me I would appreciate it or at least transport me to or from a near by campground.
Failure is not an option the cost is too great a price to be paid. The mission is far greater than the journey. Thank you in advance on behalf of my brother and sister veterans.

METAPHORS IN ADVENTURE: WHAT ARE WE REALLY DOING OUT HERE?

By Outside Adventure to the Max Guest Blogger Kate Hives

It is the 4th year I have had the pleasure of returning to the small coastal village of Chaiuin, Chile to coach at the Simposio de Kayak Pacifico Sur. The team at Pueblito Expediciones have captured the South American market of sea kayakers as they flock from all edges of this grand continent to play in the surf and amongst the swell that crashes against the monolithic coast lines. It is in this familiar yet still foreign environment that I find pause to reflect on what we are all doing here bobbing around like corks on the sea.

It is easy to dismiss what we are doing as ‘just sea kayaking’, which on the one hand reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously. On the other hand, I wonder what lies beneath the surface of our desire for adventure and become more and more curious about ‘why kayaking’?

There is something powerful about separating ourselves entirely from that which is familiar and for us as human terrestrial creatures, the watery world of the ocean is as unknown and foreign as can be. In teaching kayaking, I find myself working with the elements of movement and direction in unfamiliar terrain in tandem with the less measurable realm of human experience. What are we really doing out here? What motivates us to head “into the water”. (Kokatat – meaning: Native American word for ‘into the water’.)

Sure, we are spending time with friends, feeling more alive as we bob up and down in the waves and perhaps, we simply like the sense of accomplishment that comes with mastering a new skill. Likely this is enough thinking for most – there is not always a need to delve much further into our motivations. Woven into these outcomes and goals is, however, a deeper more profound element that can lurk just beyond our awareness.

Just like traveling to a new country or learning a new language, my feeling is that learning to be comfortable in the foreign environment of the sea offers us more than just the physical ability to survive in these places. Perhaps it offers the gift of building confidence in our own capacity to be more than we may have previously thought; perhaps it helps us to understand that we are all capable of more, beyond that which is visible to the naked eye. What if I were to make the outrageous statement that we are not ‘just sea kayaking’, but we are in fact learning more about what it means to live into our human potential in all its possibility? Now that’s a reason to go sea kayaking!

Maybe I am overstepping. Maybe you simply took up kayaking as a personal challenge or as a romantic idea, just for fun, or simply as an alternate method of travel. But what if within those seemingly benign motivations lies a more dynamic impulse. What if kayaking could be a metaphor for those things that at first seem nay impossible? What if learning to steer your 16-foot kayak on top of a powerful driving wave is a training ground to muster the internal strength to learn to surf the similarly unpredictable wave of human experience. The metaphor of surfing the wave then becomes an expression of knowing when and where to change direction and how to go with the flow.

For me, when I pause to reflect on what it is I am really doing out here and ask myself what I have learned, I hear the answer “I am learning to steer my vessel in a challenging environment, I am learning when to go and when to pause, I am beginning to understand how to work with the energy of this grand oceanic force.”

From this vantage point the wave and indeed the ocean become the metaphor for this greater ride we are all on and I begin to know that I can learn the skills needed to navigate these often challenging and labyrinthine waters of daily life.

Kate Hives is an adventurous sea kayaking guide and rough water coach with SKILS based out of Vancouver Island. She has explored Canada from coast to coast and has paddled in Patagonia, Chile, Malaysia, Tasmania, North Wales and Scotland. Keep up with Hives in her blog At home on the water. 
Outside Adventure to the Max is always looking for guest bloggers. Contact us at Nickayak@gmail.com if you are interested.

WEATHERMAN

Attitude is the difference between an ordeal and an adventure. – Bob Bitchin

"No epic adventure started with "On a bright sunny day." It's one of my favorite tweets attributed to adventurer Sean Conway and my usual answer when someone asked: "Are you going to kayak in the rain?"

I kept thinking that as a hard pounding rain bounced off my bow and cascaded into Lake Natoma as if a dam had burst in the sky. A misty haze hung over the lake as each drop created millions of momentary craters exploding in the water creating a giant whooshing sound over its surface. In the middle of the lake, stranded and getting soaked  I paddled as quickly as I could under to the safety of nearby bridge to wait out the deluge.

Adverse weather makes my trips more memorable. Paddling through a mist of rain adds a certain magic to my outing on the lake. It's a man vs nature type endeavor. Do I like bright sunny days? Of course, I do. Nothing is better than kayaking along while being kissed by the sun. In California, a state known for its sunshine, I have experienced lots of sun dazzling days on the water. But heartily coexisting in snow, rain, sleet and fog make for trips that are far from ordinary.

I'm grateful for the rain. The 2017-18 winter is off to a very slow start in Northern California. What a difference a year makes after last winter's record drought-busting snow totals in the Sierra Nevada. The recent snow survey results showed the basin at 30 percent of normal, compared to 67 percent on the same date last year.
“We are behind where we were last year at this time,” Jeff Anderson, a hydrologist from the Nevada Natural Resources Conservation Service, a federal agency that tracks snow in the west, told the Reno Gazette-Journal.

Last week's series of storms did bring much-needed rain to Northern California but did little to help the snowpack. The southern storms were swollen with tropical moisture, too warm to make it a snowmaker as the snow levels hovered only around 9,000 feet, or higher than the ski summit of Squaw Valley-Alpine Meadows. Ski resorts hoping for snow only got rain. The snow-forecasting website Open Snow says another stormy period is expected next week, with the possibility of several colder storms by midweek, so cross your fingers, skiers and snowboarders.

The ancient weather rhymes say, "A ring around the sun or moon, rain or snow coming soon” or “Red sky at night, sailors’ delight; red sky in the morning, sailors take warning." But don’t cancel your trip just because it’s raining or cloudy and cold. Be sensible. Pack your raincoat and go anyway. Because if you wait for that perfect day. You will never go. "Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating," said English writer John Ruskin, "There is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather."

I just hope I can remember that the next time when raindrops are hammering down on my bow.

18 WAYS TO PADDLE INTO 2018

So what’s on your adventure horizon for 2018? As we stride into the new year, here are 18 ways improve your paddling life in the next year and beyond. Onward.

Enjoy a winter activities
For some winter fun, hit the local slopes and trails. It's time to find a good hill for  your toboggan or trek off to a ski resort for some downhill or cross-country skiing. It won't cure your need to paddle, but it will help while waiting till next spring to paddle again. Those who like to hike will love snowshoeing, crunching down through the snow a great form of cardiovascular exercise. Just duck those snowballs from the person behind you. Snowshoeing

Take indoor rolling session
Don't let the ice and snow limit your ways of improving your skills on the water.  Certified instructors in heated indoor pools across the country are offering classes covering safety, paddle strokes and rescue techniques. After that build your confidence with a rolling session. wisconsinpaddlers.org.

Buy a state park pass
Explore the beauty and history of your own state. Many states offer some sort of pass that allows you unlimited entry at most state parks, while other offer park passes on a park-by-park basis. Find your state, order an entrance pass, and enjoy unlimited access to the natural beauty and paddling venues your state parks offer. US State Parks

Attend a Kayak Symposium
Whether you are an experienced kayaker or just beginning these instructional gathering aim at advancing your paddling skills. Offered on each coast and on the Great Lakes. These courses allow the paddlers to refine these skills and paddle in more challenging conditions with an accomplished sea kayaking coach with the goal of advancing your abilities. Lumpy Waters, Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposium

See a paddling film
Sure you can watch your old wore out VHS copy of 1972 Deliverance over and over again, but this year get some popcorn and embrace the paddling lifestyle and wild places of the Reel Paddling Film Festival World Tour. Since 2006, the World Tour has screened in more than 120 cities around the world showcasing the very best paddling films. Reel Paddling Film Festival World Tour 

Take a wilderness canoe or kayak trip
Did you know, the average canoe trip 20 years ago was nine days. Today it’s only three. Clearly, we need to reset our priorities. A wilderness trip via canoe is an experience few will ever forget so grab your paddle and head to the wilderness.  The Northern Forest Canoe Trail, Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Quetico Provincial Park, The Buffalo National River

 Paddle with a group
An African proverb says, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." So while many love the solitude of a solo paddle, most people like to make it a social activity by bringing friends and family along with them to share the experience. Paddlers say, that by kayaking together they build stronger relationships between loved ones and enhanced their friendships with other boaters. Kayaking Meetups

Kayak amid an urban sprawl
Our local water trails provide recreation in river towns across the country with hiking and bike paths, restaurants and interpretive centers, campgrounds and most important access to the water.  These urban waterways prioritize tourism, economies, and increase environmental education impacting your community. American River Parkway, Urban Kayaking 

Take a kid paddling
In this day and age of 'nature deficit disorder' due to overexposure to video games, computers and the Internet, paddling in the outdoors can be a great activity for kids. And while kids have short attention spans and aren't always focused on learning the technical aspects of paddling, the key to having a good time is to keep the paddling exercises fun, interesting and always bring plenty of snacks. Kayaking with the family

Take a white water class 
In a whitewater kayaking class, you’ll develop the foundations and skills along with overcoming any of those fears about being upside down underwater. By the end the session you’ll amaze even yourself as you paddle through the eddies and currents with increased confidence and boat control as you weave and glide down a new stretch of the river. Current Adventures Kayak School & Trips

Hang out in your local paddling shop
Kayaking is not just a sport. It’s a lifestyle. Hanging out in your local shop is a great way to get to know other paddlers in your area. Whether you’re looking for a new boat, paddle, or whatever else, talking to the other people in the store is a great way to get the scoop on what gear works for them. And just stopping in is also an easy way to keep informed on festivals, competitions, community gatherings and river cleanups in your area. The River Store, Rutabaga PaddleSports, Midwest Mountaineering

Paddle in the moonlight

With 13 full moons in 2018, you'll have plenty of chances to paddle in the moonlight. On January 31st, Earth will experience a blue moon (as in the saying, “once in a blue moon”). This means that it will be the second full moon in the span of a single month. Bring that special someone along for a romantic voyage or the whole family for a moonlit kayak adventure. Many outfitters and local state park across the country offer sunset and full moon paddling sessions providing all the gear for at a reasonable price. currentadventures.com

Take part in a river cleanup
Be a river hero by volunteering to participate in the thousands of cleanups across the country to remove litter and debris from out local waterways. In Sacramento last year, volunteers pulled two bicycles, a motorcycle frame and some 1,500 pounds of debris from the 6-mile stretch along the American River. National River Cleanup

Visit a whitewater park
In the movie Field Of Dreams, they said, "If you build it they will come." Over the past several years communities that have constructed whitewater parks as a way of providing a dynamic recreation facility for the community. These parks have used dam removals projects to build artificial whitewater courses opening the river to paddlers as well bringing bringing communities together great river festivals.  Truckee River Whitewater Park, Great Falls Park,  Buena Vista River Park

Get involved with activism by Supporting American Rivers
Join American Rivers to protects wild rivers, restore damaged rivers, and conserves clean water for people and nature. Guided by five core values: Passion, Integrity, Teamwork, Commitment, and Balance this organization works to achieve a vision of a nation of clean, healthy rivers for everyone. American Rivers

Paddle a SUP
It's a common scene across the beach of the US and Canada, long sleek colorful boards and even sleeker paddlers ever so graceful gliding across the water. All you need is a board to join the SUP revolution for a refreshing view and escape. SUP Magazine

Read a paddling book
Who doesn’t enjoy a tale of high adventure with raging rapids, stormy seas and paddling great rivers? These stories both fiction and nonfiction will inspire us all winter to go live your own adventure. Ron Watters Barnes & Noble 

 Update your PFD
Time, use and the sunlight has taken its toll on your PFD. Experts say you should replace it every five years or after 300 days considering how much you used it. Loss of buoyancy and UV damage are the red flags telling us their due to retire.  RapidMedia

THE PADDLING YEAR

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

On a crisp September day in 2015, explorers Dave and Amy Freeman climbed into their Wenohah canoe and paddled off into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness on an adventure that would last for 366 days. Paddling, portaging, gathering firewood and hauling water became a way of life as they sought to bear witness to the land they so deeply loved, care for and hoped to help protect from the threat of proposed sulfide-ore copper mining on the BWCA's edge.

During their year in this northern Minnesota Wilderness, they camped at some 120 different sites, explored 500 lakes, rivers and streams, and traveled more than 2,000 miles by canoe, foot, ski, snowshoe and dog team. They saw the change of the season first hand from the migrating birds, the lakes icing up and snow falling to the return of spring flowers and the golden sunsets of summer. Before they knew it the earth had made that one full rotation around the sun and it was their time to paddle out of the wilderness after a year in the wild.

"The sounds of nature are so different than those of the world of humans," Amy Freeman told National Geographic when asked what she misses most since leaving the wilderness, "After a year in the outdoors your senses of sight, smell and hearing are heightened. Back in the city, we’re bombarded with stimuli. I’ve had to desensitize to not freak out."

My paddling year, unlike the Freeman's, was broken into like most of us, mini outings and weekends, trips to the lakes and rivers in between dreaming about trips to the lakes and rivers. I could be classified more as a fanatic than just plain enthusiast and consider a day that I don't get out on to the water as a day lost. But like most of us, my jobs, relationships and just plain having the time to paddle  So the over 130 days I went paddling in 2017 is quite an achievement for me and I could never do it all alone.

French-German humanitarian and physician Albert Schweitzer said, "In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit."

A passion for kayaking flows through the paddling community I'm connected too, like an untamed river. I'm so grateful this past year to paddle once again with likes of  Dan Crandall, Kim Sprague, John Weed, Paul Camozzi, Jason Bates and the rest the gang at Current Adventures Kayaking School and Trips and The River Store.
From first-timers to experienced veterans any outing with these guys will be a great day on the water in building skills and confidence. After paddling with them, you only have one question. When can do it again?

And speaking of the spirit, thanks to Bayside Adventure Sports for being another guiding light in my paddling world. I have many more adventures in-store for them in the coming year to some of our favorite spots and even a few new ones.

But mostly I couldn't do any of my kayaking without the support and encouragement from my wife Debbie who makes it all possible. She is always up for an adventure sharing my same passion for being outside on the water or hiking alongside it. I can't wait for our next trip.

I would also like to thank, Dirt Bag Paddlers & DBP Magazine Online, Canoe & Kayak Magazine, Paddling Magazine, AquaBound, American Rivers and NRS Web, for sharing my posts on their social media pages. It's always a fun Friday for me to post Outside Adventure to the Max. They help to spread the word about our weekly post.

A big thank you goes out to our 2017's guest bloggers Pete Delosa, Kate Hives, Lynn Halsted, Taylor Carlson, Scott Blankenfeld,  Eric Straw and Nigel Foster for their insights and views this past year. They have certainly make OAM better by providing thoughtful and compelling views into the world of paddling. We certainly look forward to future post from them in 2018.

And most of all, I'd like to thank the readers and followers of Outside Adventure to the Max. We hope you enjoyed our thoughts and pictures about our outside experiences in 20117 and look for to more in the next.  Happy New Year.

THE CHRISTMAS LETTER

Christmas is a season for kindling the fire for hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart. -- Washington Irving 

It was Christmastime and I was feeling a little homesick. And like always to forget my troubles I went kayaking. I was paddling upstream along the river bank when I came across the Storyteller. Wearing rubber boots, an old leather jacket and his trademark Fedora, he was up to his ankles in the stream stooped over panning for gold. He stirred his pan carefully after standing upright, then held the pan like a waiter holding a plate picking through the big chunks of his find with his other hand.

“Winter is the most successful time of year for finding gold," he said as he noticed me coming towards him still sorting through his pan, "It was then and it still is now. Back then miners worked in freezing cold weather 10 to 12 hour days in leather boots, canvas pants, and a woolen blanket or coat. It was cold but if you were lucky you got gold.”

I beached my kayak along the shore and found a flat rock to watch him work.

"So how are you doing this holiday season?" he asked glancing up from his miner's tin. Seeing my expression he didn't let me answer before running calloused fingers through the sand and gravel again.

"Christmas was like gold in the mine camps," he explained, "Almost every miner took the holiday off, which was always a welcome relief. I think I'll take a break for a little bit too, besides my feet are getting cold in this water."

He waded out the water and sat down on the rock beside me. He was quiet for a moment while scanning his pan for anything before flecking its contents back into the river.

"They were predominantly young men who came out west seeking gold, so their Christmas celebrations were a mixture of unbridled carousing and lonely contemplation. They realized after getting out here that finding their fortune in gold was a lot harder than they previously thought," the Storyteller continued,"They found themselves in a harsh country a long way from home missing family and loved ones. And Christmas just reminded them of just how alone they were."

"One gold seeker named William," pointed out the Storyteller, "Found himself snowed in at his claim site far up along the river. It would not be much of Christmas for him he thought. Because of the drifting snow, he wouldn't be even able to make it to the gold camp to celebrate. The preacher there would offer some short Christmas message in the makeshift saloon. Then after singing a few carols, they would usher in the holiday by whooping it up and firing a gun or two into the air around the fire while a fiddler played a jig."

"Now, nobody called him Bill, " asserted the Storyteller, "It was always William. He came out here from someplace back east, maybe it was Wisconsin. He had been here for almost a year and so far hadn't had much luck and like many certainly hadn't struck it rich."

"He was spending his Christmas, alone and thinking about family back home while writing a letter to his sister Emma he wrote,

"Emma, It snowed hard all day yesterday and got so cold last night made it hard to keep a fire going. I wish that I could be at home today since it's Christmas. We could have a Christmas party. We would have the old gobbler roasted with a score of fat hens, pound cakes, pies, and lots of other good things. But the best of all would be the pleasure of seeing you all. Probably if we live we may be with you next Christmas. And signed it your loving brother, William."

"He wished he might be able to post the letter," the Storyteller speculated, "But back then especially in the wintertime,  the weather and the terrain made it difficult, he had all but given up on getting his letter out or even hearing from anyone back home till next spring. For William, it would be a gloomy Christmas indeed."

"Helloooooo," echoed through the canyon," proclaimed the Storyteller, "Happy for any type of company William grabbed his coat and flipped open the flap of his makeshift cabin door and went outside."

"The snow was gently falling through the trees where William could make out a figure in a Mackinaw jacket and wide-brimmed hat propelling quickly towards him. It was Snowshoe Thompson one of the most dedicated mail carriers of the Sierra Nevada."

"Snowshoe was wearing a pair oak skis carved himself," emphasized the Storyteller, "They were nearly ten feet long and weighed about 25 pounds. As a young boy in Norway, he had used them to travel quickly over the snow-covered terrain. As a mailman Thompson's skiing ability soon became legendary. He could rocket down mountain slopes at nearly 60 miles per hour holding his balance pole out in front of him, dipping it one direction and then the other, all while carrying a pack that could exceed 100 pounds of mail and supplies. It was said nobody could dance on the heavy wooden boards like Snowshoe Thompson."

"With his charcoal smudged cheekbones to prevent snow blindness and beard layered with ice" the Storyteller explained, " Snowshoe whisked himself up the cabin."

"God Jul! Happy Christmas! William!" He exclaimed skiing up to the entrance of the cabin."

"Now most the time," reminded the Storyteller, "Snowshoe would just throw the mail toward the house, and then glide out of sight, up and over a hill. But today being Christmas he was on a special trip to spread some Christmas cheer."

"Merry Christmas!" William called out to him," continued the Storyteller, "Come in and sit by the fire."

"But Snowshoe shook his head and said he couldn't stay long he had more deliveries to make. He pealed the rucksack off his back and set it in the snow then open its flap and reached inside of it pulling out a package wrapped in a brown paper package tied with twine."

"I thought you might be snowed in up here," Snowshoe said to William with a thick Norwegian accent "I knew when I saw this package for you in town, I just knew I had to get it to you by Christmas. So here I am. "

"Snowshoe handed the package to William," said the Storyteller, "It was his first word from home since coming to California. He held it gently and read his sister's handwriting."

"Open it would you now," said Snowshoe, "So I can see what you got for Christmas."

"William," sighed the Storyteller, "Carefully untied a string and unwrapped the package containing a knitted scarf and five folded sheets of paper. It was a letter from his sister Emma updating with news about his family back east. He quickly read the letter's opening lines."

"Dearest William
I hope this letter finds you well. I only hope searching for gold in California is treating you? With any luck, this will arrive by Christmas for I know this scarf will keep you warm. I hope it will remind you of home and how we missed you."

"William again asked Snowshoe to stay for a spell, But once again Snowshoe shook his head and said there is a storm brewing and he would like to make get his deliveries made before it hit," explained the Storyteller, "William quickly went into the cabin to retrieve his letters home and a couple of coins he had been saving to offer payment. Snowshoe took only one coin for the postage of the letters and turned down the rest before soaring off like an eagle on his skis."

"As William finished the last lines of the letter saying,

"God bless you and keep you safe till we meet again your loving sister, Emma" concluded the Storyteller, "Snowshoe was just going over the hill."

"Merry Christmas Snowshoe Thompson!" hollered William."
"God Jul! echoed back.

The Storyteller then picked up his miner's pan and went back to the river. I found my paddle and went to my kayak.

"Hey kid," the Storyteller, called out to me my boat, then with a slight pause then added "No matter where you are kid, Christmas will find you. Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas to you too," I said paddling away.

Merry Christmas to all of you from Outside Adventure to the Max.