Iconic boats like the Mount Fairweather, when talk of a voyage is circulating, attract iconic paddlers. Read below as two such paddlers weigh in with their thoughts of the upcoming “Necessary Expedition”… From Chris Cunningham, Editor of Sea Kayaker Magazine: “I met George quite a while ago, in the 1980s I think, at a private [...]

Read Heather and Brandon’s features in the Fall ’08 issue of Adventures NW Magazine! Semper Paratus by Brandon Nelson ““Wind is a helicopter’s friend,” says pilot Lt. Eric Purdue, who has personally flown SAR missions in 60 knots of wind, gusting to 70. “The MH-65 Dolphin helicopters we use can fly at 175 miles-per-hour,” he [...]

At 17 pounds, 10 ounces and 27 ½ inches tall… and with a head of soft blonde hair, sparkling hazel-blue eyes, and two of the cutest little teeth I have ever seen…. Hayden Storm turned 6 months last week!!!! To celebrate, first we fed Hayden his first bite of solid food. We chose the ‘world’s [...]

Earlier this summer, Heather, Hayden, Reg Lake and I drove up to Belcarra Regional Park in BC to visit in person, for our first time, the Mount Fairweather. As I wrote in an earlier blog, she is stored hull up, resting on several sets of beams not 100 yards from the water’s edge, nor any [...]

Sound Rowers Rootsiest Race, the Round Shaw Row AND Hayden Storm’s first campout!!! Heather, Hayden and I had a BLAST making the Round Shaw race into Hayden’s first camping adventure, and all-around awesome San Juan experience. We lined up for the Friday afternoon ferry in Anacortes the recommended 2 hours early, and spent the time [...]

A Necessary Expedition… Part II “I am unable to explain the Mount Fairweather, a 48-foot-long baidarka, in terms of anything except the art of boat building itself.” With these words, George Dyson opens the chapter in his book “Baidarka” devoted exclusively to his largest baidarka – indeed, the largest ever built. Six cockpits line the [...]

A Necessary Expedition….. Part 1 George DysonIn the spring of 2000, Heather and I were living in a rental on the American River in California. Our roommate at the time, Scott McGuire, was a sales rep for Teva sandals and was scarcely home. When he was there, though, Heather and I would listen like children [...]

H a y d e n S t o r m ‘ s pool adventures and Mama’s new waterproof camera! With summer finally here, the Sudden Valley pool has become a favorite hang-out for Hayden and I! Hayden is a natural waterbaby, handsurfing with Papa and kicking his legs for Mama. Last week we brought [...]

Gorge Games 2008 30 knot winds, 68F water, mid-70 degree air temperature and perfectly formed 3-foot waves as far as the eye can see. As far as I can tell, that basically describes every day on the Columbia River Gorge! This past weekend, Brandon, Hayden and I teamed up with Grandma and Grandpa for a [...]

Hayden’s First Fourth of July Zuanich Park, Bellingham Few places in Bellingham compare to Zuanich Park for 4th of July fun. Nestled alongside Squalicum Harbor – and the same location as the start of the Ski to Sea kayak leg – Zuanich becomes temporary home to many hundreds of revelers, all of us fitting nicely [...]

“I CAN KAYAK” and Elakah Expeditions present “I CAN KAYAK” Kids Camp 2008! “I CAN KAYAK” Kids Camp is a five-day sea kayak camp we started last summer, with the support of Elakah Expeditions. Through skills practice, games, and team building exercises, students learn how to paddle and manuever kayaks, understand the parts of a [...]

When I put Hayden in his kayak this morning, his face immediately lit up. His eyes grew as big as saucers when I grabbed the bow and bounced him through some “rapids”… by the time we had finished “dropping into some big waves” and “dropping onto the face of a 20-footer” he was grinning like [...]