Page 6 - 2022-08-01 Paddling Magazine

CAMPFIRE

READER PHOTOS
#PaddleForever

Where’s your favorite place
to paddle close to home?

LIFE AQUATIC
The clear water creates a fabulous effect, like a
forest in the lake. This photo was taken in the
Matese Mountains in Italy, while guiding for the
Matese Discovery Company.
PHOTO: AMEDEO SANTOMASSIMO

THE PROBLEM WITH EXPLORERS TODAY

In an opinion essay for Paddling Magazine, Bob Henderson wrote about why the glorification of punishing expeditions
is a disservice to all paddlers [Summer 2021, paddlingmag.com/0115]. The article prompted a big response online.

Everyone is out for the Thanks for put- an adventure writer, and even
fastest known time now… ting this out in consumer media jumps on the
Recently I’ve been seeing the world. I believe expert bandwagon with quasi
times measured to the those “bravado- information and misleading
second. For what pur- grunt narratives” tips. We’ve lowered the stan- WILD, WILD HORSES
pose? Is someone who are a relic of our dards and the neophytes out My wife and I started our own eco-educational
did it three seconds faster colonial past, and there are being fed a bogus nar- kayak tours on Chincoteague Island, Virginia,
than me really better than a window into our rative that glorifies the wrong as- where we have the great privilege of guiding
me? Is there some award? European settler pects of these outdoor ventures. guests through the waterways to see the famous
Of course, we both know they aren’t world view. The concept of man —Tom Watson Chincoteague wild ponies you see swimming in
and there isn’t. But here we are. versus nature is artificial and the water behind us in this photo.
— James Bonney ridiculous. Nature is not an PHOTO: STEVE HARRISON / ASSATEAGUE ADVENTURES
adversary to be conquered;
Great article. Too many people it’s our life support system!
want to be an internet star rather —Andy Murray
than enjoy nature. Viral videos
where a human causes an ani- The essence of this en-
mal to act out of character usu- tire issue lies in the one
ally get the animal hunted down short sentence: “Obviously,
and killed for being aggressive. grunt narratives sell.” Social
—Fl Kayaker media makes every person

FROM OUR CONTRIBUTORS RIVER OF DREAMS
Renowned expedition kayaker Jon Turk takes readers to the parched “This is a photo my friend Jill Makins took of me at
savannah of Kenya and deep into human history and mythology in his Paresseux Falls when we paddled a section of the
newest—and allegedly last—book. In his signature storytelling style, Turk Mattawa River last summer,” writes Josie Dinsmore.
mixes philosophy, anthropology and adventure into a mind-expanding “I had never paddled this section of the river, and it
read while exploring the cultural myths we live and die for. jonturk.net was beautiful. It was quiet, peaceful and rugged.”
PHOTO: JILL MAKINS
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