river | The Filson Journal

Mississippi Solo: Eddy Harris

In 1988, Eddy Harris published his first book, Mississippi Solo, an account of his canoe trip down the entire length of the river. Thirty years later Harris canoed the Mississippi for a second time, to see what changes had come to the river that “symbolizes who we are as a nation and as a people.”

“When people learn that I’ve canoed the length of the Mississippi River twice, they immediately want to know why,” Harris writes. “Why would I want to canoe the river in the first place? And then, why in the world would I do it again?”

5 Min

Field Notes

Filson in the Field: Packrafting the Remote Waters of Alaska

The state of Alaska tends to breed ideas larger than life. There is just something about the sheer amount of untrammeled wilderness there that seems to spark a fire in folks. So, when we decided we wanted to put some of our newest gear to the test, we reached out to some of our favorite guides for outing ideas. Eschewing more traditional adventures, we decided to spend five days exploring the rivers surrounding remote Chelatna lake just outside of Denali national park and preserve. This is the story of that trip.

3 Min

Silhouette of man with walking pole and backpacking backpack walking along beach with downed logs

Field Notes

The Longest Road: The Expedition of Caroline Van Hemert and Pat Farrell

A journey both audacious and unprecedented. They would travel from the Pacific rain forests near Bellingham, Washington, into the Alaskan Arctic, solely self-powered. 176 days to cover over 4,000 miles of some of the most remote and rugged terrain on the planet

10 Min

Profiles

River Running: Mahay’s Riverboat Guides

Standing at the edge of the river, captain Steve Mahay can feel the energy coursing through the Susitna river at his feet. After forty-plus years spent on its slate-gray waters, he understands it; their relationship is one that seems unbreakable. While most visitors to this area find themselves drawn to the towering bulk of Denali in the distance, Mahay feels the pull of the river. As the years flow by him, he sometimes has been tempted to slow down, but that isn’t very likely. He just wants to get back out on the water.

5 Min

river running through stone cliffs in southwest desert area

Field Notes

Impact of the Rio Grande: Lifeline of the Southwest

“In 2014, I followed the 1,900-mile-long river course from source to sea by foot, kayak, and canoe. I followed a broken river caught between trying to meet 19th-century ideals with 20th-century infrastructure while facing the demands of the 21st century.”

5 Min