Alumni Canoe Tripping by Zach Arem

Canoe Tripping defines the Pathfinder spirit better than any other expression. When Pathfinder family gather -- young, old, alumni, family, friends -- conversations ultimately turn to the one thing we love and remember the most: canoe trips. There is no greater feeling than being out in the wilderness of Ontario and Quebec with good friends, camper or staff. Over the past 98 years we have turned canoe tripping into not just an activity to partake in, but an art form allowing us to bear the title of the greatest canoe tripping camp in North America.

But what happens after life at Pathfinder? The real world begins.

Just about all of us have had to come to the conclusion that Pathfinder is only a temporary part of our lives. It’s one of the toughest decisions we all have to make. When is it time to move on? Some of us come to the realization earlier than others, but in the end just about all of us figure it out. We need to finish school, get a job, earn money, experience other parts of the world, and finally get married and have a family. We get back to the island for a weekend during the summer, the GLM, reunions, but the dream of being at Pathfinder for an entire summer, and especially canoe tripping, is over. But does it have to be? Well, for some Pathfinder alumni the answer to that question is no.

While many Pathfinder alumni trips have gone out in the past, a number of more recent alums have taken it to the extreme. With a little effort, planning, and teamwork Max Brown, Brent Hurley, Barrett Wadsworth, Tim Lamont, Will Hopkins, Alex Hurley, Ryan Arthurs, Adrian Kelly, Mike Floyd, Karl Doench, Zach Arem, and non-alumni Garret Hart have been able to experience some of the most pristine wilderness areas and rivers in Ontario, Quebec, and Labrador.

The list includes the Kesagami River in 2009, the Moisie River in 2010 and 2011, the Missinaibi River in 2011, and an upcoming descent of the George River in 2012.

Click below for the full article, photos, and more.

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