Expedition/Extended Trips

Justin Adams, Steve Schnarr

The MR340-Advice and anecdotes from 20 years of racing on the Missouri River.

Sylvania - main floor Sat 3:30pm-4:15pm

The MR340 is the world's longest non-stop river race stretching 340 miles on the MIssouri River. Racers begin in Kansas City, Ks where the Kaw River joins the Missouri, and paddle across the great state of Missouri finishing in St. Charles, MO. Racers must reach 5 checkpoints by the established times or they will be disqualified. The Missouri American Water MR340 is a true community event - a community created by the river. To witness the determination of the racers, the grit of the ground ... Read More

Tim Aurand, Beth Naughton

An Epic Journey to the 63 United States National Parks

Bear - upstairs Fri 4:30pm-5:15pm

Sylvania - main floor Sun 1:30pm-2:15pm

A PowerPoint presentation of the planning, and implementation of visiting all 63 US National Parks in 27 months. Immediately after retirement, Beth and Tim bought a Ram Promaster van and upfitted it into a camper van and set out on their journey to see all 63 national parks.
We will present many insights previously presented in Beth's blog - Wilderness Wandering which provided details on each of our park visits. Included in our presentation will be details regarding the van purchase and ... Read More

Mona Gauthier

Give Your Dreams the Wings to Fly

Algonquin - main floor Sat 3:30pm-4:15pm

A goal is only a dream if there is no action plan. This 24-year dream finally sprouted wings enabling a 65-year-old paddler to embark on her first solo canoe trip. A 200+ mile BWCAW trip from Crane Lake to Lake Superior following the Canadian/US border to Fort Charlotte, ending with the 8.5-mile Grand Portage. Did she finish? Details will be shared regarding planning/preparation, gear, food, logistics, lessons learned, and trip data.

Martin Koch

Buffalo National River

Superior - main floor Sat 1:30pm-2:15pm

The Buffalo National river in Arkansas is considered by many to be the most beautiful river in America! The river courses through the rugged wilderness of NW Arkansas. It features amazing 500-foot bluffs, waterfalls and exciting class II paddling. Join us as we explore this bucket list paddling destination

Matt Magolan

Kayaking the Fjords of Iceland

Caribou - upstairs Sat 4:30pm-5:15pm

Bear - upstairs Sun 10:30am-11:15am

In the summer of 2025, Umingmaq Paddle Touring Center led a trip with 4 intrepid paddlers to the Fjords of Iceland. The 11 day trip included paddling excursions to three distinct regions of the volcanic island and amazing cultural experiences.

Join Head Guide Matt Magolan as he recounts the experiences of 11 days in the WestFjords, Northwest Fjords and Northern Fjords of Iceland. Mountains, sky & crystal clear Arctic Ocean waters were the constant backdrop of this amazing ... Read More

Kyle Parker

What a Cross-Country Canoe Journey Taught Me

Quetico - main floor Sat 10:30am-11:15am

Quetico - main floor Sat 4:30pm-5:15pm

Quetico - main floor Sun 11:30am-12:15pm

In this reflective and engaging presentation, long-distance paddler Parker.paddles shares the deeper story behind his cross-country canoe expedition, not just the 5,000 miles traveled, but the mindset shaped along the way. Over months of navigating from Neah Bay, Washington to Key Largo, Florida through remote rivers, wild weather, and long stretches of solitude, Parker discovered unexpected lessons about resilience, fear, trust, time, and the quiet, profound kindness of strangers met along the ... Read More

Don Richard, Chuck Rose

Northern Tier-Bissett: Tales from 50 Years of Scouting's Most Extreme High Adventure Program. Wilderness Canoeing, Gold, Float Planes, and Three-Legged Polar Bears

Sylvania - main floor Sat 11:30am-12:15pm

Bear - upstairs Sun 1:30pm-2:15pm

Lost.

Or the portage trail was, anyway. Ten Boy Scouts and their four adult leaders found themselves confused, at least temporarily, along the shore of an unnamed pothole. As frustration mounted, they pitched their tents on a big rock near the shore.

From this humble beginning, Northern Tier launched a 50-year program where nearly 16,000 participants (so far) have logged 100,000 camper days of some of Scouting's most extreme highest adventure outpost, near and in ... Read More

Stephen Simpson

Boreal Odyssey: A Northwoods Vision Quest

Caribou - upstairs Sat 12:30pm-1:15pm

Caribou - upstairs Sun 11:30am-12:15pm

This presentation describes Steve's experiences as he paddled a Klepper Kayak 3000 miles through lakes Michigan and Superior and along the network of rivers, lakes, and portages commonly called the "Voyageurs Highway" in Canada. He was 19 when he set out from Evanston, Illinois in 1975, socially inept, disillusioned with civilization, and convinced he wanted to become a hermit. When asked about future plans by a High School Guidance Counsellor, he described his life goal as "Finding a remote ... Read More