milespaddled.com

Water-lover and river-enthusiast, Timothy has been paddling around Wisconsin and its neighboring states since 2008. Always eager to explore the obscure, he's got a lot of wanderlust for secret places and memorable escapes (well, some he'd just as soon forget). Nicknamed "the Fanatic" by his friends, even in the depths of winter you'll find Timothy bundled up but still on the water wherever it's only partly frozen. He first got into paddling to impress a girl, and it's been a love affair since (the paddling part at least). When not already on the water, Timothy is poring over maps to plan out his next trip, occasionally alone, often with friends, and at least once a year in a canoe with his ambivalent Boston Terrier. Originally from suburban New Jersey (exit 159), he has gladly made Madison his home and become a Packers fan for two decades. Since 2010 Timothy has proudly been one-half of the popular website, MilesPaddled.com, and in 2016 his first paddling guidebook was published, a manifesto for mini adventures in our backyards. bookmark

Hidden in the middle of the Upper Midwest lies an ancient area that is home to rare species, Native American effigy mounds, sinkholes, caves, cliffs, and natural spring waterfalls. Bigger than Vermont and New Hampshire combined, it's called the Driftless Area and is the hilly exception to the otherwise glaciated rule of relative flat. It also comprises some of the most breathtaking paddling trips in the country, including the Mississippi River, which acts as a spine connecting Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois. Come join Timothy Bauer, self-confessed Driftless advocate and local author, to learn of the area's unique charisma and myriad charms.