Island Paddlers: October 2010

Living on the most eastern of the San Juan archipelago islands, Fidalgo island, the variety of trip & training paddle routes from here are endless. While strong currents do exist in nearly every channel surrounding our island shores, learning how to use these currents to travel in the back eddies, the mid-channel-river-like 'green tongue', along with harnessing the strength of the winds (with kayak sails), is what paddling the San Juans is all about to us... Efficiency. Speed. Using what Nature offers to help us achieve our paddling (distance travelling & racing speed) goals. Which sometimes mandates a combination of styles & skills from river and sea kayaking mixed in with occasional surfing and sailing. Adreline rushes. Personal Speed Records. Risk-taking. Innovation. ~Paddle the Islands and let Nature Inspire.~

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Mountain biking on Mount Rainier

Long before Jim discovered the joys of
paddle racing, flying off roots at
mock speeds along narrow trails

while racing in expert class, mountain bike

competitions was his passion for years.

Having grown up under the shadowy slopes

of majestic Mount Rainier,

a recent mountain cabin getaway weekend

for Jim to 'return to his roots'

took on a whole new meaning!

From hiking, biking and boarding the
Cascade & Olympic mountains to
paddling & sailing the Puget Sound & Salish seas....

Weekends for this Pacific Northwest native

mean 2 days a week full of endless adventure sport quests- playing hard, staying fit & having fun with friends while seizing the seasons in Nature's perfect outdoor lovers playground!!