SOURCE to SEA EXPEDITION Slideshow & Presentation Dates Join John & Jessica for a slideshow about their 2,150 mile canoe trip down the Mississippi and Atchafalaya rivers in 2005. Raleigh - Wed, April 12 2006- 7-8:30 pm Greensboro - Wed, April 19 2006 - 7-8:30 pm These are free events! >>PRESS RELEASE

GOPC Sponsors Source to Sea Expedition - May 10, 2005

News & Observer Articles
5/30/05 - http://www.newsobserver.com/front/story/2457429p-8861921c.html
8/8/05 - http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/2702204p-9139613c.html

TRIP JOURNAL - July 12, 2005

NCSU students to paddle the Mississippi River

John Pugh and Jessica Robinson (GOPC Employees) will be canoeing 2,350 miles on the Mississippi River this summer. Their trip will begin at the source of the river, Lake Itasca Minnesota, and end at the Gulf of Mexico. The mission for their journey, the Source to Sea Expedition (www.source2sea.info), is to raise awareness for the Audubon Society’s Upper Mississippi River Campaign (http://www.audubon.org/campaign/umr/). John and Jessica are both PhD students in Parks and Recreation at North Carolina State University.

They will start May 15 and plan to finish August 1 at the Gulf of Mexico. Their trip will take about 75 days, averaging about 33 miles of paddling per day. Great Outdoor Provision Company, a Raleigh NC based outfitter, is the primary sponsor for the expedition.

The Mississippi River drains 41% of the United States, and serves as a migratory route during spring and fall migration for 40% of the nation's Waterfowl. Sixty percent of all North American birds (326 species) use the Mississippi River Basin as their migratory flyway (from http://www.nps.gov/miss/features/factoids/)

More information about the Source to Sea Expedition can be found at www.source2sea.info

Pictures!

St. Louis Arch with boat

John's feet on a short, relaxing break

Camp south of Port St. Louis

At Lake Itasca (the official river headwaters), as John & Jessica launch the canoe

Their first portage

First campsite

Getting ready for portage - "which way to the gym?"

Stories That Inspire...

The word “Expeditions” conjures up images of Columbus, Sacajawea, Schackleton, and the many others who left the familiar to explore the unknown. Such adventurers hope their accomplishments might inspire each of us to venture beyond our present horizon. 

This section is designed to do just that. To celebrate and inspire the explorer in us all. Some of the stories found here are from our staff while other tales speak of the adentures you have kindly shared. Together they represent a resource that provides not only inspiration but helpful insight when planning your next expedition.

PAST EXPEDITIONS: Denali 2003/2004 -- Mt. Rainier 2001

Check out our JOURNALS page for other great adventure stories