CANCELED Traveler’s Journal: Paddling the entire 1,243 miles of Columbia River for kids

Editor’s Note: The Thursday, March 12, “Paddling the entire 1,243 miles of Columbia River for kids” presentation that kicks off the 2020 Traveler’s Journal series has been canceled, says series organizer Arvo Johnson. Volunteers with the Olympic Discovery Trail who put on the series are concerned about potential health risks of the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus. Information about future presentations — held at 7 p.m. Thursdays at 7 p.m. at the Guy Cole Event Center, 202 N. Blake Ave., through April 29 — will be listed online (www.sequimgazette.com) and in print editions of the Sequim Gazette as it becomes available. — MD

Traveler’s Journal

When: 7 p.m., Thursday, March 12

Where: Guy Cole Event Center, 202 N. Blake Ave.

Cost: Suggested $5 donation

Presenter: John Kuntz

Presentation: ‘Paddling the entire 1,243 miles of Columbia River for kids’

Take a break from the everyday rush and join us for an evening of classic outdoor adventure that will thrill the entire family.

In August of 2018, John Kuntz — a Kitsap County native modern day voyageur — embarked on a mostly solo kayak trip, paddling the entirety of the Columbia River … all 1,250 miles.

Kuntz offers “Paddling the entire 1,243 miles of Columbia River for kids” to kick off the 2020 Traveler’s Journal series, starting at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.) on Thursday, March 12, at the Guy Cole Event Center at Carrie Blake Community Park, 202 N. Blake Ave. Cost is a suggested $5 donation

Hear Kuntz’s story in words and video of high adventure as he runs whitewater rapids in the steep walled Red Grave canyon, dodging lightning strikes and forest fires, long open water paddles amongst some of the most spectacular and varied scenery on the planet, portaging around 14 dams, enduring a 5-mile hike around the U.S. border, and sharing his adventure along the way in the classrooms of a suburban Chicago school.

This was done through video conferencing with the classroom, post card mailing, and GPS tracking the trip.

Kuntz paddled from source to sea in honor of Erica (“Eri”) Reith (Eri), who tragically lost her life in a car accident at age 19 … and in the name of teaching youth the art of adventure.

“In life we have a chance to pay it forward and that is my goal — to let youth know there is more to life than the world that they know,” Kuntz says. “It is okay to take risks safely to gain the reward of a lifetime.

“Eri was a beautiful person that loved the outdoors and helping others. In her honor I am dedicating this paddle so that others may follow, because life is an adventure that we must teach our youth.”

About the presenter

A paddler all of his life, John Kuntz started Olympic Outdoor Center now located in Port Gamble in 1986, and is still its owner and president. John has been ACA and Red Cross Certified in coastal kayaking, whitewater kayaking and canoeing.

In addition to many expedition paddles in North and South America, Kuntz created Paddle Kitsap, Paddle Bainbridge, Paddle Washington, Puget Sound Challenge and the Kitsap Peninsula National Water Trail to encourage paddlers to explore the coastlines of Puget Sound and discover the personal rewards of paddling, the necessity for the protection of our marine environment and the support of water trails.

Another of Kuntz’s achievements has been the creation, establishment and dedication of the 371-mile Kitsap Peninsula National Water Trail with the help of the Olympic Kayak Club, NK Trails Association, Kitsap County, Suquamish and S’Kallam tribes, and the Visit Kitsap Peninsula tourism bureau. The trail is recognized as part of Washington’s Cascadia Marine Trail and now a part of the National Park Service — National Water Trail System, of which there are only 20 in the nation.

About the presentations

Traveler’s Journal is a presentation of the Peninsula Trails Coalition with local adventurers sharing their stories and photos with the community.

The annual series taking place over eight consecutive Thursdays in the late winter/early spring, hosted at the Guy Cole Event Center at Carrie Blake Community Park.

All of the money raised is used to buy project supplies and food for the volunteers working on the Olympic Discovery Trail.

The March 19 Traveler’s Journal presentation is “Coast-to-Coast in Costa Rica” with Mike Barton.

For more about the series, call Arvo Johnson at 360-301-9359.

Above, a map of John Kuntz’s 1,250-mile trip on the Columbia River. Graphic courtesy of John Kuntz

Left, John Kuntz pictured in front of Grand Coulee dam at mile 608 — the halfway of his trip. Submitted photo

Left, Kuntz with some of the inspirational postcards he received along the way during his kayak trip on the Columbia River. He paddled from source to sea in honor of Erica (“Eri”) Reith (Eri), who tragically lost her life in a car accident at age 19, and to teach youth the art of adventure. Submitted photo