Under Human Power -The Inside Passage: The Big Muddy

Stage III - The Inside Passage

In the spring of 2004, Darrell Gardner began the journey of a life time: to travel under human power from the border of Mexico border in southern California to the shore of the Arctic Ocean in Alaska. This multi year expedition spans nearly 5,800 miles and started with a 2,650 mile walk in the woods on the Pacific Crest Trail. Six distinctly different modes of travel will be used to complete this journey including long distance hiking (thru hiking), canoeing, sea kayaking, cross-country skiing, snow shoeing and mountaineering. This blog chronicles the Under Human Power expedition as it begins Stage III, a 1,400 mile solo sea kayaking trip up the Inside Passage to Alaska. The Inside Passage is an uninterrupted series of fiords linking the Puget Sound with southeast Alaska. This trip is planned to take three months starting in mid May of 2008. The chronicle also includes a synopsis of the first 2,900 miles of over land travel.

About Me

Darrell Gardner

I grew up in the Great Lakes region of northern Ohio, but left soon after high school. I migrated to the west coast and eventually settling in Santa Fe, NM. I graduated from Santa Fe Community College with a degree in nursing in 1997. Prior to that, I lead a vagabond life style living in northern California, Alaska and Hawaii. I have traveled extensively in the

U.S.

Canada

, western Europe, the

and

Ireland

. While living in northern California, I was introduced to Zen Buddhist Meditation and kundalini yoga and have been a practitioner of both for over thirty years. In 1977, I was recognized as a dharma teacher in the Buddhist tradition and lead a weekly meditation group and organized periodic meditation retreats. My work as a medical professional grew out of my work as an outdoor educator in the 1990’s using nature as a therapeutic treatment with mentally ill adults and youth at risk. As an outdoor educator I also facilitated ropes courses and took training courses through the Colorado School of Outward Bound and the Outdoor Pursuit Center of New Zealand. After being trained as a wilderness first responder and EMT, I was accepted into the nursing program in Santa Fe, NM. Throughout all these different periods of my life, the one constant was my strong relationship with the natural world. Either through exploration or encouragement of responsible stewardship. Whether I’m in remote areas of Alaska or just out my back door in Santa Fe, I realize that being in nature has always allowed me to reach that innermost point of balance. I am now living and working in Seattle as a traveling nurse which allows me the flexibility to try to maintain this delicate balance between service to community and mother earth.

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Stage III - The Inside Passage

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Monday, July 26, 2010

The Big Muddy

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