adventure daily.
This year, I decided I wanted to get back into paddling more regularly after spending the past several years not doing it much at all. It used to be my go-to sport before I got into running and then biking, but more recently I had become a lot more anxious about swimming (the boat going …
Following last year's unexpected weather events and resulting lake paddle instead of the planned river paddle, I think everyone was pretty excited to get back to moving water for the Juniata River Sojourn this year. It was time for the Frankstown Branch on the 3-year rotation cycle, though there were some changes to the previous …
Stone Creek is a small stream that runs parallel to the main road that runs from our house to town. In the summer, it's usually tough to navigate all the way down it in a boat due to the many shallow spots. But a couple weeks ago, all the rivers and streams were running high …
It belonged to my friend Jeff. I first paddled it about 6 years ago, and I fell in love. It fit me perfectly. Sitting in a hole and surfing, it felt right. "It likes hips," said Jeff, alluding to the fact that the boat fit me better than it did him. But at the time, …
This summer, I taught paddleboard lessons at Seven Points Marina as part of my gig with Rothrock Outfitters, and it's been a wonderful learning experience---both in how to effectively teach a particular skill and in how to quell my anxiety about the situation. I've never thought I was a great teacher, but I love getting people …
Canoes full of old tires, rusty metal, and garbage bags full of bottles and cans were not an uncommon sight on the Juniata River last Sunday, as 55 volunteers of all ages and backgrounds floated down 6 miles of river as part of the 2nd Annual Juniata River Cleanup, hosted by Keep Huntingdon County Beautiful and Rothrock …
Last week, the shop got in some new paddleboards from Jackson Kayak, and a few days ago after work one evening, a small group of us took the opportunity to try them out on the Juniata River. A relatively short stretch of river from the Warrior Ridge Dam to Huntingdon is a favorite for evening …
Often times, those of us who are active, healthy, and fit tend to take our bodies for granted. We assume that we will wake up every day and we'll be able to do what we want to do (within reason). It's only when illness or injury sets in that we realize just how lucky we …
It had been dark a while by the time I joined the others at camp, pulling the borrowed Jetta in beside the iconic yellow van and trailer full of boats of every shape and size and color. I was greeted by familiar faces and warm hugs of people I hadn't seen in a year, since …
Following in the tradition of last year, on this particular Sunday, which is to us just a Sunday like any other, Evan and I headed outside for a day on the water and in the woods, paddleboarding from the Petersburg hydroelectric dam to the 4th Street Bridge in Huntingdon (which is conveniently located behind the …
helena kotala 