Even with several inches of snow on the ground, I dream of spring and the paddling I will do! There are many reasons I like to paddle, especially on an extended trip, and I thought I’d share them with you!

“There is a serene and settled majesty to woodland scenery that enters into the soul and delights and elevates it, and fills it with noble inclinations.” – Washington Irving

Get away from it all. I’d say the number one reason for going paddling is to get away from all the pressures and stresses of everyday life. On the water, and at your wilderness campsite, there are no cell phones, emails, demands or traffic! A change of scenery is often what we need to change our perspective, remember what we love about our life, and return to our youth in child-like fun!

“Slow down and enjoy life. It’s not only the scenery you miss by going too fast — you also miss the sense of where you are going and why.” – Eddie Cantor

Silence. Serenity. It is so incredibly quiet… More than just getting away, you can also come to a place of deep rest. Then and only then does the built-up stress really leave! This is also a prime opportunity to evaluate where you’re going in life, and if you want to continue down that road. A long trip like 2 weeks on the Peace River gives you lots of time to decompress and think, which enables you to return to your life with a renewed sense of purpose and the impetus to make a change you’ve been long avoiding.

“. . . It’s worth recognizing that there is no such thing as an overnight success. You will do well to cultivate the resources in yourself that bring you happiness outside of success or failure. The truth is, most of us discover where we are headed when we arrive. At that time, we turn around and say, yes, this is obviously where I was going all along. It’s a good idea to try to enjoy the scenery on the detours, because you’ll probably take a few.” – Bill Waterson

Leave your job behind. Doing something outside of your normal routine gives you a chance to “cultivate the resources in yourself that bring you happiness outside of success or failure.” There’s no success or failure on the river; there’s no pressure to perform or succeed. You can practice just being happy where you are and realizing that it’s possible to be completely content, regardless of your accomplishments. Not everything in life is a competition, and if you’re in a very competitive career, why not get away from that for a while and reconnect with co-operation and a spirit of gratitude?

“That kind of thing makes me feel better… You’re out with people in beautiful scenery, and you’ve earned all the carbs you eat.” – Cindy Chupack

Have an active vacation. The other great thing about paddling is the exercise you’ll get! You might even “feel the burn” a little! You decide how hard you want to work, unless your friends/family are all intent to conquer the river in a day! Then you’ll have to keep up! So choose your paddle partners wisely!

Fresh air, peaceful waters, moving your body, and enjoying the scenery… what could be better? 🙂