Making Waves: Paddling the Arctic's Northwest Passage

CANTON -- To help kick off Canton Canoe Weekend, join Eileen Visser on May 2 at noon at the St. Lawrence County Historical Association. 3 E. Main St., as she shares her experiences as the first woman to kayak the entire Northwest Passage as part of a four-person team. Visser's voyage was the first recorded single-season, human powered traverse of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago in history. This sea route was long impassable due to thick year-round ice, but climate change has opened the channels between high arctic islands, allowing the team to cross the 1,800 miles in 103 days. During their incredible journey, the kayakers encountered extreme sea ice, wind, and polar bears. Eileen will also address changing conditions in the Arctic and their larger environmental implications.

This is a hybrid program. To attend online, contact carlene@slcha.org to receive the Zoom link.