Day 36 of 103 on the Mississippi River, headed to the Gulf. September 27th, 2017. Near La Crosse, Wi. Photo by John Sullivan.

I’ve been fortunate to go on many adventures with all kinds of amazing people. I feel lucky to have found a passion for the outdoors, travel and wild places.

I’ve tried my best to compile a list of trips and places I’ve camped in the backcountry. If it’s included on this list, it was a significant trip, more than a weekend get away. I’m sure I am missing many.

Canoeing / River Trips

  • Mississippi River, Solo Source to Sea, 103 days

  • Yukon River Source to Sea, 70 days

  • Churchill River, Saskatchewan, 30 days

  • Colorado River, Grand Canyon, 24 days

  • North Platte River, Wyoming

  • Gunnison River, Colorado

  • Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument, Montana

  • Missouri National Recreational River, South Dakota/NE

  • Yellowstone River, Montana

  • Green River, Labyrinth & Stillwater Canyons, Utah

  • Kankakee River, Illinois

  • Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Sea Kayaking, Wisconsin

  • Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Minnesota

  • Niobrara National Scenic River, Nebraska

  • Smith River, Montana

  • N. Fork of the Flathead River, Glacier National Park, MT

  • Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota

  • Red River of the North, North Dakota

  • St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, WI

  • Lower Wisconsin River, WI

  • Colorado River, UT

  • Kickapoo River, WI



In the fall of 2017 I set out to attempt a lifelong dream, to canoe the entire length of the Mississippi River. With little expectation, minimum planning and a canoe full of gear and food, I set out from the rivers source at Lake Itasca, Minnesota. Over the next 103 days I traveled south, paddling my 16 foot canoe through 10 states, from the pristine wilderness of Northern Minnesota to the bayous of Southern Louisiana. Along the way I was taken in by the kindness of strangers and stricken by the beauty of the river and the people who call the Mississippi home. With a pen, pad and small camera, I was able to document every twist and turn of the adventure as it unfolded. Dive in and join thousands of others who’ve been taken along on the adventure of a lifetime, a Source to Sea paddle of the Mighty Mississippi River.


Backpacking

  • Brooks Range, Alaska, 45 Days

  • Wind River Range, Wyoming

  • Beartooth Range, Montana

  • Yosemite National Park, California

  • Zion National Park, Utah

  • Canyonlands National Park, Utah

  • Channel Islands National Park, California

  • Indian Peaks Wilderness, Colorado

  • Mt. Zirkel Wilderness, Colorado

  • Snowy Mountains, Wyoming

  • Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Fishing

  • Amazon Jungle, Northern Brazil

    • Peacock Bass, Giant Piraiba Catfish, Wolf Fish, Piranha

  • Bristol Bay, Alaska

    • King Salmon, Rainbow Trout

  • Central Indiana Lake Region

    • Musky

  • Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Minnesota

    • Smallmouth, Pike

  • Colorado

    • Rainbow, Brown trout, Cutthroat, Greenback Cutthroat, Pike

  • Southwest Montana

    • Trout and more trout

  • Christmas Island, Kiribati

    • Bonefish, Trigger fish, GT, Bluefin trevally

  • Belize

    • Permit, Bonefish

  • Farquhar Atoll, Seychelles

    • Giant Trevally, Sailfish on the Fly, Bumphead Parrot Fish

  • Louisiana

    • Redfish, Sheepfish

  • Glacial Lakes, South Dakota

    • Walleye, Jumbo Perch, Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass

  • Illinois & Wisconsin

    • Smallmouth, Largemouth, Pike, Musky, Drum, Catfish, Crappie, Walleye, Bluegill, Bowfin, Carp, Red Horse

  • Texas

    • Alligator Gar



2 men. 2 countries. 1 river. 1 canoe. A pen pad, small camera and 2,000 miles across the vast wilderness of Canada and Alaska. 1 amazing adventure.

In the summer of 2018 Will Collins and Jackson Hill loaded up an old Jeep Wrangler, strapped a canoe to the roof and drove 35 hours north to Canada’s Yukon Territory. With little knowledge of the river and no expectations, the two pushed off on what would become a 70 day adventure canoeing the length of the famed Yukon River.