Cliff Jacobson

Once upon a time, I believed that the best canoeing rivers were in Canada and Alaska. Then, about 15…

Stuff happens as we age, and it’s not all good.  Darrell Foss, 75, one of my closest friends, has…

A recent article in Rapid Media’s on-line magazine listed seven reasons why now is a better time to be…

My first remote country canoe trip was in 1974.  We began at Folliet, Ontario and cruised the…

A not-so-funny thing happened this year.  I turned 77.  That's seventy-seven!  Which is…

In October 2017, four friends and I paddled 150 miles down the upper Missouri River from Fort…

Round the bend you see the dancing horsetails of the rapid. As is the stern's prerogative, you command…

Photo Credit: Darlene Patterson Many people who have paddled for years can't keep a canoe on a straight…

Some years ago, I had the privilege of taking a FreeStyle canoeing class from Karen Knight and the late…

Canadians love tumplines. Americans generally consider them torture devices, largely because they've…

What do you do if your canoe trip begins or ends with a long open water crossing? You can paddle the big…

The national wild and scenic Buffalo River in Arkansas is one of the finest canoeing rivers in America.…

Every spring I do an annual canoe trip with friends. One year we chose “Big Thicket National Preserve”…

Previously, I wrote about some perceived fears of first time wilderness canoeists. This time, I wanted…

Ask folks what they fear most about canoeing a wild river - where help may be an airplane ride away -…

I turned 76 in September.  No matter, I continue to think—and largely feel—like I’m…

Kayaks now outnumber canoes on almost every waterway. Why are they suddenly so popular? Some years ago,…

The ax-blazed spruce that juts from the riverbank indicates we have arrived at the portage. A 2-mile…

Dozens of new canoeing and camping products are introduced every year.  Some are honestly useful;…

Funny, how one's perspective on things changes with age. Trips that are easy when you're young become…

Have you checked the price of canoe paddles lately? Good ones cost over $100; great ones approach $300…