ARTS & CULTURE
Joe Solomon plans to kayak the entire Mississippi River P H O T O : P R O V I D E D BY A DV E N T U R E CREW
Paddling for a Cause A Cincinnati man plans to kayak the entire Mississippi River to raise funds and awareness for mental health issues and local youth nature program Adventure Crew BY K AT I E G R I F F IT H
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hat’s good for the body is good for the mind and vice versa. A local man who lives by this mantra is taking it one step further by applying it to something bigger than himself: community. After all, what is a community without the small actions of its individuals? And what happens when those small actions expand to
the size of the second-longest river in North America? Cincinnatian Joe Solomon has set out to kayak the entire Mississippi River to raise money and awareness for mental health issues, stigma and solutions. Solomon says the 2,350-mile journey will take roughly 60 to 80 days. During this time, he also hopes to inspire $10,000
in donations to benefit local nonprofit Adventure Crew, which empowers city youth through nature and aims to provide equitable access to the outdoors. Adventure Crew recently began a new program called Crew Cares that employs mental health professionals to integrate therapeutic practices during outdoor activities. “Nature has a lot of healing properties,” Solomon says. “That’s how I found my way back from a horrible sickness... through kayaking. And ultimately these kids are the future leaders of this nation. If they can get out into nature and get those healing properties too, then why not support them.” On May 31, Solomon pointed his 14-foot, sky-blue kayak south and began to navigate the narrow headwaters of the Mississippi. From Minnesota to Louisiana, he will pass through 10
states and camp on the shore each night. With a 75-pound pack in tow, and a crew of three friends who will join segments of the trip, Solomon aims to paddle 40 to 50 miles per day and admits the beginning will be the most challenging. “The headwaters are loaded with beaver dams and downed trees,” he says. “It’s rough for the first 100 miles. A lot of people quit at that 100-mile point. There are mosquitoes, biting flies, it’s rowdy.” But for Solomon, that’s all part of the sport he credits with overcoming and learning to live with his own mental health obstacles. A few passes of his hand saw will get those trees out of the way, easing navigation and getting him closer to meeting his goal.
JUNE 2021
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