Virginia photographer and outdoor enthusiast Andrew Thayer is canoeing the entire 180-mile length of the Shenandoah River. Thayer dipped his boat the Shenandoah headwaters last week, and he will be canoeing all the way to the Shenandoah’s confluence with the Potomac River. Along the way, he will document his journey with words and photos.
“The Shenandoah River has been a place that I have been drawn to since I grew up near its banks as a child,” says Thayer. “On a hot summer day during my youth, the river would be the place to cool off and enjoy nature. Today, the beauty of the Shenandoah is still there, but its health has worsened. Fish kills in the last few years have shown that its purity has been compromised and recent tests have found dozens of chemicals. Pollution, consumption, development and drought have made the Shenandoah one of the most endangered rivers in the nation.”
The perilous state of the beloved Shenandoah inspired Thayer to make his canoe journey. Through his epic canoe trip, he hopes to promote awareness and action to help protect the Shenandoah watershed.
Thayer’s photo essay from the journey will appear in our next issue of Blue Ridge Outdoors. In the meantime, his blog will appear here on our web site.
