“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these [kayakers] from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”
I may have taken some liberties on that quote. But even though it does technically refer to our trusty US Postal Service staff (thanks for the snow-day mail, guys), I think it also speaks pretty darn well about the paddling community. No matter how low the temperatures drop or how icy the rivers get, paddlers will always find something to keep them excited about their favorite pastime.
The National Paddling Film Festival in Frankfort, Ky., serves as the perfect example of that undying psych. This weekend, February 20-21, paddlers from all over the region will ignore the cold and gather at the Buffalo Trace Distillery to enjoy a weekend packed full of films, speakers, bourbon, food, and, of course, paddling.
The festivities begin on Friday night, as the films kick off at 5 p.m. and Kirk Eddlemon – author of the Whitewater of the Southern Appalachians guidebook – shares his story at 8. On Saturday, bourbon tastings, auctions, films, and delicious chili fill up the 
afternoon after a river race down Elkhorn Creek. Finally, kayaker and film star Ben Marr will wrap up the event with a talk on his own life adventures.
Tickets can be purchased online for $20 or at the door for $25, and cover the whole weekend.
So, come embrace the season with your fellow riverrats at the National Paddling Film Festival. Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night can get these paddlers down.
