Our third Paddle for Our Hudson paddler profile is Liam Purvis. Liam is a whitewater kayaker who lives in the Hudson Valley and paddles
many Hudson River tributaries. He’s inspired to participate in Paddle for Our Hudson to restore the river’s former abundance and a desire for people to be in community with the river. We spoke with Liam to learn where Liam paddles and his reasons for participating:
Clearwater: What inspires you to Paddle for Our Hudson?
Liam: The Hudson has a life of no other river I’ve seen. The tides are like breath, and if the tributaries are the veins of our watershed the river is the lungs. Stories of the former abundance of the Hudson, in the form of riverside herring festivals and monstrous sturgeon, inspire me to fight for its health and our relationship with it.
Clearwater: Where are you paddling during the challenge?
Liam: On whitewater! The paddling challenge has coincided with a mild drought here in the Hudson River watershed, so I’ve had to go further afield: My favorite river this last month has been the Taureau (Bull) section of the Jacques Cartier outside Quebec City, although I had a spectacular afternoon on the Moose in the western Adirondacks yesterday.
Paddle for our Hudson is Hudson River Sloop Clearwater’s new summer paddle challenge and fundraiser running from Memorial Day weekend until July 26. In its first year, the program challenged participants to paddle 55 miles in celebration of Clearwater’s 55th sailing season. Learn more about Paddle for Our Hudson.
