Who's Who in the MoRP?

The Missouri River Paddlers group was created as a means to share information with those interested in paddling the Missouri River.
The MoRP, has grown to over 3100 members world wide.
Here are a few key members who have
helped create what the MoRP is today.

Welcome to our growing family!

"Families are the compass that guides us.
They are the inspiration to reach great heights,
and our comfort when we occasionally falter." -Brad Henry

Norm Miller: Livingston, Montana. Founder of the Missouri River Paddlers group. Miller retraced the Lewis & Clark trail, solo by canoe & foot during the 2004 Lewis & Clark Bicentennial. Miller paddled up the Missouri to the headwaters, then set out by foot over the continental divide to the Columbia river drainage, which he descended to the Pacific. What started out as a Facebook group, the MoRP has grown to thousands of paddlers worldwide. Miller is an avid Lewis & Clark buff, writer, photographer and river angel to many who descend the Missouri river. Dubbed by Canoe & Kayak magazine, "The Source", for his wealth of knowledge on the Missouri river and in connecting paddlers to one another. Norm's Q&A Contact Norm "Revealed": A behind the scenes Q&A
Muddy Speaker Series Youtube Presentation: "Up & Down the Muddy Missouri River-A History of Paddling on the Missouri:

David L. Miller is a retired teaching professor and former Chair of the Dept. of Geography at the State University of New York's College at Cortland. Miller taught computer mapping, GPS navigation, and physical geography. In the spring of 2002, he began the first of three summers kayaking solo down the Missouri river from Three Forks, Montana to St. Louis. His expedition led to writing the detailed mile-by-mile guidebook of the entire Missouri river. The Complete Paddler has been used by virtually all paddlers on the Missouri river and is referred to as "the Bible". Miller recently completed his second book entitled, The State of American Hot Rodding - Interviews on the Craft and the Road Ahead. BUY DAVE'S BOOK: The Complete Paddler
Contact Dave

Robin Kalthoff. Robin was born and raised along the Missouri River and resides in Waverly, Missouri, mile 293. Kalthoff is currently a special education teacher for the local school district and is the go-to guy for information along the lower Missouri River. Kalthoff has assisted with the Mo340 race, Stream Team-Missouri River Relief, MoRP-Rendezvous 2015, and as a river angel along with wife Connie to many paddlers during their descent of the Mo. Kalthoff plays a mean guitar and is co-author of the hit song, Muddy Water In My Veins, which is often referred to as the theme song for the Missouri River Paddlers group. Rob is also one of the administrators of the MoRP Facebook group.
Contact Rob: A behind the scenes look at Robin in, Revealed: Click Here:

Tom Bailey. Tom first got mud in his veins during his 2009 kayak descent from Three Forks, Montana to the Gulf of Mexico. Along with paddling partner Charles Vaught, the two became one of the youngest to descend the Missouri river. Tom has completed and assisted with the Mo340 and is currently the owner of Kansas City Kayak and Canoe (KCKC) in Kansas City. Tom offers a wealth of information to paddlers descending the Missouri as well as being a river angel when they pass through his area. Make sure you contact Tom when paddling through!
Tom's Q&A Contact Tom
KCKC Website

Andy Bugh, The Plano, Texas resident is known in the MoRP group as the God Father of the "Brower's Spring" paddlers. Andy did some of the first recon of the utmost source (Brower's Spring) in the Centennial Mountains prior to his kayak descent to the Gulf of Mexico in 2011. The information he first gathered assisted the first 12-descents from Source to Sea. Andy is a wealth of information if you are planning to descend the Missouri. Andy is also one of the MoRP administrators on Facebook. Andy's Q&A

Rod Wellington, Chatham, Ontario, Canada. Rod is the first North American, and 1st Canadian to descend the entire Missouri River system from Source to Sea. Rod's 2012-13, 3800-mile descent is an inspiring journey much of which took place during the winter months. No stranger to adventure, Rod has toured more than 16,000 miles by bicycle through N. America and Australia. Rod has also descended the Mississippi river, and the Murray River in Australia. Rod is the author of 3-books about his paddling exploits. His latest book entitled, Wet Exit is about his Australian river adventure.
Check out these 4- links: Rod's MoRP Q&A, Rod's Books,
Q&A Interview with Rod by Norm Miller , Contact Rod:

Scott Mestrezat: Denver, Colorado. Scott made history in 2013 when he became the first and only person to date to Stand Up Paddle (SUP) Board from Three Forks, Montana to St. Louis. Scott hand crafted his SUP board for his 2400-mile descent. Scott's photography of his journey is spectacular. Those interested in descending the Missouri on a SUP should reach out to Scott for his wealth of knowledge. When Scott is not paddling, he's refurbishing an old historic home in Denver or skiing the nearby slopes with his wife Rachael. Check out the links below.
Scott talks about his journey -- Scott's Q&A
Read the unplugged Revealed comments by Scott. Click Here:

John Sullivan: LaCross, Wisconsin. John is a retired Mississippi River Water Quality Specialist for the Wisconsin DNR. John is no stranger to paddling. His initial interest was following the paths of early explorers and voyageurs on their historic routes from the Great Lakes to the Mississippi. He then wandered from Wisconsin and started paddling other "state-named" rivers that flow to the Mississippi - the Minnesota, Ohio, Iowa and Illinois rivers. In 2007, John began a three-summer descent of the Missouri River from Three Forks, Montana to St. Louis. John has contributed stories for Canoe & Kayak and is one of the founders of the Mississippi River Paddlers page on Facebook. Read more about John on the links here. John's Q&A
Read the unplugged, Revealed comments by John Sullivan. Click Here:
(Dean Jacob's photo)

Janet Moreland: Columbia, Missouri. In 2013 Janet made history by becoming the first American and 1st woman to descend the Missouri river from Source to Sea. Her 223-day descent won her Canoe & Kayak Magazine's, Spirit of Adventure Award for her effort. Janet has since paddled the Mississippi and Yukon Rivers, both solo from Source to Sea. Janet is an inspiration and a wealth of information for those wanting to paddle the entire river system. Janet is a school teacher in the Jefferson City district when she is not paddling. Read more about Janet in our Paddlers Database, but here are a few links below. Janet's- Love Your Big Muddy Website. Watch Janet's acceptance speech at the C&K Awards, presented by Piotr Chmielenski here.

Churchill Clark. "Church", as he's known by his friends, is a renown dugout canoe builder. Church has ascended and descended the Missouri river three times, the first being part of the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Reenactment in 2004-06. Church is the 4th Great Grandson of Capt. William Clark of the Lewis & Clark Expedtion, so he has it running through his veins. Clark currently travels around the country looking for large trees which he is inspired to make into dugout canoes. Whenever you are near him, listen for the shout of, "Canoe Canoe!" Read more about Churchill in our Paddlers Database.
Churchill's Website

John McFarland: Apple Valley, Calif. John is a retired counselor and Vietnam Vet. In 2005, John paddled from Three Forks, to Vicksburg, Mississippi, only stopping due to the inundation of hurricane Katrina along the Gulf. John has since paddled the Columbia River from Source to Sea, and has been a great source of information and inspiration to anyone planning an extended expedition.
John's Q&A
Contact John

David Forbes: A retired Agricultural Research Scientist, David has been kayaking on and off since high school, where he made short expeditions on three of Ireland's major rivers. David has paddled the Missouri River from Three Forks, Montana to St. Louis and also the Mississippi River from Source to Sea. Summer of 2019, Forbes plans to spend over a month circumnavigation Ft. Peck reservoir...one of the largest on the Missouri river.

David's Q&A about his Missouri River descent: Click Here:

Gary Leabman: Hermann, Missouri: Gary, along with wife Marsha, own Spirit Hills Guest House in Hermann, Missouri. They have been river angels to many long distance paddlers, helping with logistics, supplies and offering a place to stay while in Hermann. Gary is a river historian, so make sure you get a tour of the museum while in Hermann. Thru-Paddlers have said that staying at Spirit Hills was the best indoor place along the entire Missouri River! Spirit Hills Link
Read the unplugged- "Revealed" about Gary, Click Here:

Sipke Deboer: Deerwood, Wisconsin: Sipke paddled from Three Forks, Montana to St. Louis during the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial in 2005. He is an amazing kayak instructor in the Greenland style of paddling.
Contact Sipke
William Kendrick photo

Tina Brooke: Carrollton, Missouri: Tina is a legend on the Missouri river. She paddled solo from Bear Trap Canyon on the Madison River, Montana to Vicksburg, Mississippi by canoe in 2017. She hopes to soon finish up by going to the Gulf of Mexico. Tina has also completed in the Mo340 race across Missouri. She is a river angel for many paddlers, an inspiration and wealth of insight.
Tina's Q&A Contact Tina
For an unfiltered Q&A with Tina in Revealed: Click Here:

Dale Waldo: Dale completed a speed descent from the utmost source of the Missouri. From Brower's Spring to St. Louis, Dale paddled and portaged his We-no-nah solo canoe arriving in 55-days! Dale is a strong endurance paddler. He paddled the length of the Mississippi river the year before with his father Rick.

A behind the scenes look at Dale Waldo in, Revealed: Click Here:

Mark Kalch: Australian Mark Kalch became the 1st person by kayak, to make a Source to Sea descent of the Missouri river system. In 2012, Mark paddled and portaged the 3800-mile route in 117 days. Mark is attempting to paddle the longest rivers on 7-continents from Source to Sea, and has not only the Missouri-Miss system under his belt, but the Amazon, Volga, and the Murray-Darling rivers.
WEBSITE:
Read an unfiltered Q&A with Mark in, Revealed: Click Here:

Peggy Hellandsaas (R): Tobacco Gardens, Lake Sakakawea, North Dakota. Peggy is the owner of Tobacco Gardens Marina, and has hosted many Through- paddlers during their descent of the Missouri river. She is our "Big Mama", on the upper Missouri river. Don't miss stopping and staying at Tobacco Garden on your descent.
WEBSITE

(Photo by paddler Ellen McDonah during here solo descent of the river at Tobacco Gardens with Peggy.)

Aussie Bob Bellingham kayaked from Three Forks to St. Louis in 2012 aboard his
EddyLine Shasta kayak. Bob also attended the 2015 MoRP Rendezvous with his wife Barbara. The two together hiked the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), from Mexico to Canada prior to the Missouri river expedition.
Here is an in-depth Q&A with Bob about the in's and out's of the journey.
Well worth the read! Q&A: CLICK HERE:
A behind the scenes look at Bob in, Revealed: Click Here:

Will Garvin: Helena, Montana: Sports fanatic & paddler, Will Garvin has helped many paddlers portage the first dams along the Missouri river near his home in Helena, Montana. If you need a portage ride around Canyon Ferry and Holter dams, make sure you get in touch with Will. He is not only a river angel, but a really good canoe paddler! In 2010 Will paddled from his home in Helena, Montana to Helena, Arkansas. Will was also the 1st licensed fishing guide on Montana rivers!

Article on Will's Journey
A behind the scenes look at Will Garvin in, Revealed: Click here:

Joe Zimmerman: Denver, Colorado: Denver firefighter. Joe and paddling partner Nick Caiazza made the first "Sit On Top" kayak descent from Source to Sea of the Missouri river. They both paddled Hobie SOT's.

Nick Caiazza: New York City, NY: Film maker. Nick and paddling partner Joe Zimmerman made the
1st "Sit On Top" kayak descent of the entire Missouri river system. Nick produced a documentary film of their descent which has won praise and awards at film festivals.

Nick's award winning film can be found on Vimeo below.
Blackwater Drifters: A Journey to the Gulf. A must Watch film!

Kris Laurie: Rapid City, SD: Law Enforcement Ranger at Mt. Rushmore National Monument.
Kris paddled and portaged 3800-miles by canoe from the utmost Source of the Missouri at Brower's Spring to the Gulf to make the first complete "Canoe" descent of North America's longest rivers system.

Source of Confidence Expedition: Alyce Louise(L), and Lisa Pugh (R): This duo from Minnesota made the first complete canoe decent by women- accepting no assistance around dams, for a Source to Sea descent of the Missouri river system. Their successful goal was to inspire younger woman with confidence.

Charles Vaught: In 2010, he and Tom Bailey paddled from Three Forks, Montana to the Gulf of Mexico becoming one of the youngest persons to ever do so. Charles has since spent 6 years living and working in Vietnam but is back in the US working on a new business adventure. Charle's Q&A

Jerico LeFort is a paddler and boat building from Missouri. He has built some amazing boats including the winning pedal boat in the 2018 Mo340 which was pedaled my Ellen Megellan Falterman.

Jared Jellison: From 2000-2002, Jared and friend Robert Carpenter, paddled 8000-miles through 16 states, crossing the continental divide twice. He is the author of “Fighting the Current- There & Back”, the story of this 2 ½ year adventure:

Read an unfiltered Q&A with Jared in, Revealed: Click Here.
Question & Answer about his 8000-mile journey: Click Here

Patrick Dobson: Dr. Patrick Dobson is a freelance writer, former journalist, and working member of Ironworkers Local Union #10 in Kansas City, Missouri. He completed his Ph.D. in History in 2013. He is the author of Canoeing the Great Plains: A Missouri River Summer (University of Nebraska, 2015), Dobson recounts his journey on the Missouri River from Helena, MT, to Kansas City, MO.

A behind the scenes unfiltered Q&A with Patrick in, Revealed: Click Here:

Christopher Kalthoff: Chris is a freelance writer often contributing to Canoe & Kayak Magazine. He grew up along the Missouri in Grand Pass, playing music with his father Robin and paddling on the Missouri river.

An unfiltered look at Chris Kalthoff can be found in, Revealed: Click Here:

Photo of Chris to the right by HNF Photography:

Patrick Wellner: Patrick is an Engineering manager for South Dakota Dept. of Transportation in Pierre. Patrick is the creator of the website: www:piratesofthemissouri.com. He is a river angel, having helped many long distance paddlers. Wellner is an avid paddler and racer, having completed the Mo340 several times.

An unfiltered Q&A with Patrick can be found in: Revealed: Click Here:

Jarett Bies: Vermillion, S.D. Bies is a long-time South Dakota writer and journalist who works in health care marketing these days. He organizes kayak races and enjoys meeting long-distance paddlers who travel through The Land of Infinite Variety.

An unfiltered Q&A with Jarett can be found in Revealed: Click Here:

Steve Schnarr of Columbia, Missouri is the executive director of Missouri River Relief. The MRR is a community, volunteer and equipment-based not-for-profit organization dedicated to connecting people to the Missouri River through hands-on river clean-ups, education events and stewardship activities.
Learn more about the MRR at: Website Click Here:

John Ruskey: Clarksdale, Mississippi. John is the founder and owner of Quapaw Canoe Company on the Lower Mississippi. He has paddled both the Missouri and Mississippi rivers extensively. He is the creator of "RiverGator", the premiere paddlers database for the lower Mississippi River. John has probably aided more paddlers on the Mississippi and Missouri rivers than anyone.
Quapaw Canoe Company website: Click Here:

Big Muddy-Mike Clark: Mike Clark is the founder of Big Muddy Adventures based out of St. Louis. Big Muddy Adventures was established in 2002. They are the first professional outfitter/guiding company providing access to the wild wonders of the Middle Mississippi and Lower Missouri Rivers. Located in St. Louis, MO, just downstream from the Confluence of the Great Rivers.
Mike has paddled extensively on the Missouri and Mississippi rivers and has aided hundreds of long distance paddlers over the decades.
Big Muddy Adventures website: Click Here:
Q&A with Mike: Click Here:

Jim Meade: Jim is based out of Great Falls, Montana and has helped paddlers for over 4 decades--- portaging the 18-miles around the 5-dams and rapids at Great Falls. He is well educated in the Lewis & Clark Expedition and is willing to share his knowledge with all paddlers.

Brian Duncan: Jefferson City, Missouri: Brain solo kayaked the Missouri river becoming one of the youngest to ever do so. He has helped many long distance paddlers by offering his knowledge and insight. See Brian's Q&A and Interview in our Database.

Dave Shively: On staff at Canoe & Kayak and SUP magazines, Dave has also written for Alaska, Sierra, Maxim, Outside, and Men’s Journal. He previously wrote sports and worked as the Outdoors Editor at the Steamboat Pilot & Today. Dave recently published, " The Pacific Alone - The untold story of kayaking's boldest voyage", about the 1983 crossing from California to Maui by Ed Gillet in a stock kayak.
Dave's website

Cliff Jacobson is one of North America's most respected outdoors writers, wilderness guides, national and foreign consultants, and is the most published canoeing/camping writer of this century. He is a professional canoe guide and outfitter, a wilderness canoeing and camping consultant and the author of over a dozen top-selling books on camping and canoeing - numerous titles have been translated into Spanish, German, French and Turkish with sales approaching one million copies.
Cliff's website

Stephenie Ambrose Tubbs, daughter of late historian and best selling author Stephen Ambrose, is an accomplished researcher in her own right. She oversaw publication of Lewis and Clark Companion: An Encyclopedic Guide to the Voyage of Discovery with author Clay Jenkinson, which chronicles little known aspects of the journey, as well as the entire cast of characters and most beloved campsites.
Stephenie currently serves as Co-Chair of the Lewis and Clark Trust, serves on the Board of the Montana Preservation Alliance and on the Advisory Council for the American Prairie Reserve. She lives with her husband and sons in Helena, Montana.

Braxton Barden: River angel and paddler. Braxton guided river trips for Quapaw Canoe Company out of Clarksdale, Mississippi. He is an ecologist and helped work on the Lower Mississippi River Trail system.
River Gator Org: Click Here

Revealed: Interview with Braxton: Click Here