Winnipeg, Mb.

Legendary Winnipeg adventurer Don Starkell, who is best remembered for a Guinness Book of World Records feat of paddling with his son Dana more than 19,000 kilometers from his prairie home to the Amazon, has died after a battle with cancer. He was 79.

This is a picture of a Don Starkell who kayaked the Red River and Assiniboine River through most of the year when the rivers were free of ice.

Through various trips and adventures, Don Starkell built a 64-year legacy as one of North America's most respected canoeists and kayakers, telling of his adventures in a pair of books. In Paddle to the Amazon, Starkell and his son Dana faced a 23-month, 20,000-kilometre canoe journey from Winnipeg to the Amazon in the 1980s -- an adventure that earned the duo a Guinness record for the longest canoe trip ever.

Contrasting that trek was Paddle to the Arctic, an account of a solo trip covering the Northwest Passage by kayak. Starkell lost portions of his fingers and a few toes to frostbite during that 1990 expedition.


Don Starkell may have paddled farther than any other human being has ever paddled. Back in August 2009 he was closing in on a new milestone -- paddling 120,226 kilometers, a distance equal to three times the circumference of the Earth -- Starkell believed he was the rightful holder of the world record for the most kilometers paddled by a human being over the course of a lifetime.

In 2009, his routine on paddling days involved waking up at 2:45 a.m., leaving his East Kildonan home and hitting the water by 4 a.m. in order to paddle 22 kilometers along the Red and Assiniboine Rivers.

In late March 2010 he was injured quite seriously in a fire in his home in the north end.

CS2 levels
shadow/highlight

Canon EOS 650

f8.5 1/350 105mm

Taken June 25, 2008.

Posted by Jan Bjorklund on Sun, 02/05/12 18:47
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Comments by Linda Frey on Sun, 02/05/12 19:34

It's sad to hear of his death, Jan. I saw a bit of an article on the Winnipeg news yesterday, I think it was. That's a great shot you have of him.


Comments by Nathan Leonard Kern on Mon, 02/06/12 05:07

What a man,I wonder how long his trip took, Nice picture of him in his boat.


Comments by Mo Fridlich on Mon, 02/06/12 05:22

Great shot of what seems to be somewhat of a legend. His kayak looks like it has been well used. Not sure what he has in his back bulkhead, looks like a plastic bucket. I realize he is well experienced, but in our kayaking crowd we would frown upon his not wearing a PFD.


Comments by John Long on Mon, 02/06/12 09:53

Although I have not heard of this man - he is obviously a legend in the Kyak world. Very pleasing shot of him


Comments by S Roter on Mon, 02/06/12 12:40

Great shot Jan, he should be remembered.


Comments by Garry Schaefer on Mon, 02/06/12 18:21

Thank you for bringing this to us, Jan. His is a truly remarkable story.


Comments by Art Sands on Tue, 02/07/12 20:59

Great remembrance and picture - particularly the water reflections and interesting light and most of all an excellent portrait of a free spirit.