The 17th annual Clearwater Kayak Festival was a huge success according to participants coming into Wells Gray Country from B.C. and as far away as Washington State and Alaska.
The Munter-Rinck family from Alaska with dad, Henry, mom, Kelly and their two boys, Paul and Sam all enjoyed the kayaking in Wells Gray Country during the Kayak Festival. "It's beautiful country and much like where we come from in Alaska," said Kelly.
The festival began with Ben Earle who started the first Clearwater Kayak Festival in 2007 and the event carries on each year to honour his legacy. The festival now continues in honour of Ben Earle and Adrian Kiernan, a fellow paddler who was with Earle at the time of his death. Kiernan passed away in 2018 while on a kayak expedition in Nepal and is also remembered each year during the Clearwater Kayak Festival.
The kayakers took on the spectacular Clearwater River whitewater and its tributaries in Wells Gray Park during the three-day event with many saying "Can't wait for next year!"
Watch for more about the Kayak Festival in our next issue of the surgeryitaly.
