When a River Guide Rows Across the Pacific Ocean

About this episode

Kelsey Pfendler discusses her upcoming solo rowing journey across the Pacific Ocean and its significance.

Rowing is loosely defined as the act, or the art, of moving a boat through water with two oars, powered by a human. As a professional river guide, Kelsey Pfendler rows boats down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. In early May of 2026, she will embark on a 2,500 mile row across the Pacific Ocean from south of San Francisco, California, to the islands of Hawaii. Kelsey will make this journey solo, taking about 80 days. Her vessel, Lily, is built for the task. She has a small cabin for sleeping and reading charts and weather and communicating with her land crew. Why is she rowing solo across the ocean? There are many answers. One answer is to bring attention to the Whale Foundation, a guide support organization focused on Grand Canyon guide health. The other reasons? She tells us why. This is her second Mid Pacific crossing, but the first solo. What she learned on the first crossing brings more depth to the power of the solo crossing.

People in this episode

Host: Sam Carter

Guest: Kelsey Pfendler

Topics covered

• rowing
• ocean crossing
• solo journey
• adventure
• environmental awareness

Keywords

• rowing
• Pacific Ocean
• Kelsey Pfendler
• Grand Canyon
• Whale Foundation
• solo journey
• adventure

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Whale Foundation

Products: Lily

Places: California, Hawaii, Pacific Ocean, Grand Canyon

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