Dale Sanders, alias “Grey Beard Adventurer” has been an avid paddle, competitive spear-fisherman and outdoorsman in the field of aquatics all his adult life. He is retired now from a successful career in Parks and Recreation, which spanned six decades, thirty-seven years of which were with the Department of US Navy. He has a Masters Degree from Pepperdine University Malibu, California and continue
d his post graduate educational achievements in the field of Morale, Welfare and Recreation until retirement, to became a virtually full time volunteer/ staff member for the Wolf River Conservancy. He received the prestigious International Spearfishing Association Athlete of the Year Award for the year - 1965. At one point, a held a World Record for Underwater Breath Holding and has won numerous USA and North American Continent Spearfishing Team and Individual awards. In his professional field, Dale as awarded the USA National Sports Foundation Award for Excellence in Parks and Recreation Administration, an annual recognition for achievement in Parks and Recreation development. He is an accomplished paddler and has sailed open seas in his personal quest for adventure. Dale is also an Internationally Certified Instructor/ Instructor Trainer in the field of SCUBA Diving, Water Safety, Small Craft and First Aide. Often referred to as “River Rat” he is the only person known to have canoed the entire Wolf River from its source, Bakers Pond, in the Holly Springs National Forest, to the Mississippi River in one continuous boating trip. He said one of his most memorable adventures was backpacking around the world with his wife now of 36 years, but that “back-fired” because “she is now burned-out”. This Grey Beard Adventurer claims, if successful, will be the oldest paddler to ever solo paddle, in one continuous trip, the Mississippi River from source in central Minnesota to it’s confluence with the Gulf of Mexico, south of Venus, Louisiana, USA. He hopes, his "Cruising for a Cure" expedition will raise awareness and funds to help fight Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes, a life long and dreaded disease, which has afflicted his Grand Niece, Anna. By mid June 2015, of his 80th year, Dale will be underway paddling this epic journey, a trip he has been planning for years. He will launch his craft, a specialty modified 15.4 feet long We-no-nah Canoe, at Lake Itasca, Minnesota. Averaging 30 miles per day, he expects to reach the Gulf of Mexico in 80 paddling days. Dale is currently serving as Director of Outreach for the Wolf River Conservancy (WRC). A noteworthy recent paddling accomplishment was the blazing of the "New Trail" on the Wolf River, between Bateman Road and the City of Moscow, Tennessee. He is an accomplished photographer and prefers to share his works through the WRC website site and Face Book pages as well as on his Waters Less Traveled venues herein and on his Web Site link at: www.dalesanders.zenfolio.com. Dale will be stopping in ports, towns and cities along the river banks, telling his story. His goal is to reach out personally and online for donations to support mile for mile, donations from $8.00 to $80.00. This 2340 mile paddle will take him through several major cities where he will reach out to "River Angel" support his efforts. He hopes, fellow paddlers, friends, family and followers from around the world, can afford and will donate a minimum of $8.00 up to $80.00, representing his age and the number of days he will be paddling.
Paddling the Mississippi River from it's source, Lake Atasca, MN to it's confluence with the Gulf of (also the name of his boat).
