The trip’s website described the undertaking: six friends, nine months, five provinces, 11 rivers, 10 states, 5,200 miles, one continent. That added up to adventure for 2008 BSU alumnus John Keaveny, who with five others paddled canoes from the Mississippi River Delta to the Arctic Ocean.

Starting on Jan. 2 in Buras, La., the trip actually traversed 5,230 miles before ending after eight months in Kugluktuk, a small town where the Coppermine River empties into the Arctic Ocean in northern Canada. The canoeists paddled nearly two-thirds of the way to the North Pole.

“The trip was done in the spirit of adventure,” Keaveny said. “I saw it as a one-time opportunity to meet new people and see new places.”

Meeting individuals along the route was a major highlight, he said: “I thought we’d be out by ourselves more, but wherever we went, people reached out to help, greet and meet us. Everyone’s spirit was incredible.”

That spirit helped the travelers over the rough times, such as paddling the Mississippi in ice, rain and snow or struggling against the current for more than half the river miles. In addition to the people, he saw scores of new cities, traversed miles of secluded waterways or rapids, and collected lifelong memories.

Keaveny left his job as a field staff member at a wilderness therapy program in Utah to make the journey. After returning from the Arctic Circle, he landed in New Ulm, where he is substitute teaching and looking forward to new adventures.