Hi, On this 9th day of April, 2009 Missouri River Canoe Co. and Virgelle Mercantile Antiques launched a news service blog in an attempt to communicate to everyone what is happening in the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument and our business. We hope this will be of service to all who visit, and to those who wish they could… See you out there…
On April 8, 2009 Dan Cook launched his custom built dory near Carter, Montana on his way to the Gulf of Mexico. His epic journey should take him past Virgelle sometime during the day tomorrow… Press release follows:
Adventurer to Row Solo for Disabled Veterans
3,700 mile journey will start in Montana and conclude at the mouth of the Mississippi
Park City, UT – (November 12, 2008) — Fresh off his two-year, 75,000 mile around-the-world fishing expedition, Dan T. Cook, avid outdoor enthusiast and adventurer, plans to embark on a solo rowing trip spanning more than 3,700 miles through the heart of the United States. The journey will commence April 1, 2009 and help raise awareness and funding for disabled veterans across America.
For his trip, expected to take two-and-a-half months, Cook will use a custom-built, self-contained 17 foot dory. His diet will consist primarily of freeze-dried meals and he will sleep on the deck of the expedition vessel.
“The purpose of this trip is to raise public awareness of the challenges wounded and disabled veterans face after they leave the hospital,” says Cook, founder and executive director of Rivers of Recovery (ROR), an organization that offers rehabilitative fishing trips to disabled veterans and their families.
In just its first year, ROR has helped veterans suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury and other combat-related injuries and disabilities.
Cook will begin his journey in Three Forks, Montana at Missouri Headwaters State Park and conclude in the Gulf of Mexico. The trip will be fraught with challenges, including rowing across 900 miles of reservoirs and facing unpredictable river and wind conditions. It will be a test of will and endurance, one that Cook says pales in comparison to the challenges faced by America’s wounded warriors.
A special Web site will allow visitors to track the adventure in real-time and view live Web cam updates. Cameras will be mounted at various locations on the vessel, giving an interactive perspective of the journey.
Cook has previously rowed his dory more than 4,500 miles on rivers in Alaska and across the western US. This trip, however, will be unique.
“Many people forget that such an epic adventure still exists in the United States. It will be a daunting, physical challenge,” notes Cook.
Cook’s organization has been featured in several national media outlets, including The NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, and his around-the-world fly fishing expedition was chronicled in leading outdoor-interest publications.
For contact information and to learn more about coverage opportunities, visit http://www.riversofrecovery.org or http://www.flyfishingtheglobe.net.
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Media Inquiries:
Gary Greaves
Credo Media Group
561-479-4141