Path of the Paddle: Solo Whitewater 

I'm 83 and I have watched this video many times and I learn something every time. I run a river cleanup non-profit in Michigan and I recommend this video to all my river cleanup volunteers. I was very sad when Bill mason passed.

This is the most amazing, straight forward, instructional video ever.

I remember when cutoffs were cool. Such a treat to watch a true master at his craft..good stuff

This is a great video, even the title "Path of the Paddle" is inspiring. I think it was made in 1977 (year I graduated high school). At that time I was paddling Class II-III rivers in aluminum canoes borrowed from the Red Cross. We learned most of the lessons shown in the video by simply getting out on the rivers and just gaining experience by paddling and talking to other boaters. It was a glorious time. I am now in my 60s and continue to love whitewater adventures. Some are multi-day trips while others are single day outings. I have started to move back to Class II-III water at this stage and like to paddle tandem with my wife. My big water solo days are probably behind me and best left to jumping in a raft if that is what the group wants to do. I will say that I enjoy the simple pleasures of a beautiful Class II-III run and the chance to keep improving my river reading and running skills.

River is a very beautiful place

I couldn’t stop smiling😊. I feel like I saw this a long time ago, but it’s as joyful, relevant and as instructive today.

Danke für dieses sehr lehrreiche Video!

Love this video. Just paddled today.

Thanks for posting this. That’s a talented paddler and teacher.

Great video, thank you!

when i went canoe triping,35 or so years,in the bwca and canada i stuck to flat water solo trips.i would watch this just before i left as a reminder of just what a canoe would handle in bad water.

Beautiful Series, thank you for the upload.

Love this old school video. Thanks for sharing.

Loved that book : )

The best training video!!!!!

I so love this video

Excellent video!

Precioso video. Mi río no tiene rápidos pero es igual de entrañable para mí. River Ebro,Spain

Love the GoPro footage at 01:06

You are have excellent skills.💪 So nice 👍

I got both books "Song of the Paddle" and "Path of the Paddle" almost 30 years ago - and lived vicariously through Bill Mason on the whitewater of the Potomac River - nothing like the pure rivers of the North. I wonder what his son Paul is doing these days, he's probably my age. If you love canoeing, those books are a must have. His canoe is an old Chestnut and must weigh over 100 pounds.

Did I say already it’s B E A U T I F U L ? Thanks

you are amazing

A classic

What river is this?

❤😊