Father and daughter kayaking the entire Wisconsin River

STEVENS POINT—Father and daughter duo, Peter Gebhardt and Hannah Perryman-Gebhardt, have spent the last four years kayaking the length of the Wisconsin River. 

When Hannah was 12-years-old, her father asked her what kind of adventure she’d like to do with him. Ultimately, Hannah landed on kayaking the entire Wisconsin River. Peter thought the pair would kayak the river in segments, jumping around across the state. Hannah, however, stated the pair should start at the top of the state near the Upper Peninsula, and work their way down to the south western portion of Wisconsin where the Wisconsin River meets the Mississippi River. 

At just 12-years-old, Hannah kayaked nearly 100 miles their first year. Now at 16-years-old, Hannah and her father are nearing the end of the over 400 mile long river. 

The pair log about one hundred miles each year and are able to kayak from March to Nov., weather permitting. 

“It ends up being way more driving than it is paddling.” Peter said. By taking the river on from top to bottom in segments, Hannah and Peter take multiple trips each year. Depending on the wind and weather, they are able to kayak about three miles per hour. Typically, they kayak for a few hours each trip. 

When asked what their biggest accomplishments have been on the trip so far, they both joked in unison, “Not killing each other.”

With a 14-foot-long kayak and a 16-foot-long kayak, the pair are able to pack snacks and meals in their boats, ensuring they get the most time on the water they can. They recently completed their first overnight kayak trip, sleeping on a sand bar before taking on more of the river. 

Hannah remembers the first 100 miles of the trip as her favorite. “You got to know the river quite intimately. The river was so narrow in parts that you could jump across it if you wanted to. It was kind of crazy to try and get a 14-foot boat through some of those turns, though.” 

On the river they’ve seen a handful of wildlife, from hundreds of turtles, to bald eagles, great blue herons, squirrels swimming in the river, and a fawn escaping a coyote by swimming across the water. 

Both Hannah and Peter agreed that the most difficult segment of their journey has been getting through Lake Petenwell. At 23,173 acres, the lake is Wisconsin’s second-largest inland lake and spans across Adams, Juneau, and Wood counties. 

“When you’re out there, it can be hard to see that land at points. And there’s two to three foot high waves, and that particular day there was south wind, so you’re going right into the wind.” Peter said. 

With over 140 hours of kayaking the Wisconsin River under their belts, they are only 45 miles away from accomplishing their goal. They will finish out the last bit of the river in 2027, ending near Prairie du Chien where the Wisconsin River meets the Mississippi River. They hope to celebrate their five year journey with friends and family at the end, having a celebration once they complete their final few miles on the water. 

Kayaking the river hasn’t only taught Hannah and Peter about perseverance, it also has taught them history along the way. Peter said he would begin to think of when water was the main form of transportation, or when lumber would be floated down the river as a vital part of Wisconsin’s economy and lifestyle. 

As this kayaking trip has paralleled Hannah’s journey to adulthood, she believes this trip has been monumental to her life. “I think this trip has kind of influenced the course of my life a little bit. I have discovered more of an appreciation for natural stuff.” Hannah stated both her parents are very nature oriented, and both have natural resource degrees. As a result of this trip, Hannah said she’s taking more outdoor and hands-on classes at school.

As Hannah’s journey kayaking the river comes to a close, Peter will begin a new journey with Hannah’s 11-year-old sister. Together, they will complete all the ski trails in Wisconsin, over 180 trails in total.