A River Reborn

In the summer of 2025, teens from four Native American tribes along the Klamath River made a historic kayaking trip—a trip that no one else alive today had made before.

I wrote about this historic trip for Copenhagen-based Imagine 5 in their WILD Issue, Volume 5.

For this feature—about the indigenous teens who made the inaugural First Descent kayaking down the newly undammed Klamath River—I had the honor of interviewing a trio of impressive teens. I was gobsmacked by the bravery and skill of both Tasia Linwood, 16, and her 17-year-old god-brother, Julian Rogers, who regaled me with stories of their adventures. (They prepared for this trip for years!) I also had a long phone conversation with 16-year-old Taeliah Eggsman, a member of the Klamath and Modoc tribes, who told me about the influence of her grandfather, Tyler Barlowe. She wished both he and her father, who used to take Tae and her siblings out on the River, were around to see her paddle the Klamath. Their respect for the wildness and unpredictability of the river was beautiful to behold. Their communities are so proud of them and all the other teens who made this 30-day adventure to commemorate the opening up of the Klamath. If you can afford to buy a copy of this print issue, it's gorgeous—and in these days of "4 minute reads" on news sites, it’s a distinct pleasure to luxuriate on the couch with a thick, gorgeously-produced magazine. (Other articles include one on the cowboys of Patagonia, the wolves of Slovenia, and a pocket forest in the heart of Detroit.)

The online version is here on Imagine 5's website.