Author Archives: TA Loeffler

World Premiere: OMD and the School of Drag

Posted on May 6, 2020

Welcome. Thanks for joining me as I premiere my short film about OMD and the joys of portaging on our “River with Two Names” expedition in August of 2019. The film is called OMD and The School of Drag. It … Continue reading →

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Almost Everything I Needed to Know about Getting Through Tough Times, I Learned on Aconcagua (and other mountains)

Posted on March 26, 2020

It feels like I’m on an expedition and I don’t know when this expedition will end. That’s new, because most of my expeditions have an end date when the float plane comes, when the climbing season ends due to monsoon, … Continue reading →

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Get Away to the Mountains, the Deserts and the Deepest Recesses of the Earth-A Found Piece of Writing

Posted on February 20, 2020

Here on 2-20-20, another fine odometer moment, I delved into a little Finder clean-up/re-org and found this piece I’d written some time ago. Given all the skiing we’ve been doing this winter and given our soon to be departure to … Continue reading →

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Making the List: 90 Great Canadian Explorers

Posted on February 10, 2020

I am humbled once again to be recognized by the Royal Canadian Geographic Society by my inclusion in their 90 Greatest Canadian Explorers List. Of course, whenever a list is made, many noteworthy, awesome, & deserving folks are left off … Continue reading →

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Revisiting an Adventurous Decade Countdown 2019: Pretty Big Walk and River with Two Names

Posted on January 2, 2020

To finish off this countdown, (which has been pretty darn fun to do–thanks for coming along), I’ll leave you with two expeditions from the past year. Our climb of Yala Peak, occurred during our Pretty Big Walk expedition in April … Continue reading →

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Revisiting an Adventurous Decade Countdown 2018: How Paddling North is Like Climbing Everest and 2.5 Million Paddle Strokes

Posted on January 1, 2020

Happy New Year! Since I didn’t quite manage to get the countdown completed before the new year dawned (oh well-it was more fun to ski than stare at my laptop), here is 2018’s entry. With a 90-day expedition that year, … Continue reading →

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Happy New Year 2020! Every Moment is New

Posted on January 1, 2020

The year has just turned to 2020…what a lovely odometer year! Those who have followed me for awhile know that I am a fan of odometer moments. Turns out that I have several posts that explain this love of mine. … Continue reading →

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Revisiting an Adventurous Decade Countdown 2017: Lungta Livyers #14 Tigers, Lions, Garudas, and Dragons Oh My: First Day in Bhutan and Helicopters and Hands.

Posted on December 28, 2019

Today is a two-fer…one entry looking back just after 2017 began and one entry from when we first landed in Bhutan. Enjoy! Originally Posted on September 27, 2017  “But wait,” you doth protest. “Where is update number 13?” It’s in the … Continue reading →

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Revisiting an Adventurous Decade Countdown 2016: Everest 3.0: Out of the Fog, Flights to Nowhere, and Seeing the Mountain Blush

Posted on December 27, 2019

Originally Posted on November 2, 2016  It’s been a foggy day here. Reminiscent of many other foggy days. One in particular, where I had a flight to Halifax. We took off in fog and flew almost all the way to Halifax … Continue reading →

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Revisiting an Adventurous Decade Countdown 2015: Three for the Price of One!

Posted on December 23, 2019

I couldn’t decide on only one post from 2015 so I’ve included three: one from our expedition to El Salvador to climb the country’s highest volcanoes–that expedition was called Volcanopalooza. The second one is the wrap-up from my short, but … Continue reading →

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Revisiting an Adventurous Decade Countdown 2014: GHT and L is for Lessons, Lots of Lessons: Ama Dablam Wrap-Up

Posted on December 22, 2019

Two expeditions to invite you to today…the first isn’t a specific post but over a hundred-in 2014, Marian and I spent 2.5 months trekking and climbing on the Great Himalayan Trail from the Eastern border with India to the Bigu … Continue reading →

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Revisiting an Adventurous Decade Countdown 2013: Aoraki/Mount Cook: Reflections on a Rich Week

Posted on December 21, 2019

This was originally posted on December 5, 2013. I’d just finished my attempt at Aoraki/Mount Cook. Enjoy! When you take risks you learn that there will be times when you succeed and there will be times when you fail, and … Continue reading →

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Revisiting an Adventurous Decade Countdown 2012: What Comes, Comes… Orizaba for Oma and Beyond

Posted on December 20, 2019

This post comes on the heels of our attempt on Orizaba, the highest peak in Mexico and the third highest in North America. It was originally posted on October 29, 2012. Three words. One comma. A philosophy of life. Oma’s … Continue reading →

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Revisiting an Adventurous Decade Countdown 2011: Vinson Vignette #1: Lost for Words

Posted on December 19, 2019

This adventurous decade countdown post comes from when I recently returned from climbing the highest peak in Antarctica in December 2011 and was trying to find words to describe the vast white place I had just experienced. It was originally … Continue reading →

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Revisiting an Adventurous Decade Countdown 2010: Motorcycle Satori

Posted on December 18, 2019

Happy Holidays Season to you and yours. I thought I would jump on the bandwagon on decade count-downs and share some posts from the past over the days to the New Year and Decade. I’ll choose a post from each … Continue reading →

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WaterLily Turbine on the River with Two Names

Posted on November 5, 2019

On our River with Two Names expedition, we had many many things that were power-hungry such as our sat phone, Inreach, drone, cameras, GPS, and phones. Along with a few battery packs, we took our solar panel and the new … Continue reading →

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River with Two Names Expedition Photo Gallery

Posted on November 4, 2019

Day Two dawned fine and still. Harp Lake was forgotten. We spent our first day exploring the southern end of Shapio Lake. The mirror surface of the lake produced a landscape-size kaleidoscope of rock and sky.   Journeying together in … Continue reading →

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River with Two Names: The Rest of the Story

Posted on November 3, 2019

Eight years after completing our epic descent of the Notakwanon River, four of us (Mark Dykeman, Darren McDonald, Marian Wissink and I) returned to Labrador for two weeks to tackle another river, Mark and Darren in sea kayaks, Marion and … Continue reading →

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Pretty Big Walk Expedition Photo Gallery

Posted on November 3, 2019

We rested and prepared for the rest of the day. Wake up call came at 5 am the next day and we choked down some porridge and tried to breathe away our small altitude headaches. We decided to proceed and … Continue reading →

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River with Two Names: My Canoe Got Bigger

Posted on August 30, 2019

Looking over the bow of our canoe, it is much bigger now. We traded our smaller boats for a ride on the Kamutik W from Hopedale to Goose Bay. We traded the calm solitude of the wilderness for the intense … Continue reading →

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inReach message from TA Loeffler

Posted on August 28, 2019

D14 Paddling portion finished 2day in Hopedale. Foggy cold morning gave ephemeral views. Last night in tents. Ferry south 2morrow. Lovely to explore Hopedale. View the location or send a reply to TA Loeffler: https://us0.inreach.garmin.com/textmessage/txtmsg?extId=aa5249be-d68b-4d5e-b6cc-387e936854c5&adr=miyu735rowe%40post.wordpress.com TA Loeffler sent this message … Continue reading →

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inReach message from TA Loeffler

Posted on August 27, 2019

D13 Hilltop view of islands South reveal shades & hues of blue that we could only imagine B4 2day. High perch beats heat & bugs. Coastal rock swirls & layers. View the location or send a reply to TA Loeffler: … Continue reading →

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Audio Post

Posted on August 26, 2019
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inReach message from TA Loeffler

Posted on August 26, 2019

D12 Loons sing us asleep. Magnificent day. Heat was wearing. We visited snow & 30 degrees C in 2day. Rocks we will never forget were our handrail today. View the location or send a reply to TA Loeffler: https://us0.inreach.garmin.com/textmessage/txtmsg?extId=06061cb3-92f0-48b0-a86e-052bab4e0fa6&adr=miyu735rowe%40post.wordpress.com TA … Continue reading →

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Audio Post

Posted on August 25, 2019
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inReach message from TA Loeffler

Posted on August 25, 2019

D11 Island. Crow & partridge berries. Camping perfect. Oh, there’s a bear. A big bear. A black bear. We leave. It swims. We stay. View the location or send a reply to TA Loeffler: https://us0.inreach.garmin.com/textmessage/txtmsg?extId=6e7e85e4-e43c-4722-a8c7-88ce19f91ee7&adr=miyu735rowe%40post.wordpress.com TA Loeffler sent this message … Continue reading →

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Audio Post

Posted on August 24, 2019
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inReach message from TA Loeffler

Posted on August 24, 2019

D10 Spectacular day on the Labrador Sea. Headed out of Adlatok Bay on an oily sea. Headwind in the aft. Sun all day. Campfire. Yum View the location or send a reply to TA Loeffler: https://us0.inreach.garmin.com/textmessage/txtmsg?extId=e07d7235-2d75-4fa6-b839-b65a52dca7ab&adr=miyu735rowe%40post.wordpress.com TA Loeffler sent this … Continue reading →

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inReach message from TA Loeffler

Posted on August 23, 2019

D9 Rest, explore, McGyver, bake brownies kind of day. All weather 2day Prepping 4 ocean phase. No audio update conserving sat batt View the location or send a reply to TA Loeffler: https://us0.inreach.garmin.com/textmessage/txtmsg?extId=c0958b4f-ca23-4e6d-90f1-f1189526cf07&adr=miyu735rowe%40post.wordpress.com TA Loeffler sent this message from: Lat … Continue reading →

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Audio Post

Posted on August 22, 2019
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inReach message from TA Loeffler

Posted on August 22, 2019

D8 Off the Adlatok & camped at the head of Adlatok Bay. Big headwind. Too late to make headway after portage. Weather is cold Brrr View the location or send a reply to TA Loeffler: https://us0.inreach.garmin.com/textmessage/txtmsg?extId=cc0aba31-745b-4ae9-8fcf-84edb96f0657&adr=miyu735rowe%40post.wordpress.com TA Loeffler sent this … Continue reading →

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inReach message from TA Loeffler

Posted on August 21, 2019

D7 Almost 2 the Labrador Sea. Halfway over last portage. River w/ two names became river with one name today: Adlatok. Black flies View the location or send a reply to TA Loeffler: https://us0.inreach.garmin.com/textmessage/txtmsg?extId=710d5668-7d00-4533-8e4a-58c88d2a2e2d&adr=miyu735rowe%40post.wordpress.com TA Loeffler sent this message from: … Continue reading →

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Audio Post

Posted on August 20, 2019
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inReach message from TA Loeffler

Posted on August 20, 2019

D6 you should have seen the boats sliding down the hill to the river…blue, yellow, red with us running behind. Braking gently View the location or send a reply to TA Loeffler: https://us0.inreach.garmin.com/textmessage/txtmsg?extId=7729be69-e327-4f5a-a0e3-de884f84df67&adr=miyu735rowe%40post.wordpress.com TA Loeffler sent this message from: Lat … Continue reading →

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Audio Post

Posted on August 19, 2019
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inReach message from TA Loeffler

Posted on August 19, 2019

D5. Big day of going to & fro. All boats over our first long portage. 3 trips. 1 more 2morrow. Lots of heat, bugs, & no wind. Rain View the location or send a reply to TA Loeffler: https://us0.inreach.garmin.com/textmessage/txtmsg?extId=487e8d67-477c-4127-9e98-a28c0f73ed69&adr=miyu735rowe%40post.wordpress.com TA … Continue reading →

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Audio Post

Posted on August 18, 2019
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inReach message from TA Loeffler

Posted on August 18, 2019

D3. Hiding from horrific black flies A large day w/ waterfalls, portages, paddling in/with to the wind. & a small incident where I wear bear spray No bears View the location or send a reply to TA Loeffler: https://us0.inreach.garmin.com/textmessage/txtmsg?extId=e15a3878-0a40-40b9-85e5-1580f8a8708e&adr=miyu735rowe%40post.wordpress.com TA … Continue reading →

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inReach message from TA Loeffler

Posted on August 17, 2019

D3. Shapio Hilton. Big day exploring books & crannies of SL. Now camped at N end. Lots of exciting g tailwinds. White caps. Exit Shapio 2morrow. Great day. View the location or send a reply to TA Loeffler: https://us0.inreach.garmin.com/textmessage/txtmsg?extId=8bd81272-8c8c-438b-aedf-95a6e48dc2aa&adr=miyu735rowe%40post.wordpress.com TA … Continue reading →

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Audio Post

Posted on August 16, 2019
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