Big Muddy Speaker Series presents:
A River Adventure with Amanda Hoenes
Last year Amanda Hoenes paddled the Missouri, Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers from Three Forks, MT, to the Gulf of Mexico with her loyal pooch Hank. She'll be sharing the stories of her river adventures with us!
Inspired by Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn, Lewis and Clark, Jeremiah Johnson and the like, she began the river expedition hoping to push her limits and perspectives to new depths. After 175 paddle days, 187 calendar days, 3,300 miles, and 13 states, she completed her amazing expedition reaching the Gulf of Mexico from Montana paddling a canoe. She posted her adventures through her blog, A River Adventure.
She has since started a wilderness-based adventure coaching program called True Path Adventures, developing and enhancing youth leadership, critical-thinking and decision-making skills through structured and guided outdoor adventures.
Meet Your Presenter
Amanda Hoenes
, founder of True Path Adventures
Adventurer Amanda Hoenes & her rescue dog Hank. Together they paddled the Missouri, Mississippi & Atchafalya Rivers from Three Forks, MT, to the Gulf of Mexico.
Growing up in southwest Missouri, she joined the Marine Corps in January 2001 where she deployed three times to Iraq serving as a helicopter crew chief and aerial gunner on primarily casualty evacuation missions. Upon leaving the Marine Corps, she earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Colorado State University and entered the workforce as an IT professional for ten years.
After mass layoffs, unsure of her next career move, she decided to buy an RV and hit the road exploring this great country. She spent time on the road planning for her next adventure, a 3,300 start to sea expedition, solo paddling from the beginning of the Missouri River in Three Forks, Montana to the Gulf of Mexico.
Related Presentations
Resources & Links
Dig deeper for more info on this topic
- Amanda's "A River Adventure" Blog
- Missouri River Paddler's Website and Facebook Group
- ARTICLE - "Veteran, along with her rescue dog, canoeing 3,800 miles of the Missouri River" - by Sara Karnes, Springfield News-Leader, Sept. 10, 2021
- ARTICLE - "Branson graduate, Iraq veteran canoes the Missouri River" - by A.J. Meakins, Branson Tri-Lakes News, Nov. 30, 2021
- ARTICLE - "Big Dreams on the Big Rivers" - by Zach Smith, Rural Missouri, Dec. 20, 2021
The Big Muddy Speaker Series in New Haven
This is the first Big Muddy Speaker Series presentation at Paddle Stop Brewery in New Haven, MO! This presentation is hosted by these wonderful partners -
All speakers are presenting for free and Paddle Stop is sharing the space for free! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with all of us!
The Big Muddy Speaker Series also takes place monthly in Rocheport.
The views and opinions expressed by our presenters do not necessarily reflect the view or policies of Paddle Stop Brewery, the Big Muddy Speaker Series or any of the partners that support this public forum. The Big Muddy Speaker Series believes that hearing diverse perspectives is a crucial building block for an informed public.
Upcoming Presentations
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November 10, 2026Columbia, MO
Join us for a journey through time celebrating 25 years of Missouri River Relief's work on the Big Muddy.
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Plastic Pollution, Gulf Hypoxia, and Water Quality
November 11, 2026St Charles, MO
Jennifer Wendt from MidAmerica Clean Future guides us through understanding regional water quality challenges.
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