The Low-Tech Times

21 year old Katie Spotz became the first person to swim the entire 325 mile Allegheny River earlier this past September. Jedd Ferris of Blue Ridge Outdoors reports:

For her latest endeavor, which started on July 22 and ended on August 21, Spotz took inspiration from Martin Strel, who swam 2,360 miles of the Mississippi River in 2002.

Spotz had to walk the Allegheny’s first 27 miles, because the water was too shallow. For the next 325 miles, she swam for six to eight hours a day. The first three weeks were relatively peaceful, but during the last 70 miles she had to contend with a lot of boat traffic and minimal currents, which slowed her pace. She also scuffled with downed trees and shallow sections that banged up her knees.

“My wetsuit was pretty rugged by the end of the month,” she says.

From reading a print version of an article in Blue Ridge Outdoors, I had thought that Katie Spotz would begin her transatlantic solo rowing attempt this month. But perhaps the Row4Water site is referring to December 2009:

As part of the challenge awareness and funds will be raised for the Blue Planet Run Foundation, a charitable organization that works throughout the world to help communities gain access to clean drinking water. Katie will attempt to break the world record for:

• The youngest person in the world to row the Atlantic Ocean solo
• The youngest person to row an ocean mainland to mainland
• First American to row the Atlantic Ocean solo mainland to mainland
• First American to row the Atlantic Ocean from Africa to South America

I’ll post an update if I hear anything about a departure this year. While the attempt will be entirely human-powered, her boat is not entirely low-tech. She will carry hi-tech supplies:

Electrical Equipment:
GPS (1 fixed and 2 handheld), VHF Radio (2), satellite phone (2), Sea Me Active Echo Radar, solar panels, music player, laptop, waterproof camera/camcorder, watermaker, battery (2), battery monitor