麻豆社区

CARMACKS 鈥� Every year, paddlers from across the globe take on the Yukon River Quest's challenge for different reasons.

This year, Montana's Nadia White is on a personal quest, hoping to complete the same journey her great-grandmother did during the days of the original gold rush to the Klondike.

The 49-year-old journalism professor is a descendant of former Whitehorse Star editor E.J. 鈥楽troller' White, and his wife Josie.

She is a member of the voyageur team "The Skagnificent Six鈥� headed up by Skagway 麻豆社区 editor and veteran racer Jeff Brady.

The team is currently in eighth place overall.

Five years ago, the idea to retrace her great-grandmother's steps was spawned while White was vacationing in Ketchikan, Alaska.

"Stories of Stroller and the Klondike were always part of my growing up,鈥� White explained.

Stroller's wife Josie, however, remained relatively unknown.

"Journalists don't put their families in the paper,鈥� she explained. "And women's history may not be told as thoroughly.鈥�

Retracing her great-grandmother's footsteps became a goal for White. In 2010, she cycled from Oklahoma to Sumner, Wash. 鈥� the town where Josie originally met Stroller.

It was a 45-day journey which included traversing multiple mountain ranges.

Two years later, she kayaked from Port Townsend, Wash., to Juneau, before ferrying to Skagway. That trip took two months.

It was in Skagway that she met Brady, who offered her a chance to get to Dawson City by canoe.

White jumped at the opportunity.

"The experience of moving through these landscapes is the most authentic way I can think of connecting with my great-grandmother,鈥� she said.

The series of journeys have left a lasting impact on White. She has journaled and blogged about her previous two legs of the journey and one day plans to pen a book about the experience as a means of "self exploration.鈥� Her full musings can be found at www.travelswithjosie.com.

Documenting the full adventure may well turn out to be the hardest part of her journey, White laughed.

"It's been profoundly meaningful,鈥� she said. "It's a step out of real time. This journey has taught me about my fortitude, the kindness of strangers, and the general goodness of the world.鈥�

White also feels a new connection to her great-grandmother, who was known as an outdoorswoman.

By MARCEL VANDER WIER

Star Sports Editor