Clarksdale
John Ruskey “Driftwood Johnnie”
John Ruskey builds voyageur style stripper canoes for use on the wild waters of the Lower Mississippi River, and is one of the most experienced builders of dugout canoes in the country. In 1998/99 John apprenticed to master canoe builder Ralph Frese in the construction …
Mark “River” Peoples
St. Louis born Mark “River” Peoples is a river guide and youth leader with the Quapaw Canoe Company. Mark grew up hunting and fishing along the river with his father. After attending Missouri Central State University, and becoming defensive back with the New York Giants, …
Jean-Canot “J-C” Walker
Jean-Canot was born in Minnesota, and spent much of his youth exploring the Northwoods of the state, where the Mississippi River has its headwaters. Since 2011, Jean-Canot has worked for an outdoor program in those woods called “Les Voyageurs”, where he teaches canoeing, outdoor skills, …
Heather Crosse “River Otter”
Capt. Heather Crosse, the “River Otter,” has been tracking the legendary Rougarou across the Deep South for over 40 years from her Red River homeland in the heart of Louisiana, to the Ouachita River Basin in Arkansas, and finally into the big muddy Queen of …
Vicksburg
Layne Logue Water Opossum
Layne Logue is the leader and River Guide at Quapaw Canoe Company – Vicksburg Outpost. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana (Chalmatte) and moved to Vicksburg, Mississippi when his father got a job with the Corps of Engineers. Fishing, hunting, and playing outside was …
Leon Pattenburg
Leon Pantenburg is a writer, photographer, backpacker, canoeist and self-proclaimed “Hardcore River Rat.” Leon canoed the entire Mississippi River from Lake Itasca, Minnesota to Venice, Louisiana in 1980. Leon is the author of SurvivalCommonSense.com, a bushcrafting/wilderness survival website and blog that has been in continuous …
Memphis
New Orleans
St. Louis Partner
Mike Clark, Big Muddy Adventures
“Big Muddy” Mike Clark is one of the most accomplished canoeists and guides in America. He has over 10,000 miles of big river experience and has led large and small groups on the Mississippi and Missouri rivers since 2001. BMA is a licensed and insured …
Former Mighty Quapaws
Markevius “Dinky” Jones
Markevius “Dinky” Jones is part of the Mighty Quapaw apprenticeship program were he has learned and mastered many outdoor skills. Dinky began his outdoor recreation career in 2005. He has been on many adventures and has guided many trips with John Ruskey down the lower Mississippi …
James “Woody” Sykes
James “Woody” Sykes is a canoe builder & river guide with Quapaw Canoe Company. Woody began his outdoor recreation career as a Mighty Quapaw Apprentice in 2003, learning canoe construction & repair, paddle building, and all aspects of canoeing and canoe safety. He is a …
Lena von Machui
Lena relocated to Clarksdale from Germany in 2012. She came to research the history of the housing situation in the Mississippi Delta, and wound up never leaving. After working as the coordinator of the Clarksdale affiliate of Habitat for Humanity for four years, as well …
Allie Grant
Allie “River Angel” Grant brings a lot of light and character to our band of river rats, not to mention grace and intelligence. She serves our needs and mission as our Secretary of the River. She takes care of all of our needs on the land side of the levee, while …