AW Northeast Stewardship Director in Tragic Accident

Posted: 09/20/2012
By: Mark Singleton

 

All of us at American Whitewater are very sad by this news. Alan Panebaker, AW's Northeast Stewardship Director, drowned yesterday while paddling the Upper Pemigewassett in NH. The details of the accident are still very sketchy, what we know so far is best summarized in this NHPR news story that can be viewed here.
 
Alan was smart, strong and capable. He represented the future of river stewardship in the northeast and we are all stunned by this tragic accident.
 
For now, please keep Alan's memory close to your heart.
 
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Update 9/22
 
The following news stories have been posted about Alan's may contribtions:
 

And a essay that Alan wrote last fall about the loss of Boyce Greer:

http://appaddling.blogspot.com/2011/08/keeping-on.html?spref=fb

There are no two ways about it: running Class V is dangerous. It can be scary. If it was easy and safe, everyone would do it. But it's not. It takes training, some athleticism, and more than a little grit. It is a crazy place to be out there on the edge pushing your abilities and keeping a calm head when you do it. But that's the point. Paddling difficult whitewater is about being alive. It is the most pure and true experience that I have ever known, and it has brought me more joy, pain, and satisfaction than anything else. So while it may be a little fringe to be out there running the hardest whitewater you think you are up to, it isn't crazy. It's life. And while we all need to be cognizant of the dangers and take care of each other on the river, we can't live our lives in fear. — Alan Panebaker, ‘Keeping On‘

 

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