Posted: Feb 1, 2012 10:08 PM by Russ Thomas (KPAX News)
Updated: Feb 2, 2012 6:11 AM
HAMILTON- A Bitterroot Valley couple has set their sights on a daunting adventure and they are looking for help from the community to help make their trip come to fruition.
Charlie Capp and Lorie Hoffman are a couple hoping to embark on the journey of a lifetime. Charlie says the adventure will take them kayaking on a winding 1,100 mile journey from the Bitterroot River in Stevensville to the Pacific Ocean.
"Our vision of the project is that we will travel to the communities that are linked by the river, talk to people who rely and depend on the water, and just kind of find out what everyone is unified by."
The concept of this journey actually began when Charlie was much younger. He grew up in Stevensville on his family farm adjacent to the Bitterroot River and as he grew, his curiosity to learn about where the waters lead grew, as well.
Lorie says they have mapped out a course, and plan on capturing the images and stories they find along the way.
"What we are hoping to create at the end of this is a publishable sketchbook traveling journal that'll be kind of a comprehensive portrait of this chain of communities."
The couple is reaching out to the community and beyond in hopes of making this trip possible. They've called on the website Kickstarter, an online pledge system, to help fund their journey and Charlie says their goal is to raise $8,500 by February 29th.
"Most of that funding will go right back into the local community, we're going to use the money to purchase kayaks, some local roll lessons, things that we'll be able to get in the Missoula and Bitterroot Valley."
They have put together a two minute presentation titled 'Summit to Sea: A sketchbook art adventure' that gives detail into their journey and lets viewers see how much money has been raised and how they can pledge.
Hoffman says the Kickstarter website is an important, because it lets them to give back to those who donate.
"It allowed us the ability to give our backers something in return, they'll get not just our art, but if they back at a certain level they'll get an advanced copy of the journal that we'll produce at the end of our trip."
Capp and Hoffman say they are nervous about reaching the amount needed to take the journey, but they have confidence the community will come through.
Hoffman and Capp have received nearly $1,300 of the $8,500 they need, but if they don't reach their goal by the end of the month, they won't receive any of the money.
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