Paddling Veteran Embraces the Penguin and Viking Within

Nathaniel Gueltzau (AKA The Penguin Viking) is a long-distance paddler and military veteran.  

After returning from Afghanistan, paddling became more than just a sport-it became a way to process emotions, navigate personal experiences, and find new purpose. The pursuit of pushing physical limits, overcoming mental hurdles, and feeling a sense of accomplishment led Nate to seek out even greater challenges. At the heart of Nate's paddling journey is a philosophy of survival and resilience. Whether working through emotions, physical obstacles, or mental challenges, paddling represents the idea of moving forward-one stroke at a time. "Moving forward is progress," Nate says. 

This episode is supported by Cooke Custom Sewing, Ely Outfitting Company, Women's Wilderness Discovery, Loons Nest Coffee, and Canoecopia.