Making Waves

This spring, Traci Lynn Martin embarks on a bold mission to become the first person to row the circumference of all five Great Lakes in one year.

- TIMOTHY GOWER

Then again, Traci is no stranger to challenges. The 52-year-old, who was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) 10 years ago, became the first person in 2017 to paddle the perimeters of Lakes Huron, Michigan and Superior – the three largest freshwater bodies in the United States – in the same year. Despite losing two weeks to bad weather, she covered 3,592 miles – more than the distance between New York and London.

This year, her goal is to add the smaller lakes Erie and Ontario and paddle all five Great Lakes before winter conditions make the waterways impassable.

Fear and Serenity