See my exact route and more at https://IanAitken.com At 19 years old, I set out to paddle the entire Mississippi River from Lake Itasca, Minnesota, to the Gulf of Mexico in a 10-foot folding kayak. 115 days, 2,350+ miles, 10 states, and one very beat-up Tucktec later, I made it. This video combines my daily updates into the complete story of the journey from source to sea. What started as a tiny river in northern Minnesota eventually became the massive commercial waterway below St. Louis. Along the way came rapids, huge lake crossings, mosquitoes, storms, broken gear, locks and dams, brutal heat, massive barges, and more unexpected problems than I could count. But the best part of the journey was the people. Complete strangers gave me food, rides, places to sleep, helped with resupplies, and welcomed me into their homes. The Mississippi River Angels and countless people I met along the way made this adventure possible. On September 10, 2026, I reached the Gulf after 115 days on the river. I became the first recorded person to paddle the entire Mississippi River source to sea in a folding kayak, as well as the youngest person to solo paddle the Mississippi River. When I announced this trip, plenty of people told me the boat would never make it. I’m glad I tried anyway. You don’t need perfect equipment, a perfect plan, or everyone’s approval to chase something that matters to you. Sometimes you just have to start paddling. Thank you to everyone who followed the journey, shared the videos, donated, helped me along the river, or sent encouragement. And thank you to Tucktec, Zenbivy, and Olympia Granola for helping make the expedition possible. #MississippiRiver #Kayaking #Adventure #FoldingKayak #SourceToSea #Tucktec