Nate Denofre of Ishpeming, a double amputee, and his wife Christa, are shown at the end of their trip canoeing down the Mississippi River. The name of their trip was Paddling to Persevere.” (Photo courtesy of Nate Denofre)

ISHPEMING — Ishpeming’s Nate Denofre spent 109 days this year traveling 2,500 miles through two hurricanes and hordes of alligators to prove a point: that he can do it.

Denofre, who has no legs below the knee, is CEO of Courage Incorporated, a nonprofit organization that offers 100% free trips and adventures to disabled veterans and adults.

He set off on May 8 to paddle the entire length of the Mississippi River from Lake Itasca, Minnesota, to the Gulf of Mexico.

On Monday afternoon, he made it.

Denofre originally left with Don Jokinen of Iron Mountain, but Jokinen left earlier in the journey due to scheduling conflicts. However, Denofre had his wife, Christa, and dog, Marcie, along for the ride.

“We’re exhausted,” he said.

Denofre also used the word “relieved” when they made it to the gulf at the end of their trek.

However, the emotions as they were approaching the gulf in the last two or three hours were pretty “high,” he said.

“It was bittersweet,” Denofre said.

That’s understandable; for 109 days, the only thing that existed for them was that river.

“For that to stop, it was kind of awkward,” he said. “It was really hard to swallow, actually.”

Denofre will have his memories, but he also has a new accomplishment: the first double amputee to canoe the entire Mississippi River.

His journey also can serve as an inspiration for other people with physical challenges — and even people without those challenges.

The Mississippi River trip had a patriotic bent, too.

“If one person can do it, another can do it,” Denofre said. “We always said we were going to run the American flag right down the country, and that’s exactly what we did.”

However, the high point of their journey, he said, was the people they met.

“It changes my perspective on a lot of things,” Denofre said. “There’s so much good (in) people. It doesn’t matter what you are or what you look like, who you vote for … I mean, it’s just, you’re doing a good deed.”

Many members of a helpful group –the River Angels — provided comfort and supplies along the trip, which he documented regularly on Facebook.

Even strangers helped.

“I can’t even count how many times a perfect stranger came up and gave us a ride to the store,” Denofre said.

Then there was the natural beauty — and potential hazards — of the Mississippi River.

They decided to travel part of the way on a Mississippi River tributary, the Atchafalaya River, which Denofre called “the oldest, the biggest swamp in North America” with 15-foot alligators a constant presence.

“Having 65, 70 swans in Minnesota circling your canoe, when there’s snow on the ground to being 105 degrees in Louisiana, watching flamingoes, pelicans and alligators — the wildlife was just phenomenal,” he said.

There was a bit of concern, though, for their dog, Marcie.

“Alligators love dogs,” Denofre said. “That was kind of tough.”

Fortunately, no alligator got an extra meal.

What also wasn’t easy, though, was simply the physical work the trip demanded in a sometimes unforgiving environment that produces a lot of heat and mud.

“I’m from the Upper Peninsula, and I’m not used to 110 degrees and 90 to 100% humidity,” said Denofre, who didn’t have his prosthetics.

Then they faced COVID-19, the downward economy and hurricanes Marco and Laura.

“We persevered,” Denofre said. “That’s what we call ourselves, so we did.”

Their trip, by the way, was titled “Paddling to Persevere.”

“I’m not sure it’s sunk in yet for me,” Christa Denofre said upon finishing the trip. “I know we’re done, but it still feels like I should be out there paddling.”

The closer they got to the end, the less elevation they encountered.

“You go to where you’re at sea level and there’s absolutely no current, and it was hot,” she said. “And we were watching for gators. I think we saw 27 gators the last day.

“Right as we got out to the gulf, we stirred up a nest of them right next to us. I’ve never seen water splashing around like that. It was crazy.”

Fortunately, there’s not much chance of the Denofres encountering an alligator nest in Lake Superior.

However, they are working to raise more money to cover their costs. To donate to Courage Incorporated, visit its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/courageincorp.

Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net