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hello stranger midwest adventure
  • Winter Kayaking: Best Gear & How to Layer

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  • kayaker explores the sea caves of sand island in the apostle islands national lakeshore, a four hour drive from Minneapolis

    15 Helpful Hacks for Kayak Camping (by a Kayak Guide!)

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  • My Gear List From 6+ Years of Outdoor Guiding (microreviews!)

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  • image of wilderness systems pungo at sunset in Big Island Lakes Wilderness

    Wilderness Systems Tempest 165 Review

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  • a photographer chasing winter sunrises on Lake Superior's North Shore

    North Shore Winter Photography Bucket List

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  • image of a Yellow Sea kayak at the Pictured Rocks Cliffs on Lake Superior

    Seven Secrets for Stunning Kayak Photos

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  • A windsurfer on Lake Superior by Artists Point Grand Marais MN

    8 Tips for Fall Kayaking: What to Wear & How to Layer

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  • Easy desert for hikers

    Three Easy Recipes for your Next Adventure

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Newer Posts 1 2 3 4

hello stranger // about me

Hi there, and welcome to Hello Stranger. My name is Maddy, and I'm the voice behind the blog. I'm a writer, paddler, photographer, traveller, and freelance editor. I'm committed to exploring the beautiful American Midwest to prove that you can find real adventure anywhere! Toss your email below to keep up with the adventure!

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maddymarq

guide & writer exploring the midwest🏕
📍Wisconsin Northwoods & Lake Superior
inquiries: hello@madelinemarquardt.com
↓ FREE trail guides ↓

Five winters on Superior❄️🌊✨ 2- winter kayaking t Five winters on Superior❄️🌊✨2- winter kayaking through an arch (everyone pictured is a local guide & kayak instructor wearing a drysuit. This is NOT a beginner activity and I do not recommend it without training, local knowledge and specialized gear)3- Lake Superior ice garden4- a frozen river canyon5- more winter kayaking (no, we weren’t worried about ice falling on ice. It was slushy and not hard and we were pretty conscious of the conditions)6- winter camping 7- a frozen waterfall cave 8- ice caves9- a -40 morning 10- hiking on Lake Superior, a sea stack11- aliens? Or ice?12- @sisuandloylysauna 13- snowshoeing :)14- the grand Marais lighthouse 15- winter shadows on the wall
November colors on Superior❄️♥️🌅 1- sunset facing November colors on Superior❄️♥️🌅1- sunset facing south on Lake Superior. Selfie, tripod propped up on a rock. 2- morning in a cabin @elycabincollective 3- gales of November 4- sunny day in Michigan 5- fall colors down, shot by @emksks 6- late afternoon sun. Idk I love this shot7- cribbage 8- the sky in November >9- first snow10- last light at camp11- last pop of color 12- @emksks in first snow!!📍traditional homelands of the Anishinaabe Nation
YOU define your own success♥️🏆 After I got a degr YOU define your own success♥️🏆After I got a degree in Neuroscience, I realized I didn’t want to work in a lab or go to grad school. It just didn’t fit on me. So I got a job as a kayak guide, and joined the Peace Corps and moved to Armenia. I lived on a lot less and with less, and for years everything I owned fit in my Subaru. I sea kayaked surrounded by orcas and kayaked under waterfalls, and learned a new language and slept in the desert and have kayaked under the northern lights. Now, seven years after making a choice to define my own success, I work as a writer & photographer and get to travel for work. I don’t have a big house or big salary, but I wouldn’t change a single thing— Living a life on your terms is so much more important than someone else’s definition of success, and I wish someone had told me that at 20.
Shop the @rei Holiday Sale now through Nov 24 ✨ 🚣 Shop the @rei Holiday Sale now through Nov 24 ✨🚣REI Co-op Heavyweight Merino Base Layer Half-Zip Top [30% off]☀️Exped Mega Mat Duo Sleeping Pad [25% off]🗺️ Oboz Bridger Mid Hiking Boots [25% off]☃️North Face Thermo Ball Shoes [25% off]🌲REI Co-op Members save 20% on one full-price item and an extra 20% off one REI Outlet item with code HOLIDAY2025.Sale ends 11/24 so shop soon! Discounts are based on original prices, and selection varies by location. While supplies last. Shop through my link in bio or in story highlights!#reipartner
First snow up north ❄️🫎 These are from a perfect First snow up north ❄️🫎These are from a perfect morning a few years ago up the Gunflint Trail with @emksks :) 📸2: @emksks 📍Traditional homeland of the Anishinaabe Nation
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