Susan Conrad: More Outside than Inside

Send us Fan MailWatch this Episode on YouTubeAt Seattle’s Gas Works Park, Dubside sits down with expedition paddler and author Susan Conrad to revisit her two solo journeys along the Inside Passage: a 66-day paddle from Anacortes to Juneau in 2010 and a more demanding 78-day route from San Juan Island to Sitka in 2022.Susan recounts the moments that tested her most—including a desperate, hypothermic night when she nearly called for rescue, a startling face-to-face encounter with a coastal brown bear and her cub, punishing open-water crossings, and days spent waiting out relentless gales. She also explains the crucial difference between fear and immediate danger, and how preparation, positive visualization, and a few well-chosen mantras helped her keep moving.The conversation ranges from expedition food, weather forecasting, boats, paddles, and wilderness “trail angels” to Susan’s inspiration, legendary adventurer Audrey Sutherland. Susan also reflects on aging, mentoring a new generation of paddlers, and the elusive je ne sais quoi of wilderness—the awe, silence, vulnerability, and pride that even the best photograph can rarely capture.Check out our "GREENLAND IS A QAJAQ NATION!" t-shirts and other merch at the DUBCAST SHOP at Fourthwall