By Mike Matzinger
After 480 days and more than 6,000 miles of paddling, 24-year-old Eagle Scout Peter Frank completed one of the most remarkable solo expeditions in recent history — canoeing the entire eastern U.S. along the Great Loop.
He arrived at Escanaba Municipal Beach on October 20, 2025, greeted by dozens of family members, friends, and supporters. As Peter pulled his canoe ashore, he shared, “I am now officially the youngest person in history to have ever done the Great Loop, out of any boat. And I did it in a canoe — backwards.”
Peter’s journey began in June 2024 and carried him through the Great Lakes, inland rivers, and the Atlantic and Gulf coasts — a 6,000-mile continuous waterway. More than an endurance feat, it was a testament to gratitude and resilience. At age 14, Peter survived an accident that left him with 14 broken bones and doctors doubting he’d ever walk again. Now, ten years later, he’s turned that story into a living lesson in courage.