Annabelle Sparks

Annabelle’s earliest river memory was kayaking the French Broad with her father and watching as a black bear swam across the river right in front of them. She started kayaking when she was just 5 years of age and backpacked along the Cornwall coastline with her aunt at the age of 11. While Annabelle grew up in Asheville, North Carolina, she moved to Colorado to study Environmental Science on a scholarship from Colorado College’s Women’s Educational Society and teaches her fellow students to roll kayaks in her spare time. In describing the landscapes of Idaho, Montana, and Oregon, Annabelle says they are “absolutely breathtaking” and loves how much there is to explore. When she’s not on the river, you’ll find her snowboarding, hiking, climbing, or making delicious kale bowls.