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Maddy Marquardt on the Get Stoked Girls Podcast

  • Writer: Rhianna Walzer
    Rhianna Walzer
  • Dec 11, 2025
  • 9 min read

A conversation about sea kayaking, creative storytelling, and hidden Midwest landscapes.



Meet Maddy Marquardt — sea kayak guide, photographer, and outdoor storyteller.


We met Maddy at Friendly Valley Beach in northern Wisconsin, a special place for her and her partner, just south of the Apostle Islands, where she has been guiding sea kayaking trips for about eight years. From discovering her love of adventure in the Midwest to leading women’s-specific trips on land and water, Maddy shares the experiences that have shaped her career and deepened her connection to nature. She explores the unique challenges and rewards of sea kayaking, the art of storytelling through photography and writing, and the importance of creating supportive spaces for women in male-dominated outdoor sports. Along the way, she highlights the hidden beauty of the Midwest and shares practical insights on building confidence and community through adventure.


Keep up with Maddy's work here:


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Home in the Midwest


Rhi: Why does this slice of northern Wisconsin hold such meaning for you?

Maddy: I live in the general area and have been working here since 2018. I met my partner, now my fiancé, here, and we had our first date at Friendly Valley Beach. We grabbed pizza from Manypenny and ate it on the beach. Years later, he proposed to me here, also over pizza, so it feels really serendipitous. I love coming here in the winter to walk along the ice formations, which are incredible, and the view of the Apostle Islands is amazing. The fall colors are stunning, and it has a small-town, welcoming feel. A lot of people think of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula or Minnesota’s North Shore as Midwest getaway spots, but this area is a little quieter while still offering so much to do. It is just beautiful.


Rhi: Have you always been adventurous and drawn to the outdoors?

Maddy: I was always outside as a kid, raking leaves and jumping in piles, exploring the woods behind my parents’ house, and spending a couple of weeks each summer at my grandma’s cabin in northern Michigan near Traverse City. She had a big garden and a spot on the lake, so I spent a lot of time playing there. I did go backpacking once with my uncle and loved it, but I didn’t really camp until I was 21 and working as a sea kayak guide.


Getting into sea kayaking and backpacking was a lot of trial and error. I studied neuroscience at Michigan State and realized I didn’t want to work in a lab, so I emailed a local outfitter and offered to learn fast despite having little experience. I improved quickly with the help of other guides and friends, and backpacking followed naturally. Most of my hard outdoor skills developed right here in the Midwest, which is a great place to learn sea kayaking and other outdoor skills.


From Lakes to Oceans: The Sea Kayaking Experience


Rhi: What is sea kayaking?

Maddy: Recreational kayaks are what most people think of, like the ones you can buy at Walmart, but they do not have bulkheads, which are sealed air pockets in the bow and stern that prevent the boat from sinking. Sea kayaks are usually longer, around 15 or 16 feet, and have these sealed pockets, so if you capsize while crossing to an island, the boat will not sink. You can flip it back over, climb in, pump out water, and keep going. They are far more seaworthy than a typical recreational kayak.


Sea kayaking can also be about longer trips or expeditions. I mostly do kayak touring and camping, carrying my gear for multi-day trips. I like to think of it like backpacking in Europe where you are self-sufficient, navigating crossings, and camping along the way, but it is more about enjoying the journey than racing miles. True expeditions are more extreme, like my friend who paddled solo around Lake Superior for two months. Regardless of the trip, you need to know how to self-rescue, navigate, and work well with your group, which is a big part of the skill and fun of sea kayaking.



Rhi: You’ve sea kayaked in a lot of amazing destinations, including the Pacific Northwest, British Columbia, and of course here in the Apostle Islands and on Lake Superior. What makes sea kayaking on Lake Superior different from these other locations?

Maddy: My partner, our friend Ebba, and I did a 70-day trip along the Inside Passage from Bellingham, near Vancouver Island. The scenery was stunning, but the biggest difference between the ocean and Lake Superior is tides. On the ocean, you have to plan around tides or you can end up stuck or flooded out. We had campsites get flooded because we timed the tide wrong and spent nights packing up in the rain to move our boats. The ocean also has amazing wildlife, like whales, which makes guiding there wild and exciting.


Freshwater like Lake Superior is less dense than saltwater, which actually makes guiding here more challenging. Waves pick up faster, become steeper, and weather can be very erratic. On the Apostle Islands, I’ve had to turn back mid-crossing because of sudden squalls, something I rarely experienced in the Pacific Northwest. The intensity is higher here. In the Pacific Northwest, the San Juan Islands can feel like a lazy river, while here every trip demands focus on the weather and conditions, which is exactly what I love about it.


Rhi: What has been your favorite whale encounter?

Maddy: I was guiding a day trip off San Juan Island with just a couple, a marine biologist and her husband, an ornithologist, in a tandem kayak. The tide was huge and they were moving fast, so we were just sitting and waiting when I thought I heard construction. Then in the distance we spotted a few black orca fins. At first we were happy just to watch from afar, but the whales decided to come check us out, including some baby calves.


For an hour and a half we were circled by the baby orcas while their moms dove beneath us observing. I did not get any good video because I was shaking so much, but the biologist got some of the first research-grade photos of the calf. It was easily the closest and most unforgettable whale encounter I have ever had.


On our British Columbia trip, we paddled with a super pod of about 80 whales, all visible in the distance.

Inspiring Confidence & Care on the Lake


Rhi: As a woman guide in a male-dominated space, have you faced any barriers or challenges? If so, how have you navigated or overcome them?

Maddy: I’ve been really lucky in sea kayaking because almost every guy I’ve met in the sport has been supportive and respectful. When I was starting out, older kayakers helped me learn and genuinely wanted to see me succeed. Now that I’m more experienced, it’s uncommon for anyone to question my abilities.


That said, in more intense areas like whitewater or surf events, there are usually far more men than women. I often wait to go with someone else or a group, and I know other women feel the same. On the water guiding clients, I haven’t faced much sexism. Sea kayak guiding relies heavily on interpersonal skills, which tends to reduce overt sexism. Overall, it’s been a supportive environment, though the gender imbalance in more extreme disciplines remains a challenge.


Being the only woman can shift you into caution and quietly hold you back.


Rhi: What do you hope people take away from their sea kayaking experience with you?

Maddy: There’s an ideal and a more realistic goal. Ideally, I hope people leave inspired and excited about sea kayaking, maybe even taking a course, learning self-rescue, or becoming regular paddlers. The more realistic goal is that they have a meaningful experience on Lake Superior, appreciating its beauty and understanding why it’s worth protecting. At the very least, I hope they leave as respectful guests on the lake, aware of the environment and ready to enjoy it responsibly.


Storytelling, Photography & Finding Magic in the Midwest


Rhi: Let’s shift to the creative side of your work. You’re a content creator on social media, a photographer, and a writer. When did storytelling become a part of your outdoor journey?

Maddy: Storytelling became part of my outdoor journey during my time in the Peace Corps. I was teaching English in Armenia, and part of our assignment was cultural outreach, so I started a blog. After returning home, I kept it up and realized I needed a social media presence because I wanted to be a writer and share stories.


I started using Instagram more in the summer of 2020 while guiding, mostly posting kayaking photos and exploring caves in the Apostle Islands. From there, both my blog and Instagram grew, and I used them to secure gigs rather than to become an influencer. Today I write for Paddling Magazine, run my blog and newsletter, do freelance writing, and occasionally create content for brands like REI.


Rhi: Do you feel that writing and photography, aside from social media, deepen your connection with nature?

Maddy: My co-worker once asked if I ever get so focused on capturing moments that I stop experiencing them. Honestly, that rarely happens in nature. When I am out on the Apostle Islands, I feel completely present, always searching for something new, a hidden cave, a reflection in the water, a moment of light that makes the islands feel alive.


Photography and writing have deepened my connection with the natural world because they train me to see the beauty others might overlook. Even in the Midwest, which some dismiss, I have learned to notice the magic in unexpected places.


It is about slowing down, paying attention, and letting the landscape teach me how to appreciate it.


Rhi: Your brand and platform focus on highlighting the Midwest and its beauty. What do you think people often get wrong about the Midwest when it comes to outdoor recreation?

Maddy: I think people often assume there is only one type of beautiful nature, like mountains and waterfalls. They see places like Lake Superior and think, of course that is beautiful, but beauty exists everywhere if you take the time to notice it. Even in Southeast Michigan, I practice finding beauty in small things, a striking tree on a trail, migrating birds, or a single flower.


People often get it wrong about the Midwest by assuming you have to travel to iconic spots to experience nature’s beauty. In reality, if you slow down and look closely, you can find wonder in your local forest, park, or prairie. Understanding the ecosystem and investing in the story behind a place makes it even more beautiful. Beauty is everywhere, you just have to choose to see it.


Creating Safe, Encouraging Spaces for Women Outdoors


Rhi: You run women’s-specific guiding trips and initiatives. Let’s start with climbing. You host women’s climbing trips. What inspired you to start those?

Maddy: The inspiration came from Forged Guides. They DM’d me on Instagram and asked if I would consider hosting a trip with them. At the time, I was doing something similar with sea kayaking, so I said sure. That was around June 2024. I don’t personally love climbing. I’ve learned thanks to Mason, but heights aren’t my thing, yet I love the vibes and the community.


The women’s events are amazing because everyone cheers for each other and supports one another. There’s a group of girls who came from Chicago to the first trip and now climb together regularly. It is incredible to see friendships form, people grow in confidence, and everyone encourage each other, no matter their experience level. Every trip has been fun, whether it was 96 degrees at Interstate or rainy at Tettu. Hosting these trips never feels like work. It is just hanging out with a really fun, supportive group.



Rhi: Do you have a story, either from your climbing trips or sea kayaking, that really captures what the all-women’s trip is all about?

Maddy: On the second overnight sea kayaking trip I guided, the women in the group noticed what I was doing and immediately offered to help. They packed their gear, moved the boats, and were ready to go on their own. That kind of initiative makes these trips special. Everyone encourages each other, shares boats if needed, and helps where they can. Women approach risk differently and value guidance and reassurance, which creates a safe, empowering environment. By the end, participants leave confident, self-sufficient, and inspired.


Women’s trips are built around community and support.

Get Stoked Girls


Rhi: What advice do you have to get girls stoked?

Maddy: I’ve learned to be patient with myself and define success on my own terms. A meaningful life isn’t what others expect. It’s the experiences that make you feel alive, whether that is kayaking with a pod of whales or simply being a good friend.


For women getting into outdoor sports, my advice is simple. Get outside, take the chance, and don’t be intimidated. You can do it even if it feels hard at first. Say yes to opportunities, start small, and reach out for guidance when you need it. Every time you step outside, it gets easier, more fun, and more empowering. You don’t have to look a certain way to be outdoorsy. The first step is just showing up.

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