Staff Spotlight: Jason Jones

If you’re paddling the Lower Haw River, it’s easy to spot Jason Jones. He’s the guy
paddling a long, tandem canoe. In a world of kayaks, SUPs, and whitewater canoes, a
tandem canoe might seem an odd choice, but Jason’s no eccentric. He’s a father who
loves expeditionary paddling and wants to practice with a boat big enough to allow for
family camping trips.

There’s another nuanced point that those first meeting him might miss: The canoe
requires a good degree of skill to maneuver on swift water, and a significant
commitment of time to master.

So, it’s no wonder that Joe Jacob, our founder, asked Jason to teach canoeing for The
Haw River Canoe & Kayak Co.

 

A Childhood Spent Outdoors

A native of Raleigh, NC, Jason Jones developed a homegrown love of the outdoors on
duck hunting trips with his father. These trips made him comfortable being “super
muddy and up early at sunrise.” When he attended NC State, he worked for their
outdoor adventures program, and though he was primarily into rock climbing, he also
helped guide sea kayaking trips.

Later, canoeing lakes led to paddling the Haw River. Now, the Lower Haw is his primary
run: he’s perfected the science of a solo shuttle, saying he can leave his driveway, run
the Lower Haw, and arrive home to be with his kids in 2.5 hours.

 

A Vital Employee

Jason started teaching canoeing and guiding for the HRCK in winter 2024. This past
winter, Jason and Ben Clarke built our Intro to Whitewater Canoeing class, which
became a two-class experience for students who wanted to continue in the sport.

A parent of two young children, Jason also leads courses for young people. Last
summer, he took on the role of Paddling Instructor for Camp RiverQuest, our popular
summer camp that combines nature education with hiking and paddling. Students enjoy
Saxapahaw Lake and some moving water too, with an opportunity to try a different type
of boat each day.

He’s even exploring possible expedition-style trips for HRCK. Though still in the
planning phase, these trips would accommodate guests of all varieties by offering
primitive camping as well as glamping options.

Jason’s skill and choice of boat also caught the eye of another organization: The
Carolina Canoe Club (CCC). They saw him running a self-shuttle along the Lower Haw
and placed him as a kindred spirit. Now, Jason is the President of the CCC and brings
new energy to an already active, communal paddling organization. With characteristic
modesty, Jason seems surprised by their choice, but this is a guy that relishes the
challenge of canoeing, calling the sport a “discipline that not many people do anymore.”
I mean, come on. Their choice was clear.

 

Looking to the Future

As a father, Jason has adapted his paddling habit to suit family life. He’s recently begun
to appreciate the “park and play” lifestyle. He loves to put in at Saxapahaw Mill Race,
work the rapids around the bridge, and then take out to enjoy “good food and coffee.”

Though Jason doesn’t hunt anymore, the love for a still, marshy dawn has never left
him. He will sometimes sneak out early in the morning to paddle in the marsh on the NC
coast. These paddles help him “connect the dots from fishing and hunting with his dad”
and to keep those special memories alive.

Maybe it’s a stretch, but one might say Jason Jones is still hunting, going out onto the
water with intention, but he no longer carries a gun.