During August and September 2023, Lewis Pugh swam the 315-mile (507-km) length of the Hudson River in New York State, from its wild source in the Adirondack mountains to its urban end in Manhattan. He did it to highlight the importance of clean rivers. We cannot have a healthy planet without healthy rivers.
Here is the journey as Lewis experienced it.
Every big expedition starts with a recce of the swim route. This shot of me swimming past the Statue of Liberty was taken then. Even though the iconic statue would mark the very end of my swim, it became a crucial part of my journey from the very beginning. That’s how visualisation works.
I kept the image of that liberty statue, and me swimming past it, in mind every single day. I focussed on it during the planning and preparation stages. I imagined it during my training. And I saw it in my mind’s eye every single day of that month on the water. It helped me focus on the final goal, and see myself swimming into New York City at the end of 30 hard days.
Lake Tear of the Clouds, the official source of the Hudson River is only accessible via a challenging hike – made even more difficult by torrential rains and thick mist. When we finally arrived, the cloud lifted and we were greeted by this indescribably beautiful and serene place.
Close to its source, the river is a trickle, but soon it gathers itself to become a fast-flowing waterway. Thankfully, I had seasoned river guide Dave Olbert to get me through the rapids. Where the river wasn’t deep enough to swim in, I ran along the water course.
I was aching to get into the water, even though it meant dodging the hidden rocks just under the surface. White-water rafters call these ‘sleepers’, and for a while they were my worst nightmare.
Onlookers would have been bemused at the sight of a man in a Speedo swimsuit on this disused railway track. But in this remote wilderness our only company was ospreys, beavers and bears.
America’s iconic animal is the majestic bald eagle. Every one we saw was a miracle, because the bald eagle came close to extinction in the Hudson Valley due to chemical pesticides. After DDT was banned in 1972, the eagles began to make a comeback. Now I simply cannot picture the Hudson without them.
Some portions of the upper section of the Hudson were so lush, I felt like I was swimming in the Amazon. Ultimately all rivers lead to the ocean, which brought home the feeling that everything is connected.
People came out to support me on both sides of the Hudson, and where the terrain allowed I would swim over to greet them. It was especially gratifying to meet people who are so passionate about their river and their efforts to make it healthy again.
People came out to support me on both sides of the Hudson, and where the terrain allowed I would swim over to greet them. It was especially gratifying to meet people who are so passionate about their river and their efforts to make it healthy again.
There were some sections where rapids forced me to run rather than swim – which gave me the opportunity to see the effects of some of the Hudson’s many factories, paper and timber mills up close.
The Hudson is a river of industry, for which it has been used and abused. In the last 50 years it’s also been cared for and rehabilitated by committed citizens taking direct action and demanding stronger legislation.
I was permitted to swim through Troy’s eighth and last lock, which is run by the US Army Corps of Engineers. From here the river becomes tidal; it was a key moment because now we would need to start working with – and never against – the power of the ocean.
At the business end of the river the number of boats increased – and some of them were huge. Luckily the Hudson was big enough for the both of us!
Timing my swims with the tides meant I had to swim at night. I loved the peace and the quiet. I would do backstroke to gaze up at the stars. My safety paddler and I wore red lights to make us visible to other traffic on the water.
The Native Americans were the first inhabitants of the Hudson, or Mahicannituck. At Kingston, Chief Vincent Mann of the Ramapough Turtle Clan welcomed us to the Lenape’s traditional territory through ceremony and song.
What a delight to swim with swimmers and rowers from Marist College. It was inspiring to have both students and the College president join me in celebrating the Hudson.
I swam under scores of bridges on this swim, but the Bear Mountain Bridge was probably my favourite. From this serene image, it’s hard to believe that we’d been called out of the water the night before because of a tornado warning.
The decommissioned Indian Point nuclear reactor had planned to dump over a million tons of radioactive waste into the Hudson during August. But mid-way through the month, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation to prevent this from happening.
After 25 days, exhaustion was setting in. I had to cover five miles every morning and evening to reach Manhattan on time to deliver my message to the UN General Assembly. In between swims there were media engagements. And I also had to find time to sleep.
The George Washington Bridge feels like the gateway to the city. It was only once we got past this point that I thought, ‘We’re going to make it on time.’
The iconic One World Trade Tower – known as ‘The Freedom Tower’ during its rebuild – is a powerful presence.
The end!
When I climbed out at Battery Park, I knew I had made a lifetime friend of this river. Hudson, I will be back. And I will continue to share your inspiring story. Because we cannot begin to protect the world unless we protect its rivers.
There are so many emotions when a long swim is finished. Joy. Relief. Exhaustion. Triumph. And Sadness.