PT woman racing against climate change

Posted

A Port Townsend native is planning to row across the Pacific Ocean from California to Hawaii in an effort to bring awareness to climate change. Eliza Dawson, who credits growing up on the Olympic Peninsula as something that nurtured her appreciation for the outdoors, is a member of a four-woman team planning to make the journey.

Dawson is kicking off a fundraising campaign Jan. 21 by giving a talk, set for 7 p.m. at the Northwest Maritime Center, 431 Water St. Funds raised would help support both the journey itself and action on legislation to help reduce carbon emissions, Dawson said. She noted that one of her goals is to raise awareness about current efforts in Washington state, such as proposals for a carbon tax.

“It will be more than crossing an ocean; it’s a journey to make our future cleaner, greener and safer … one stroke at a time,” said Dawson. Dawson is attempting to break a world record for the fastest crossing, currently set at 50 days, for the 2,400-mile journey. The team of four, called the Ripple Effect, would be competing against about eight other crews.

Currently a student at the University of Washington, she spent her childhood volunteering for local environmental organizations, including the Port Townsend Marine Science Center and the North Olympic Salmon Coalition. She grew up rowing, sailing, camping, backpacking and climbing along the coast and in the mountains.

Dawson said her passion for the outdoors led her to study climate science in college. She’s set to graduate with a degree in atmospheric science in March, and plans to pursue a doctorate next fall. As a rower for the University of Washington’s NCAA National Champions crew team, Dawson said, she learned how to perform at a very high level and how to train for extreme endurance. As a member of the Ripple Effect team that’s rowing across the Pacific, Dawson would be living on a 24-foot-long boat and rowing in two hour shifts for the entire journey without a motor or sail.

To learn more about Dawson’s journey and to support her efforts, see her blog at

row4climate.com.