SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Two cousins took their love for adventure to the extreme, paddling the entire length of the Columbia River—1,300 miles—all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

For 21-year-old Braxton Mitchell from Plain City, Utah, adventure has always been part of his life. But there was one small detail—he had never been in a canoe before.

“I never canoed before this trip,” Braxton said. “It was a learning experience on top of adventure.”

When his cousin, filmmaker and expedition leader Robert Lester, invited him on the journey, he was game—despite having just a week and a half to prepare.

“Nobody has done a harder paddling trip with less experience than Braxton,” Robert said.

Their journey along the Columbia River took 52 days, covering 1,300 miles from Montana, through Canada, and finally to the Pacific Ocean in Oregon. But the challenges started at the very beginning of their journey.

“The second day, it was really discouraging—it was really cold,” Braxton said.

At one point, they had to walk 86 miles straight, battling strong winds and waves up to four feet high.

“To say you don’t have moments of doubt when you’re marching like that is not possible,” Robert said.

The physical demands became something greater—a rite of passage.

“It sculpted me into a man on that journey,” Braxton said.

For Robert, the expedition was about more than just adventure.

“For me it was learning a lot about being a leader," said Robert. “When you have hard things in your life, when Braxton faces those hard things and overcomes them, he is better for it.”

On day 52, when they finally reached the Pacific Ocean, the moment was overwhelming.

“It was a ton of weight off my shoulders,” Braxton said. “I couldn’t believe we made it.”

Now, they hope their journey will inspire others.

“Utah is a big adventure place with so much to do,” Braxton said. “I hope to be an inspiration to other people my age who would like to get outdoors and do some stuff like this.”

Their adventure was turned into a documentary film, Columbia River Canoe Project, which premiered to a sold-out crowd in Utah last month. They have an upcoming screening in Kaysville on March 5.