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After enduring a four-year drought, an off-grid farmer embarks on a kayaking journey from her hometown creek in Appalachia all the way to the Gulf—seeking to reconnect with and redefine her relationship to water.
River Warrior Documentary
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Journey by Water
River Warrior is the story of one woman’s journey into the heart of America’s water sheds—1,895 miles powered by nothing but a paddle, peddles, determination, and the belief that water is worth fighting for. In July 2024, Ann Rose launched her kayak into a creek near her farm and began her journey from the Appalachian Mountains to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way, she passed through the living veins of the country—rivers that nourish towns, farms, and ecosystems, but are too often neglected or threatened. This journey wasn’t just about endurance—it was about honoring the rivers and raising awareness for the need to protect them.
Appalachia to the Gulf
Beginning in the highland headwaters of Lansing, NC, Ann followed the current south—paddling through rapids, lock/dam systems, barges, industrial zones, and backwater bayous, across four major rivers and countless tributaries.
Her journey began on the ancient New River, winding through the resilient Appalachians. On the Kanawha River, coal mining’s damage was stark and hard to ignore. The Ohio River carried her west, bearing both commerce and pollution. At last, she reached the mighty Mississippi River—vast, complex, and deeply symbolic of our nation’s troubled relationship with water.
Ann’s journey ended successfully on September 27, 2024—just as Hurricane Helene hit her hometown. She went from river warrior to relief worker overnight. After months of paddling the veins of our interconnected water systems, nature struck home with devastating force—making her mission for climate awareness and water protection more urgent than ever.
Meet the River Warrior
Ann Rose is not your typical adventurer. A self-taught, off-grid farmer in the mountains of Appalachia, she lives with deep intention on Rose Mountain Farm—a homestead she built by hand, rooted in self-reliance and reverence for the land. As a farmer, she deeply understands that clean, accessible water is the foundation of life. It waters her crops, sustains her animals, and connects her farm to everything downstream. That understanding fueled her decision to take to the river—not just for personal discovery, but to speak on behalf of the watersheds that are too often overlooked. River Warrior introduces audiences to a woman who doesn't just talk about change—she lives it, paddles it, and fights for it.
Journey by Water
River Warrior follows one woman’s 1,895-mile journey through America’s watersheds—powered by a paddle, pedals, and a fierce belief that water is worth fighting for. In July 2024, Ann Rose launched her kayak near her Appalachian farm and traveled to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way, she moved through rivers that sustain towns, farms, and ecosystems—yet are often neglected. Her mission: to honor these waters and raise awareness about the urgent need to protect them.
Appalachia to the Gulf
Beginning in the highland headwaters of Lansing, NC, Ann followed the current south—paddling through rapids, lock/dam systems, barges, industrial zones, and backwater bayous, across four major rivers and countless tributaries.
Her journey began on the ancient New River, winding through the resilient Appalachians. On the Kanawha River, coal mining’s damage was stark and hard to ignore. The Ohio River carried her west, bearing both commerce and pollution. At last, she reached the mighty Mississippi River—vast, complex, and deeply symbolic of our nation’s troubled relationship with water.
Ann’s journey ended successfully on September 27, 2024—just as Hurricane Helene hit her hometown. She went from river warrior to relief worker overnight. After months of paddling the veins of our interconnected water systems, nature struck home with devastating force—making her mission for climate awareness and water protection more urgent than ever.
Meet the River Warrior
Ann Rose is no ordinary adventurer. A self-taught, off-grid farmer in Appalachia, she built Rose Mountain Farm by hand, grounded in self-reliance and reverence for the land. She knows water is life—it feeds her crops, her animals, and everything downstream. That truth led her to the river, not just for discovery, but to speak for the overlooked watersheds. River Warrior introduces a woman who doesn’t just talk about change—she lives it, paddles it, and fights for it.
Mission Behind the Miles
Ann's journey through nearly 2,000 miles of river wasn't just an adventure—it was a mission to reveal the crisis in our waterways. Testing the water as she paddled, she uncovered pollution, decay, and ecological threats hiding in plain sight. Her story is a call to each of us to move from passive awareness to urgent action in protecting the rivers that sustain us.
Discover the Impact →Ann has successfully completed her 3-month, 2,000 mile journey to the Gulf of Mexico. We could not be more proud of what Ann and our team were able to accomplish during the production phase of this epic adventure, and now the fun really begins as we get to edit the documentary together. We have created this GoFundMe page as an effort to fundraise additional funds to carry us through our post-production phase and on into the festival circuits, distribution, and BEYOND!!! Any amount you can give would be greatly appreciated and will go directly to the final stages of our filmmaking process!
Thank you! - Cassia Sherrill, Producer of River Warrior