Blogs
Expeditions
Donoso sets sights on Antarctic: Jan. 09 Wavelength cover feature star Cristian Donoso is expanding his list of expeditions with a December 2008 to with Juan Pablo Ortega and Roger Rovira to the Antarctic Peninsula to make a 550-mile self-supported kayak journey to the Palmer Archipelago and the Danco Coast to study wildlife density and explore the effects of global warming on the Antarctic coast.
Donoso hopes to inform the public about the consequences of global warming on the wildlife and sceneries of the Antarctic coast through photographic and audiovisual records of landscapes and wildlife in this region, from the low impact perspective of a kayak expedition. The materials collected will be used to create a documentary film, a book, magazine articles and a website.
“The Antarctic Peninsula is warming five times faster than the average rate of Earth’s overall warming. Many species that had evolved the capacity to live in these cold, icy and harsh conditions are now losing their only home,” reports Donoso.
Once reaching the Antarctic Peninsula, Donoso and his team will be completely self-supported without the assistance of any vessel, previous food or equipment deposits or any other kind of external help. Along with the inaccessibility of the coast, other geographical aspects that defy the expedition’s logistics are the isolation, the furious Antarctic storms and the ice flows formed by the agglomeration of icebergs pushed by the wind.
During the first month, Donoso’s team will circumnavigate the Anvers and Brabant Islands, first seen in February 1820 by Nathaniel Palmer on the voyage where he discovered Antarctica. During this first 300-mile stage, the team will survey the north coast of the Anvers Island- a coastline that is rarely explored due to its countless rocks, small islands and shallow waters exposed to the open sea. Also planned are visits to the bases Lockroy (England), Palmer (U.S.), and Islas Melchior (Argentina).
During the second month, the team will explore the Danco coast fjords, as deep as the ice flows allow it, navigating nearly 200 miles between the Chilean Gabriel Gonzalez Videla base and the Argentinean Primavera base. >From there the team will cross to Trinidad Island, circumnavigating and exploring its coast until reaching the Mikkelsen Bay, where they will be picked up in late February by the Antarctic Dream.
To follow the team on their Antarctic journey, please visit www.antarctickayak.com
Island speed record: In September 2008 British sea kayaker Sean Morley broke the record for the fastest circumnavigation of Canada’s Vancouver Island. Sean is the current World Masters Surf Kayak Champion in the High Performance category. In 2004 he completed the first solo circumnavigation of the UK and Ireland and all the inhabited islands; a six month, 4500mile expedition and the longest journey ever undertaken by kayak in British waters. You can follow his progress by following the links on the expedition website:www.expeditionkayak.com and his blog http://riverandocean.blogspot.com/
Kayaking to the North Pole: Scientists have predicted there might be open water to the North Pole this year. So swimmer Gordon Pugh is hoping to paddle to it. He's leaving from Norway's Svalbard islands and paddling 1,200 km. You can read his website at http://www.lewispugh.com/ and about his expedition at http://www.polardefenseproject.org/
Dawn on the Amazon Captain's Blog - The Great River Amazon Raft Race Blog.
Pacific Horizons - Exploring the Northwest Coast by kayak.
Transpatagonia Expedition - Follow the expedition into unexplored places of highly difficult access in Western Patagonia in order to gather information to increase the existing knowledge about this territory and thus contribute with data for the study of the Global Climate Change.
The South Island: Freya Hoffmeister became the first woman to circumnavigate the South island in a kayak early in the new year. Follow her 47-day trek here.
More New Zealand trips: Two other trips are underway or planned to circumnavigate New Zealand. Barry Shaw and Justine Curgenven will be starting from Christchurch near the end of January 2008 and paddling clockwise for 1,700 miles and three months. You can read an overview on that trip here and blog entries here. On Dec. 17 Barbro Lindman began her clockwise journey. You can read her bilingual blog here.
Madagascar: If you're looking for an exotic kayaking location, this would be it. Culture, beaches, crashing surf, wind, thieving crabs - all the ingredients of a great trips on this circumnavigation of the African island. Follow the adventure here.
Circumnavigating Sardinia and Sicily: An interesting look at kayaking and culture through the eyes of Wendy Killoran. It's also how a story of a dream to kayak an area can go wrong if paddling partners aren't compatible. An honest, intriguing and captivating blog.
Trekking the Wild Coast: Imagine traveling from Seattle to the Aleutian Islands in Alaska - and not by boat or paddle but by foot. Well, mostly by foot. Add packraft and skis. Follow this saga here.
Circumnavigating Vancouver Island tandem, 2007: Congratulations to paddling enthusiasts from England and the U.S., Keirron Tastagh and Jeff Norville, who set a record for tandem kayaking around Vancouver Island with a time of 19.5 days. You can follow their adventure here.
Circumnavigating Vancouver Island, solo, 2007: Congratulations to B.C. paddler Joe O'Blenis who this past summer because the fastest solo paddler around Vancouver Island. in 23 days, 10 hours. You can reach his trip report here.
Circumnavigating Vancouver Island, just for fun, 2007: Miles Ohlrich and Roy Massena paddled the island in 34 days starting and ending at Anacortes, Washington. Here is Miles' trip report and photos, with an itinerary others might find useful. Note that he seemed to be unfairly blessed with good weather, as I saw only one day's washout due to poor conditions, plus he got blown UP Goletas Channel (how lucky can you get!). I'm sure not too many other circumnavigators can say the same.
Skagway bound: B.C. Rimbeaux left his home in Sante Fe, New Mexico, and traveled from Anacortes/Bellingham to Skagway. The itinerary was 3 months. His blog chronicling the journey can be found at bcrpaddle.blogspot.com.
Across Canada by canoe: One of the more ambitious trips so far planned for 2007 is a cross-Canada canoe expedition beginning at Saanich Peninsula on southern Vancouver Island (not far from Victoria). The couple is then heading along the B.C. coast to Bella Coola to cross the mountains into Tweedsmuir Park. You can read about the adventures of Geoff and Pam MacDonald here.
Antarctica, Feb. 2007: Charity is the reason for a group of sailors to kayak around remote James Ross Island. Read about the adventure here.
Marine Trails
Scottish Kayak Trail - Liz and Simon Wills are travelling 300 miles along he Scottish coast to write a book about creating a linear route along Scotland’s west coast, from the Isle of Gigha off the Kintyre peninsular, to the Summer Isles near Ullapool. The trail will be divided into four sections so visitors with a month or more to spare can tackle the entire route, while others can approach it section-by-section, hopefully coming back for more. You can find out information about the trail and also follow the blog of their journey.
Florida Circumnavigation Saltwater Paddling Trail - Beginning at Big Lagoon State Park near Pensacola, extending around the Florida peninsula and Keys, and ending at Fort Clinch State Park near the Georgia border, the Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail is a 1,600-mile sea kayaking paradise. The trail includes every Florida coastal habitat type, from barrier island dune systems to salt marsh to mangroves. Several historical sites and points of interest are accessible by kayak along with colorful fishing communities and urban centers. Scouting for the circumnavigational trail began in 2004 and concluded in 2007; most of the trail is now open. Find trail descriptions, maps and photos.
Cascadia Marine Trail - This water trail on Puget Sound is a National Recreation Trail and designated one of only 16 National Millennium Trails by the White House. Suitable for day or multi-day trips, the Cascadia Marine Trail has over 50 campsites to visit. People can boat to the campsites from many public and private launch sites or shoreline trailheads.
Personal
Alex - The kayaking adventures of some kid who can't seem to keep his boat upright.
Alison Dyer - Writer/Audio journalist from Newfoundland. When she is not writing, she is kayaking (or thinking about/planning trips around) the wild coast of that island.
Biffle French - Information about kayaking Vashon Island, including all public launch sites, all restaurants, Vashon tides, ferry schedules, weather and even local water temperature.
Denis Dwyer - Describing the first leg of his Inside Passage kayak trip .
Kayaking Canada and BC - Kayaking: A Connection with Nature and Self
Kayak Succor - Kayaking around Washington State
Kayak Wendy - Make the journey of life a beautiful adventure.
Ken Campbell - Follow his solo adventure paddling around Vancouver Island, BC.
North American Kayak Fishing - A how-to and where-to blog for kayak fishermen around the world. Whether you fish from a sit-on- top or sit-in, set your hook here!
Sea Kayaking Dot Net - A blog for sea kayakers around the world with tips, pointers and helpful hints.
Sea Kayaking Atlantic Canada - A resource by East Coast kayaker and Wavelength contributor Keith Nicol.
Steller Sea Kayaking: Saltspring Island kayaker Kris Wilhemsen is putting a brave new face on the kayak touring map with his company Steller Sea Kayaking. How many companies have entered into the fray of carbon credits? Steller has - read more at http://stellerseakayaking.com/blog/
