In homemade wooden boats, J.J. Kelley and Josh Thomas captured the 1,300-mile Inside Passage in high-definition. It was the rainiest summer in 15-years in our continent’s only rainforest. For three months Kelley and Thomas Paddled to Seattle facing the hardships that accompany a lifestyle predominantly removed from civilization.

The adventure film documenting the project, titled “Paddle to Seattle”, is a stunning display of the awe-inspiring landscape that is the Pacific Northwest. Taken from the perspective of an ancient craft the film speaks to the beauty of people-power over a great distance. The film is interjected with moments of humor that act as a shining credit to the lighthearted spirit of the young adventurers.

Kelley and Thomas are no newbie’s to big expeditions. They have completed 3 independent 1,000 mile+ adventures. The rules have always been simple: Get there however you can, just no motors allowed. Hiking, biking, and kayaking, the two met on a 2,200-mile trek across the Appalachian Range. They have since branded a unique style of adventure media: Producing film memoirs that take audiences along on cross-continent adventures. Their freshman film “Pedal to the Midnight Sun” aired in August 2008, nationwide on PBS via National Geographic’s Wild Chronicles.

It is the first time a kayak journey of the Inside Passage has been brought to the screen. The adventure film is an independent project from Kelley and Thomas’ production company Dudes on Media. The feature film “Paddle to Seattle” will primmer in March of 2009, at film festivals across the country and air on PBS’s Wild Chronicles with National Geographic.

“Kokatat is the finest paddling wear company on the planet. The gear is comfortable and remarkably functional. We are honored to represent Kokatat.

Gear List:
GORE-TEX® TecTOUR Anorak
GORE-TEX® Deluxe Boater Pants
Orbit Tour Life Vest
GORE-TEX® Deluxe Sea Skirt

On July 10th, Jim Baird along with his brother Ted Baird headed for the Arctic Archipelago to undertake the Canoe Beyond Kuujjua River/Beaufort Sea whitewater canoe expedition. The entirety of the expedition took place well above the Arctic Circle on Victoria Island; the two man team completed the trip in five weeks.

Gear List:
GORE-TEX® Expedition Dry Suit
Ronin Pro Life Vest

The team will attempt the first ever circumnavigation of the Svalbard archipelago which is the northern most part of Norway in mid-June. These islands are some of the closest landmasses to the North Pole and are home to some of Europe's largest and most spectacular glaciers. Being so close to the Arctic Circle they will have close to 24 hours of daylight. This expedition has never been attempted before; the 1700 kilometre journey to take approximately 10 weeks.

A world travelled veteran of sea kayaking, Alon Ohad has a solid background of extreme expedition paddling. His taste for adventure has seen him negotiating the wild coastlines of Tasmania, Stewart Island and Ireland. At present Alon is working as a software developer and sea kayak guide in Tel Aviv, Israel and is devoting much of his spare time to honing his white water kayaking skills in preparation for a trip to India with Tim in September.

At 32, Tim Starr is an avid, talented and enthusiastic white water kayaker, With 15 years of experience under his spray deck Tim has had the chance to paddle in 6 out of the 7 continents. Tim is currently working as a raft guide and safety kayaker in British Columbia, Canada and when not working can be found hucking 40 foot waterfalls and organising white-water river expeditions. Although a relative novice to sea kayaking, Tim will be bringing with him to Svalbard a vast wealth of outdoor experience and knowledge.

Gear List:
GORE-TEX® Expedition Dry Suit
Ronin Pro Life Vests

Utah resident Scott Appleman kicked off an estimated 1000-mile solo paddle trip of the Pacific Northwest coast from Seattle to Glacier Bay National Park on June 15, 2008. Aided by a deck-mounted kayak sail, Appleman has to navigate the Inside Passage using wind, solar and human power in an effort to promote renewable resources and an active lifestyle.

Harnessing the wind will up the average mileage covered by day while capturing the sun’s rays on two 32-watt solar panels will provide ample energy to power essential electronics and a laptop computer.

Along the way Appleman will interview coastal inhabitants and photograph wildlife to gain insight and report on the health of the region and raise awareness about the benefits of responsible environmental stewardship.

Gear List:
GORE-TEX® Expedition Dry Suit

The Borealis Paddling Expedition consists of five young women – Meg Casey, Nina Emery, Beth Halley, Karen Stanley and Emily Stirr – who, in the summer of 2005, paddled 95 days and over 1200 miles from Northern Saskatchewan to the Arctic Ocean. Along the way they raised over $50,000 to endow the Borealis Campership Endowment, which finances similar wilderness experiences for at-need youth.

This summer, the five are heading back to the Arctic with a new route and a different twist to their mission. Over the course of two months they will paddle from Great Slave Lake to the Arctic Ocean via the Emile, Coppermine and Rae Rivers. The crux of the journey is a 50-mile overland crossing from the Coppermine to the Rae River, and then a descent of the rarely paddled Rae. The women are excited to explore and document this remote area, but they are also committed to doing so in a way that is compatible with a certain fading ethic of wilderness travel. This ethic is one that is emphasizes the connection with the natural, cultural and historical landscape; is rooted in a historical mode of transportation; travels simply, with a minimum of gear and technology; practices extreme minimal-impact camping; and personally invests in the processes of researching and preparing the necessary components of an expedition. In this way the Borealis Paddling Expedition hopes to balance exploration with tradition, and inspire a future generation of responsible and respectful wilderness travelers.

Gear List:
GORE-TEX® Action Jacket
GORE-TEX® Anorak
MsFit Tour Life Vests
Women's Destination Paddling Pants
Mediumweight Hand Jackets

My solo Newfoundland expedition was a great experience and I’m happy to say that I beat the previous record by 22 days. I’m still “decompressing” from the trip (re-immersion into “normal” life).

Gear List:
Tropos Whirlpool Bib
GORE-TEX® TecTour Anorak
GORE-TEX® Paclite® Shell Anorak
MsFit Tour Life Vest
Tributary Hydration System

Birgit Ryningen and Anders Levoll are going to circumnavigate the Spitsbergen island in kayaks in the summer of 2008, without resupply. On their journey they will bring two kayaks, a tent and enough food and other equipment to last for two months.

Spitsbergen is the largest of the islands in the Svalbard archipelago, and when they are through, their journey will have added up to approximately 1500 km. In average they will have to paddle 30 km a day, that is if they do not encounter more than 10 days of waiting on the weather. This should equal 6-8 hours of paddling every day.

Gear List:
GORE-TEX® Expedition dry suit
MsFIT Tour and OutFit Tour Life Vests

New York city based kayaker Marcus Demuth departed on a solo circumnavigation of Iceland by sea kayak on June 6. This estimated 2 1/2 month and 1,450 mile trip has been attempted solo only twice, and has been successfully completed only once. After 2 rough weeks battling high winds and rough seas, Marcus ended his trip.

"The decision is made: I will go for my 2nd attempt to circumnavigate Iceland in 2010, possibly as early as 2009".

Gear List:
GORE-TEX® Expedition Dry Suit
OutFit Tour life vest

The last of Jon Bowermasters OCEANS 8 sea kayaking expeditions took Jon and his team to the Weddell Sea during Antarctica’s summer season. For five weeks – joined by an international team of kayakers and climbers, including old friends Will Steger, Rodrigo Jordan, and Graham Charles — using sea kayaks and climbing gear, the team explored the lesser-seen side of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Their goal was to get as close to what remains of the Larsen B Ice Shelf, which continues to shrink as the seas surrounding the Peninsula warm. This expedition provides a unique look at how the seventh continent is changing, evolving and dramatically influencing the world’s oceans.

"This expedition offered both a perfect capping to my 10-year-long OCEANS 8 project (sea kayaking around the world one continent at a time, studying both the health of the seas and the lives of people who depend on them) as well as a unique combination of adventure and environmental reporting." - Jon Bowermaster.

Previous adventures have taken Jon and his Oceans 8 teams from the Aleutian Islands to Vietnam, French Polynesia to Tasmania; Antarctica fulfilled the promise to be the most adventurous and most educational.

Gear List:
GORE-TEX® TecTour Anorak
GORE-TEX® Whirlpool bib
Ronin Pro Life Vest

Sean finished the circumnavigation of Vancouver Island at 7.42pm on Saturday October 11th, in the dark and rain. He started at 2.53pm on Wednesday September 24th which makes a total of 17days 4hours 49minutes.

"It was one of the toughest challenges I have ever undertaken on several levels. Whilst the sea conditions I faced were much less challenging than during my UK and Ireland circumnavigation, and that was of course a much longer (6 month) trip, the fact that I was trying to break a record and that I desperately wanted to get home to be with my family meant that what seemed at times to be constant headwinds became incrediby frustrating. I pushed my body and mind as far as I ever want to go and will not rush to put myself in that position again. I found the pressure of breaking a speed record quite different to that of being 'first' to do something. It was definitely a different mindset and one that turned an amazing journey into something of a chore for a large part of the time. That said of course it is very satisfying to have set out with a goal and to achieve it. I saw some incredible scenery, had some really close encounters with some amazing wildlife, and grew to love and respect our ocean and its coastline even more than I did before. I learnt a lot about myself now that I am a father and how this has changed my attitudes to record breaking and risk taking without me being aware of it until now."

Gear List:
GORE-TEX® Expedition Dry Suit
Ronin Pro Life Vest
Polartec® Power Dry® Liner

Photo:
Frank Gaglione

German sea kayaker Freya Hoffmeister became the first woman to successfully circumnavigate New Zealand's South Island. This 2386 km trip is recognized as one of the most beautiful, yet committing and challenging paddles worldwide. Freya set a new record completing the trip in 70 days overall, with only 47 paddling days averaging 50 km per day. Freya paddled solo and unsupported, carrying all her camping equipment and food in the kayak, re-supplying along the way on the few longer stops.

On October 25th 2007, Freya launched at Okiwi Bay in the North, paddling clockwise, and completed the circumnavigation on January 2nd 2008. “Huge seas and swells, relentless roaring surf on the West Coast, the remote Fjordlands with no road access for more than 500 km and few sheltered landing spots are some of the reasons why only three men have succeeded in the past 30 years” says Freya. The unforgivable Tasman Sea took a toll on Freya and her equipment, breaking the stern off her kayak and swallowing her favorite paddle. But the beautiful scenery, together with plenty of seals and dolphins on mostly remote coastlines made up for any efforts and inconvenience, like dealing with bloodsucking sand flies at camp. A last highlight was set on the final leg, paddling continuously for 165 km in 32.5 hrs.

Freya’s past kayaking expeditions include the record setting circumnavigation of Iceland in only 33 days in 2007. She is invited to symposiums worldwide to teach and lecture about her kayaking experiences. Freya is a 43 year-old ex-gymnast, multi-sport woman and experienced skydiver. She lives in Husum with her 12 year old son when not traveling, running two ice cream cafes and a Christmas shop in winter.

Gear List:
GORE-TEX® Expedition Dry Suit
GORE-TEX® TecTour Anorak
GORE-TEX® Paclite® Shell Storm Cag
Ronin Pro Life Vest

The team plans to circumnavigate the South Island in a clockwise direction, starting from Christchurch in late January 2008. They don’t have a support party and carry everything they need in the kayaks, re-supplying with food and fuel in shops along the way.

Justine Curgenven is an adventure filmmaker and expedition seakayaker, whose programmes have aired on the National Geographic Channel, Channel 4, Channel 5 and the BBC. She runs Cackle TV and created the highly acclaimed “This is the Sea” series of DVDs. She’s won several prestigious prizes including best ‘mountain sport’ film at Banff Mountain Film Festival. She regularly gives slide presentations and writes magazine articles, nationally and internationally. She’s competed for the England surf kayaking team, winning several of her heats. Previous seakayaking expeditions include leading the first all-female 900-mile circumnavigation of Tasmania, a solo trip around Iceland’s West Fjords, a 400mile journey up the Pacific coast of Kamchatka and a 500 mile circumnavigation of the Queen Charlotte Islands.

Barry Shaw paddled around Great Britain with Phil Clegg and Harry Whelan in 2005. They beat Nigel Dennis and Paul Caffyn's record time by completing the 2,200 mile journey in 80 days. Barry’s paddled across the Irish sea between Wales, Ireland and the Isle of Man 8 times, a distance of up to 60 miles, and he paddled 75 miles around Anglesey in just 13 and a half hours. In 2007 he paddled 300 miles around the Mediterranean island of Corsica. Barry works enough to pay the bills and spends as much time as possible paddling, usually going out 4 or 5 times a week. He often works as a carpenter or teaches seakayaking for Nigel Dennis in Wales, and at UK and international symposiums. After a day of teaching seakayaking, he likes to spend the evening paddling in the Anglesey tidal races to make sure he keeps “an edge” to his personal paddling.

Gear List:
GORE-TEX® Whirlpool Bib
GORE-TEX® TecTour Anorak
MsFIT Tour Life Vest

In summer of 2008, Ann Kristin Gjelsten and Tommy Frantzen of Norway will depart on a self-supported sea kayaking expedition to circumnavigate Nordaustlandet, a total distance of 750 kilometres. They will carry food and equipment for 5 weeks with a goal to complete the circumnavigation in 30 days.

Tommy studied outdoor life at Norway’s Mountain School, and learned to sea kayak at Norway’s Kayak Federation. At age 49, Tommy has been kayaking for over 25 years and now owns a kayak school in Norway’s beautiful Sommerøya. Past experiences include previous kayaking trips to Svalbard, and sea kayaking trips to New Zealand and British Columbia. After many ski expeditions and three winter seasons as a hunter and gunman in the polar area of Spitsbergen, Tommy has extensive knowledge and respect for this region.

Ann Kristin, with only 2 years of sea kayaking experience, has become competent and fearless on the water. At 43 years of age, she is no novice to extreme sports with experience in both parachuting and diving. Whether it’s with her kayak or hiking boots, Ann Kristin looks forward to any opportunity for an adventure.

Gear List:
GORE-TEX® Expedition Dry Suit
MsFit Tour Life Vests

In a world-first, Sydney mates James Castrission and Justin Jones “Crossed the Ditch” by kayaking 2200 km, unassisted, from Foster (NSW) to Auckland (New Zealand). The pair set off from Forster Marina Boat Ramp on November 13, 2007.

Castrission (25, from Gordon) and Jones (24, from Kensington) took 2 years to prepare their custom-built kayak and expedition plans to ensure the safest possible journey. The "Crossing the Ditch" expedition was expected to take between 40 and 50 days. The two young men used the prevailing currents and winds to take them southeast from Newcastle to Auckland.

Gear List:
GORE-TEX® Expedition dry suit
GORE-TEX® TecTOUR Jacket
SeaO2 life vest
Destination Paddling Shirt

The team launched from Melisenda with the sea a shiny mirror to circumnavigate the Italian islands of Sardinia and Sicily by sea kayak. The journey will take 3 months to circumnavigate and explore both islands. During this adventure Wendy and René will indulge in the local cuisine, explore the shoreline communities and historical attractions, and investigate the affect of the Mediterranean Sea on the inhabitants along the shoreline and how the people affect the sea in return.

Gear List:
GORE-TEX® Storm Cag
GORE-TEX® Knappster
GORE-TEX® Anorak
MsFIT Tour and Guide life vests
Tributary hydration system

"On June 17th we launched into the swift current that bisects the city of Whitehorse. Our weather had recently turned much warmer, with highs in 70's to 80's and just when we thought it was too warm to be comfortable on the water, the clouds would build and an afternoon electrical storm would cool us down with strong winds and a short burst of rain."

Gear List:
GORE-TEX® Anorak
GORE-TEX® Boater's Pants
Orbit life vest
Destination Wear

Marcus Waters and Graham Charles are on their way to attempt to ski/kite with sleds 700km across the Greenland icecap, and top off the expedition with an 800km sea kayak down the west coast. This classic journey across the roof of the world utilizes traditional Inuit modes of transport from the wild east coast of Greenland to the fabled west coast.

Adventure Philosophy believes in an adventurous spirit, the determination to pursue a dream or vision, the tenacity to overcome barriers, a willingness to take calculated risks, and a respect and affinity for the earth. Adventure Philosophy believes an adventurous spirit lies in the heart of people that make up a healthy society.

Gear List:
GORE-TEX® TecTOUR Anorak
GORE-TEX® Whirlpool Bib
Guide and Ronin Pro life vests
Destination Wear

The team is exploring the entire 1538 kilometer Athabasca River from the Columbia Icefields, the hydrological apex of North America, to the internationally protected Peace-Athabasca Delta, the largest inland freshwater delta in the world. The last part of the journey involves the use of skis to summit of Mount Snowdome and then hike and paddle the headwaters of the Athabasca River in remote Jasper National Park, across Alberta to Lake Athabasca.

Gear List:
GORE-TEX® Front Entry dry suit
Ronin Pro life vest
OuterCore insulation

In September 2007, the Expedition Amazonas team will be taking on the challenge of a lifetime, when, over 7 months and 7000km, they will trek and paddle, totally unsupported, the entire length of the mighty Amazon River. This is a complete traverse of the South American continent from the Pacific Coast in Peru to the mouth of the Amazon River where it meets the Atlantic Ocean off Brazil.

The entire expedition will be captured in a professionally produced and edited documentary to be aired internationally. The expedition is partnered with environmental and indigenous rights action group, Amazon Watch and high-profile equipment sponsors.

Gear List:
GORE-TEX® Rogue dry top
Ronin Pro life vest
NeoZip Jane and John

The team will attempt to circumnavigate Haida Gwaii (the Queen Charlotte Islands) in single kayaks in 2007. This beautiful & remote island chain in British Columbia consists of 2 main islands, Graham & Moresby. It's a challenging and wild place to paddle. They aim to kayak around the main islands and back to the Canadian mainland, a total distance of about 1,000km.

Only a handful of other groups have previously achieved this. Allowing 6 weeks for the expedition hopefully will allow enough time to explore these beautiful islands as well as kayak around them. At the end of the trip they hope to cross back to mainland Canada via Stephens island. This 70km crossing is over a shallow channel which gets rough quickly in bad weather. The Haida people used to regularly paddle 500 miles through these waters so they'll be upkeeping a long tradition.

Gear List:
TROPOS Storm Cag
MisFIT Tour life vest
GORE-TEX® Anorak

Epicocity Project team members joined a team of scientists and cavers on a six week exploration of the Hargy Caldera in New Britain, Papua New Guinea. This National Geographic expedition gives voice to the recommendations of the United Nations Environmental Fund that this area be conserved.

The expedition involves three whitewater first descents (reached by foot and helicopter), exploration of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest cave system, collection of scientific data, and collaboration with local tribes. “It’s a daunting adventure and a story that will be captured on film, in magazine articles and photographs” says Epicocity Project producer Kyle Dickman.

Gear List:
GORE-TEX® Anorak
GORE-TEX® Knappster
GORE-TEX® Rogue
Ronin Pro life vest
Destination Wear
Inner and OuterCore Insulation

Eager to protect the dramatic landscapes of Western Patagonia, this September Cristian Donoso will lead an expedition by kayak to this region, one of the most inhospitable places on earth. Spending five months navigating open seas and fjords and pulling their kayaks across glaciers, Donoso and his team will face daunting physical and mental challenges as they gather information that will inform Chile, and the world, about this little-known area.

With its labyrinth of rocky islands, serpentine channels, and icy fjords, Western Patagonia in southern Chile is one of the least-explored areas on earth. Nestled among glaciers that hug the slopes of steep Andean peaks and drenched by storms that blow out of the southern Pacific, the harsh region deters all but the hardiest explorers. During this five-month ‘Transpatagonia Expedition’ the team will traverse 2,039 km of the central part of Western Patagonia on open sea, lakes, and rivers. They will travel overland for 150 km – including 22 km atop glaciers, dragging their kayaks with provisions behind them as sleds. The group will ascend unclimbed peaks and visit uncharted territories.

Gear List:
GORE-TEX® Expedition dry suit
Ronin Pro life vest

The two Argentinean brothers, will attempt the Patagonian crossing for the first time without external support. This estimated 30-day crossing will take them from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean, along more than 660 kilometres of fjords, lakes, and ice-caps.

In their double kayak they will first navigate the Chilean fjords to penetrate the Southern Patagonian Ice Field along the Jorge Montt glacier. Next they will pull the kayak as a sled across 200km of snow and ice to reach Upsala glacier. Finally, they will paddle across Lake Argentino and descend the Santa Cruz River to the Atlantic Ocean. The route follows the journey made by legendary explorer Eric Shipton in 1960-1961. This crossing will be unique in the fact that, the Basombrio brothers will be crossing the whole Patagonia for the first time from the Pacific to the Atlantic unsupported.

Gear List:
Helix dry top
OutFIT Tour life vest

The Last Descent is a documentary film with the goal to raise awareness that some of the World's greatest rivers are being destroyed by large scale hydropower projects. The team will descend the Marsyandi River in Nepal, the Brahmaputra River in India, the White Nile in Uganda and the Rio Baker in Chile. All four of these great rivers are in the process of being dammed or are threatened by hydropower projects. The team departs for the Himalayas in October of 2007 and returns from Africa in March 2008. The film will be released in the Spring of 2009.
Gear List:
GORE-TEX® Meridian
GORE-TEX® Knappster
Ronin Pro life vests
Destination Wear
Inner and OuterCore Insulation

In celebration of the 110th anniversary of the Belgica expedition, following the steps of Adrien de Gerlache, Dixie Dansercoer and the crew of The Euronav Belgica, intends to repeat this expedition in the South Pole in the winter of 2007-2008. Whilst in the South Pole, Dixie and his team will not only follow step by step the route taken by Adrien de Gerlache, but also attempt to climb previously unexplored and unnamed mountains and try to gather ecological and meteorological data.

Photo:©Christian Hofmann

Gear List:
GORE-TEX® Expedition dry suit
Ronin Pro life vest
Innercore and OuterCore insulation

Freya Hoffmeister, Kokatat supported paddler, and Greg Stamer, Qajaq USA president, planned to circumnavigate Iceland in June/July 2007 spontaneously after teaching at the inspiring Anglesey Sea Kayak symposium in Wales. They had only 2 days of planning at home, then went to Newfoundland to teach at another symposium and to tour the coast for 8 days in cold stormy conditions, a "dry run" for their planned trip. Following Newfoundland the team had another week to prepare at home before departing on the expedition to circumnavigate Iceland.

Hoffmeister and Stamer set out at 10:30 am, June 9th 2007. They started with a 90 km crossing of Faxafloi Bay on the first day, followed by another 100 km day with a 65 km crossing and 22 hrs of overall water time the second day due to some early arriving headwinds. Going from headland to headland directed the trip, with some quiet weather on the West and North coast, but challenging conditions on the East and on the infamous remote black sand South Coast. Although this was not a race, the team completed the circumnavigation in record time, including two long open-water crossings that were never before done by kayak. "The trip was a great experience and we enjoyed pushing our limits in some very challenging conditions", said Stamer.

They encountered great numbers of whales, dolphins and large seals on the trip, saw skies darkened by blizzards of seabirds, and were humbled by mountains, glaciers, waterfalls and cliffs of massive scale. Hoffmeister and Stamer completed the 1620 km circumnavigation in 33 days using 25 paddling days and averaging 65 km per day. They are available to present an inspiring slideshow about this Iceland trip. For more information please visit www.qajaqunderground.com and www.qajaqusa.org

Photo: ©Greg Stamer

Gear list:
GORE-TEX® Expedition dry suit
GORE-TEX® Storm Cag
Neo Kayak Mitt
Outercore Long Sleeve Top and Pant

The team successfully completed their record attempt to circumnavigate Vancouver Island on May 30! The Sea Kayaking UK ‘Triton’ double kayak helped achieve their goal: to complete the 700 mile journey in record time (previous record of 28 days in a single kayak held by Leon Sommé). “We have chosen to use this Record Attempt to raise awareness of Breakthrough Breast Cancer, and support its cause” says the team. For more info or to donate funds please visit www.justgiving.com/seakayaking

Gear List:
GORE-TEX® Expedition dry suit
GORE-TEX® Meridian dry suit
Ronin Pro life vest
GORE-TEX® Pullover
GORE-TEX® Knappster
Offshore Deluxe sea skirt
Tributary hydration system

Joe O’Blenis successfully completed the solo sea kayaking circumnavigation of British Columbia’s rugged Vancouver Island, an expedition of roughly 1150 kilometers (just over 700 miles). Despite brutal winds, Joe shattered the solo record by four and a half days, completing it in 23 days and 10 hours. Leon Sommé held the previous record of 28 days.

Gear List:
GORE-TEX® TecTour Anorak
GORE-TEX® Deluxe Boater's Pant
ULC Ronin Pro life vest
Destination Wear
InnerCore insulation

"Exploring such a wild and remote coast under your own steam in a sea kayak, knowing you are totally dependant on your self and two mates, and being able to get to places and seen things no one else has ever seen before is beyond description. As is the coast line itself and the ice. We knew it would be wild and impressive but never realised how much so. Nor did we appreciate how insignificant we would feel in such a huge and remote world. Seeing the polar bears, close and in the wild on their terms was amazing and if nothing else was worth all the effort."

In June 2006 Martin, Pete and Phil flew out to Scoresbysund via Iceland to undertake this extreme trip, and they had to rely on a certain amount of good fortune with weather and ice conditions to complete the expedition.

Gear List:
GORE-TEX® Meridian with Relief Zipper and Socks
GORE-TEX® XCR® TecTOUR Anorak®
RetroFIT life vest
Tributary Hydration System

Photo: ©Martin Rickard

"I have come full circle, ending exactly where I started at the public dock in Isle Aux Morts. I have absorbed the essence of Newfoundland now for 3 1/2 months, both on the sea and on land. It is an unforgettable experience, too vast to summarize briefly here, a journey that started on May 5, 2006 and ended August 16, 2006."

Her plans to start her journey at the southwestern tip of Newfoundland near Port Aux Basques and paddle the approximately 2700 km traveling counterclockwise came true. Though she's frequented the beautiful island of Newfoundland numerous times, exploring "The Rock" extensively on foot and by car, it was the first time that she explored the coast for longer than brief day paddles. She kept the journey simple, not planning a regimented schedule or exact route.

Gear List:
GORE-TEX® Expedition Dry Suit
MsFIT Tour life vest

Photos: ©Halldor Sveinbjornsson and ©Wendy Killoran

In August of 2006, Alaskan Adventure team members explored a remote area of Alaska and helped with donations to the Colorado Cancer Foundation.

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is America's largest wilderness, and Alaska's largest national wildlife refuge, its 19.6-million acres encompassing the full range of arctic ecosystems. The team crossed this vast landscape by descending on the Kongakut River, which is one of the many rivers that offers a chance to travel the full length of the land, from the Brooks mountain range to the Arctic Ocean. The goal was to explore parts of Alaska by inflatable canoes on a wild river, and by trekking, climbing, and skiing a variety of Alaskan mountains, experience the wildlife, and travel to the Arctic Sea. Kokatat is proud to be a Premier Sponsor for this expedition.

Gear List:
Expedition Dry Suit
Polartec Dry Suit Liner

The Biofuels Education Coalition (BEC) is an umbrella organization, created as a voice to promote the use of alternative energy. Under BEC is a world wide tour called the Oil + Water Project, featuring a demonstration vehicle fueled by vegetables that will travel to communities for youth-oriented presentations. Leg one of the six leg world journey will cover 16,00 miles over 2 continents, visiting locals in over 16 countries along the way.

Sparked by the unified vision of two brotherly kayakers with a passion for sustainable lifestyle choices, the Oil + Water Project combines their passion for life on the water with a strong desire to motivate and educate youth to make sustainable lifestyle choices through alternative energy. Spanning the world, the Project is a combination of adventure, education, advocacy, media and friendships that promises to be a unique experience for all involved.

The Oil + Water Project (O+WP) is a multi-leg, worldwide journey that involves driving the worlds first self-sustaining demonstration Toyota fire truck with a built-in converter that burns only bio-fuels to promote sustainable lifestyle choices by educating the younger generations along the route, on all aspects of alternative fuels.

The Oil + Water Project launched their national biofuel awareness and fundraising tour on March 25, 2006. This initial phase of the tour will extend until July 1st, at which time the tour will embark on their Americas tour, from Alaska to Chile.

At each destination listed above, the Oil + Water Project demonstrations will include a combination of visits to a participating retail outlet, a public middle school, and an evening venue for an outside vehicle demonstration and movie screening.

Gear List:
GORE-TEX® PACLITE® Knappster
Rogue Dry Top
GMER Dy Suit

Photo: ©Oil + Water Project

This close-knit team of keen and very experienced Australian sea kayakers sailed to Antarctica for ground-breaking 40 day expedition. The team members have extensive experience with decades of sea kayaking, mountaineering and outdoor adventure between them. They disembarked the yacht at the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, and paddled their sea kayaks unsupported for over 1,000 km south along the coast to Marguerite Bay - further south than any sea kayak in the world has ever been before. This expedition traces a fascinating historic link with John Rymill, the celebrated Australian explorer who led the British Graham Land Expedition (BGLE) to Antarctica in 1934-37. Rymill had strong links to kayaking; he learned this craft in the Arctic from the Inuit people with Gino Watkins, the famous British explorer who died while kayaking alone in Greenland. Rymill's three-year BGLE on the Antarctic Peninsula explored parts of Graham Land where no human had ever set foot before. The John Rymill Memorial Antarctic Kayak Expedition retraced the travels of Rymill and his men.

Gear List:
GORE-TEX® Expedition Dry Suit
Polartec 100 Dry Suit Liner

Photos: ©Andrew McAuley

Graham, Mark and Marcus became the first group to successfully circumnavigate South Georgia by sea kayak! The remote South Atlantic island made famous by Sir Ernest Shackleton, and now a place that symbolizes overcoming hardship and the will to survive against all odds – is one of the most dramatic landscapes and wildest places on earth. Located at a latitude shared with Cape Horn and hammered by the same brutal weather, South Georgia was the destination Shackleton and his men reached in a small open boat after a desperate crossing from their shipwreck in Antarctica.

Gear List:
GORE-TEX® Expedition Dry Suit
Polartec® 100 Dry Suit Liner

Photos: ©Graham Charles

Four highly experienced kayakers icrcumnavigated the island of South Georgia this November. One could be forgiven in thinking that it is not a very difficult task, but looking at the environment and weather conditions you realize that the challenge they set themselves is one not to be taken lightly.

Gear List:
GORE-TEX® Expedition Dry Suit
Polartec® 100 Dry Suit Liner
MsFIT TOUR Life Vest

In March of 2005 these two polar adventurers attempted a double-back traverse of the Bering Strait, a never-before accomplished feat. Their goal was to reach Siberia from Alaska on foot and then return to Alaskan shores in the same manner. Although short on distance (56 miles), the challenges were great and ranged from ocean currents, leads (open water), frostbite, storms and polar bears.

Due to the extreme conditions on the Strait, specially developed equipment was required; sleds that served as water craft, tents that floated, and traction kites were all necessary. As a result of global warming, confrontation with open water was imminent; Kokatat’s Expedition dry suits kept the explorers warm and dry during their short but difficult journey.

After one week on the ice the explorers were slowed down by the continuing drift and the difficulty of navigating through a maze of convoluted ice and small open leads. The south-easterly drift that drove the men away from their route had picked up enormous speed and it became impossible to pursue the expedition. On April 6, the expedition had to be evacuated due to extremely bad weather and ice conditions.

The Bering Strait Odyssey wished to highlight Native Cultures of Alaska and Russia, increase awareness of Global Warming, and bring unprecedented visibility to UNICEF.

Gear List:
GORE-TEX© Expedition Dry Suit built to order (fur lined hood not available as a special order… sorry)
Polartec® 100 Dry Suit Liner and Shirt
GORE-TEX® PACLITE® Pullover and Anorak
GORE-TEX® PACLITE® Nor’wester hat
ProFIT Tour Life Vest
InnerCore and OuterCore insulation

Photos: ©Christian Hofmann

These women have been exploring the waters of Northern Wisconsin and Canada since before they were big enough to portage canoes on their own. All long-time campers and staff members at Camp Manito-wish YMCA, a wilderness tripping and leadership organization for youth ages 10-17, the women planned a 90-day canoeing expedition through Northern Canada during the summer of 2005. The focus of their expedition was to raise funds for an endowment that will extend to new generations of paddlers the Manito-wish experience that has played a uniquely powerful role in each of their lives. Beginning at Wollaston Lake in Northern Saskatchewan, their route covered over 1,200 miles of Canadian Wilderness.

Traveling through Boreal forest and Arctic tundra, the women encountered bear attacks, expansive lakes and challenging whitewater as they paddled the Fond du Lac, Dubawnt and Back Rivers, completing their journey at Chantrey Inlet on the Arctic Ocean.

Gear List:
GORE-TEX® PACLITE® Anorak
GORE-TEX® PACLITE® Boater’s Pant
GORE-TEX® PACLITE® Nor’wester hat
Destination Paddling Pant
MsFIT and Guide Life Vest

Photos: ©Team Borealis

In May 2005, Scott Miller and Todd Foster embarked upon a 2250-mile historical canoe expedition from Saint Cloud to Hudson Bay. Todd and Scott were inspired to take the trip after reading "Canoeing with the Cree" by Eric Sevareid, a book that recounts Sevareid's trip with his friend Walter Port along the same route in 1930. 2005 marks the 75th anniversary of Sevareid and Port's trip. The primary objectives of the voyage were to examine how the rivers and lakes along the route have changed in 75 years and draw attention to their continuing beauty and efforts to preserve and restore them, to celebrate the lives of the diverse people who live along the rivers and lakes along the route, and to provide educational opportunities about canoeing, wilderness, Minnesota, Canada and caring for the environment.

Gear List:
GORE-TEX® PACLITE® Full Zip Jacket
GORE-TEX® XCR® Action Jacket
TROPOS Deluxe Boater's Pant
Destination Paddling Shirt
OutFIT TOUR Life Vest

Photos: ©Scott Miller and Todd Foster

In May of 2005, polar explorers Lonnie Dupre and Eric Larsen embarked on a history-making expedition – the first summer crossing of the Arctic. Their four-month journey planned to cross the frozen ice cap from Cape Arcitchesky, Siberia to the geographic North Pole, then on to Ellesmere Island, Canada. The expedition hoped to create awareness of global climate change.

25 days into their journey after traveling 150 miles and covering only 45 miles north toward the North Pole, the One World team was forced to cut short their attempt to cross the Arctic ocean and were airlifted off the ocean by helicopter. Unusually deep snow combined with strong southeast and southwest drift erased their hard-won progress each night as they slept. These factors made it impossible for them to continue with any hope of reaching their goal before winter storms set in.

The chaotic weather in the Arctic this year reinforced their conviction that global warming is a very real threat. The One World team remains strongly committed to campaigning for action on human-caused global climate change. They plan to work in some capacity with their environmental partner Greenpeace this summer as they continue with their Project Thin Ice campaign. Lonnie, one of five 2004 Rolex Laureates, and Eric will undertake a North Pole to Greenland attempt either this summer or in summer 2006, also something that has never been done before.

Gear List:
GORE-TEX® Expedition Dry Suit
GORE-TEX® Whirlpool Bib

Photos: ©Lonnie Dupre/One World Expedition

The seaway to the Orient has been the major driving force in the exploration and mapping of the earth. For centuries, people dreamed of a route north of America because the two southern seaways to Asia, southeast of Africa and southwest of South America, were long and fraught with peril. Sir Martin Forbisher was the first to make a serious attempt to find a passage through the ice and archipelago in 1576. He did not succeed. Many attempts were made after Forbisher, though to no avail until three decades later when in 1905 Roald Amundsen, the captain of an American whaling ship, conquered the passage – more than once. The purpose of this 2005 summer expedition is to first and foremost prove that the Northwest Passage is passable by kayak in a single season; second, to pay tribute to Roald Amundsen and to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first crossing through the Northwest Passage; and third, to document the historic expeditions that form the background for Amundsen’s travels.

Part personal challenge, part photo documentary, 2220 was a sixty day kayak expedition that begun in June and navigates around the entire coastline of Sweden by husband and wife team Louisa Rolandsdotter Bichard and John Paul Bichard. Alongside the personal challenge of a 2220 kilometer paddle (hence the expedition name), the aim was to also record their experiences in an innovative and accessible way. The team was documenting the Blue Ribbon expedition as a location based photo series by recording the coordinates of their shots as they were progressing. On their website they linked the images and journal entries to their location on an interactive map of the route. This allowed viewers to share their experiences from where they occur, get an idea of their impressions of the unfolding landscape and explore their encounters with weather, sea and wildlife.

Gear List:
GORE-TEX® XCR® TecTOUR Anorak
MSFIT TOUR Life Vest

Photos: ©John Paul Bichard, ©Louisa Rolandsdotter Bichard

Chris has traveled over 17,000 miles since 1983 when he paddled 8,000 miles around the eastern third of US and Canada. In 1996, he became the first person to solo circumnavigate England, Wales and Scotland, and he is the only person to have soloed the entire British Isles. In April of 2000 Chris completed his 1700 mile solo circumnavigation of New Zealand's South Island. He is also an advanced certified kayak instructor as well as a published author; his well-received ‘On Celtic Tides - One Man's Journey Around Ireland by Sea kayak’, and his second memoir ‘Southern Exposure - A solo circumnavigation of New Zealand’s South Island’ are available in bookstores. His latest adventure took he and his team on an expedition to circumnavigate Iceland in four months time.

Photos: ©Seabury Blair