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Big 5 Kayak Challenge #5: The Inside Passage, Vancouver to Alaska 
Big 5 Kayak Challenge team ready to leave Port Hardy Vancouver for 1000 miles paddle to Glacier Bay, Alaska.
Three members (Richard Harpham, Aisling Ni Chuinn and Geoff Tilford) of the UK based Big 5 Kayak Challenge team have arrived in Port Hardy on the North of Vancouver Island ready to paddle 1000 miles. Their journey began back in September 2008 when they kayaked 85 miles around the Isle of Wight on the South Coast of England. They then kayaked the length of the River Thames in February 2009 covering 185 miles in 35 hours. Expedition 3 involved crossing the World’s busiest shipping lane to France in April and then kayaking for 10 hours in Atlantic swell from Lands End to the Isles of Scilly.
All of this pales into insignificance when compared to almost 1000 miles of expedition paddling required for the Inside Passage. The team have been completing last minute preparations including picking up marine flares and charts from Britmar Marine, collecting their Wilderness Systems Kayaks from Comox Valley Kayaks which have been sponsored by Whitewater Consultancy based in South Wales. One of the most challenging aspects so far has been getting the 230 kilogrammes of expedition kit and food from Be Well Expedition Foods to the start point. The team are grateful to their support crew of Martin Quinn and Simon Bevan who as well as helping as sherpa’s will be helping to film the team on their adventure. They are also delighted to be sponsored by Canadian Tour Operator, Canadian Affair who amongst other things waived the excess baggage fees!
The team will set off unsupported at 8am on Monday 15th June 2009. Richard Harpham, Joint expedition leader commented ”The excitement has been slowly building, seeing so much beautiful scenery, collecting our bear spray and crossing to Vancouver Island has made it all so real. We cant wait to get paddling and get some miles under our belt and all hope to see Orcas following the salmon run during the first couple of days”. The team will be joined by other team members, along the way, with Ollie Jay (from Prince Rupert to Petersburg), Rob Bates, (Petersburg to Glacier Bay) and David Gordon (from Juneau to Glacier Bay).
The challenges were created to give the team the opportunity to paddle some of the best and challenging conditions on the planet and also to raise money for UK charity, the Muscular Help Foundation. Follow their progress and donate if possible on their website www.big5kayakchallenge.com
Geoff Tilford:
"Have boats, provisions and kit and all that remains is to fit it all in the boats for an 8am departure tomorrow, a tricky task ahead"
Aisling Ni Chuinn:
"The first two days of paddling are the most daunting and potentially the mnost difficult as we will have no shelter from the full force of the Pacific at this point so we are praying for good weather and will all breath a huge sigh of relief on day 3 when we are in the relative shelter of the Inside Passage".
Richard Harpham:
"It has been a real team effort from start to finish so far and just to get the start line has taken a monumental effort from everyone involved and supporting us. To get to the end will almost certainly involve blood sweat and tears. British Columbia is a fitting place for our fifth challenge as it is stunning and is just simply the great outdoors at its beautiful best. Carpe Deum!!"
(Posted on the 18th Jun 2009 by timb) |
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