Romancing the Thin Blue Line


How to make your self-supported kayak expedition a reality.


Planning a self-supported kayak trip you


struggle to leave behind the comforts of home yet discover on the river that you pos- sess absolutely everything you need.The min- imal gear and food that you are able to take actually reinforces the vastness of the land- scape, the power of the water, the vagaries of weather and the foolishness of your ambi- tion and pride. Most of all, wherever you may explore, expedition kayaking teaches you to rely on yourself.


—David Lech, Ottawa, Ont. I look up at Ken standing at the put-in for


the Alsek River, gear and food strewn around us.We are just outside of Kluane National Park in Haines Junction, Yukon. He just smiles when I tell him I can’t fit everything into his Dancer. On two days notice I bor- rowed his spare boat for a 12-day unsupport- ed trip to look at the notorious Turnback Canyon. Ken looks at me, “Hey, you could wear the backpack you have to get your gear around the eight-mile walk on Tweedsmuir Glacier.”Great idea Ken. Heading down the Dezadeash River into


the Kaskawalsh then the Alsek, the first day, of many, goes by with our narrow displace- ment-hull sterns underwater.Smiling at each other paddling our plastic barges with an additional 20 pounds on our backs, I keep asking him, “Where is the first Class IV rapid?”


—Derek Endress, Whitehorse, Yukon. Expedition kayaking is canoe tripping


with two blades and no cappuccino maker. —Scott MacGregor, Quadeville, Ont.


During solo kayak expeditions, the chal-


lenge is recognizing or approaching your limits, be they physical limits—portaging across a range of mountains, paddling a dif- ficult rapid, or dealing with adverse condi- tions—or mental limits—maintaining the focus needed to do days of hard whitewater, dealing with the intensity of remote and iso- lated areas where there is no assistance, and the challenge of learning self sufficiency in unknown or changing conditions. When paddling with a group you add


group dynamics.The challenges are not only your own personal tests, but also those of the other group members.The rewards are often greater as the shared experience creates kin- dred bonds which last the rest of your life. As with most truly moving experiences


the rewards and satisfaction are proportion- al to the efforts, and oftentimes to the risks. To grow I find myself needing to explore beyond known bounds.


—Stuart Smith, Squamish, B.C.


Expedition kayaking represents the ulti- mate paddling experience, combining the exhilaration of whitewater with a grander notion of river travel and exploration. Running a tough drop three days into a week-long expedition feels very different than paddling roadside. The team's com- bined paddling skills allow you to explore with confidence, unravelling the mysteries posed by a few winding blue lines on the topo map. And in the end, whether or not you choose to run the big line is almost irrel- evant.


—Steve Whittall, Whistler, B.C. photo Dunbar Hardy 2003 Spring 31


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