The 2nd Annual IR Vacation to Hell- The Baffin to Ellesmere Challenge

Favorite Kayak Recipes... Please send them in!

Just a quick note...

We're starting to pull the menu together for our 6 week Arctic Extravaganza and quickly realized we'll be eating the same meals way to often.  For the 4 weeks in Labrador (actual paddling time), we thought we were being creative when we challenged each team member (4 total) to come up with 8 tantalizing days of complete meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner & snack).  The challenge was to impress the others with your culinary, kayak cookery ability and add an element of surprise & fun.  Cook to Impress!

Well....  Now we would like to challenge the BLOG readers!  Please submit your ultimate, favorite kayak cooking recipes via the comment tab.  We need some fresh tidbits for the menu....  I used all of my pizza tricks in "The Labrador".

Thanks a tummy full!

Tim

Arctic Char....  It's what's for supper! Labrador 2005

Devon Island: to walk or to paddle.

One of the scenarios we've been considering is to paddle around the east end of Devon Island (approx. 135 Nautical Miles) instead of walking across it.  There are a few reasons why this could be a good idea: we wouldn't need to carry ice gear in our already fully laden kayaks and dragging kayaks across Devon Island just isn't fun.  On the other hand there are many reasons why we wouldn't want to go that route: the area has a high concentration of polar bears (see Russell's post "Ice Bears" ), long commitments with potentially few landing spots adds significant risk and increases the odds even more that we'd be sharing our beach with bears (and maybe walrus?), being exposed to Baffin Bay could mean too many lost days waiting out bad weather, and many glaciers might mean we'd have to paddle way offshore to minimize the effect of surge waves generated by huge chunks of the glacier's edge falling into the sea.  Maybe dragging kayaks across Devon Island is not so bad after all! - Alain

Kayaking Mentor & Nick Name Origin

As I read back thru this BLOG I realize my latest entries have become more about the human side of planning.  Maybe, it's just where my life has landed over the past few months and the adjustments that are underway.  Call me a WIP!  (Work In Progress) Regardless, it's a time of reflection & introspection with an incredible paddling opportunity added to the mix.  I'm currently typing this from my long time buddy & paddling mentor's house out in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, fresh off of the slopes of Wolf Creek Ski Resort (you say you never heard of WC?  Good, let's keep it just between us!)

You see, Joe Jordan (aka: Paddling Mentor & all around great guy) was the one who got me into paddling back in the mid-90's and our friendship has been solidified ever since.  Joe is one those giving individuals who finds the meaning of life by encouraging others to follow their dreams and aspirations.  He's a Corporate Trainer by trade, but his skills & passion unselfishly overflow into helping others excel.  Joe has been a mentor to me both on water (whitewater/sea kayaking) & also on the slopes as an awesome snowboarder, telemark & alpine skier.  Joe is the kind of guy that makes indelible deposits and life is better because of him!

I guess what I'm trying to say is......  Life long friends make life worth living!  This is especially true when I needed a get away & therapy this week as life continues to sort its' self out.  It's the same with my other team members as well as Russell who's enabled me to progress over the years in my paddling and adventures!

Joe is actually the one that gave me my KEENO nickname that has stuck for so many years.  It's actually a nickname of a nickname (as they often are)....  It's short for KEELHEADKEENO.  Something I was dubbed after spending too much time upside down on the Big South Fork of the Cumberland (Tennessee) in between the bumps & swims of being a novice whitewater boater.  I told Joe, "This kayak is most stable when it's using my head for a Keel"  Joe said, "I'm going to call you KEELHEADKEENO from now on!"  And so it is.....

Tim & Joe at Wolf Creek on Race Day / March 23rd 2008

Tim,John,Joe & Joe's awesome girl....  Karin between races.

Ice Bears.

(photo;from "Distribution,Movement and Abundance of Polar Bears In Lancaster Sound.)

If you look at the dots on the map next to this. Those dots are Polar Bear,either single male,single female or family groups.The shaded area is the area of study  for the movement and abundance of Polar Bear.If you can tell where Pond Inlet is ...(below the "D" on Bylot Island and then across the water is where Pond is). That is our start point. Across the water just east of Pond is a well known area for high numbers of Polar Bear.We won't be going there!

      As you can see when we leave Pond we will be going west then north up Navy Board Inlet to Lancaster Sound.With a reasonable weather window we cross to the south side of Devon Island. After seeing this I realised that where we want to land on Devon also seems to have the highest population of Polar Bear in the region.
     "Our findings are in agreement with Johnson,(1976) who found more Bears along the north than south side of Lancaster Sound.The higher density of bears on the north side may also be related to the relative scarcity of Inuit hunting in that area."(quote from "Distribution , Movement and Abundance of Polar Bears in Lancaster Sound).
     What we have found also is in summer there is evidence some bears come onto land,some move to areas of permanent ice and others remain on pack ice.
      OK ....where is left? Thats where I want to paddle!
      According to this study there are about 1000 Polar Bear living in Lancaster Sound,(thats the body of water between Baffin and Devon Islands).The study also shows that bears did not wander at random, but instead stayed in a rather restricted range.But also the study showed a very small population of bear that actually traveled long distances.Why? No one seems to know.

      We will be traveling a long distance to paddle up there in the Artic.Why? No one seems to know.

Russell.

Whats next?

(Photo,dolphin off Sarasota ,Florida)Alain has finally relocated to Zurich, Switzerland, a little closer. Keeno is heading to Colorado for the Easter Weekend. Who knows what Prator will be doing.I will be in town,planning on going through dry bags and compression sacks as well as making a hatch cover that my solar panel can run a line through so I can be charging things while we paddle. Toby Brown ,(who was with us on the Labrador 2005 Expedition), used the same kind of rig and it worked well. The solar panel of choice is a Brunton. It charges things up really quick, and with 23 hours of sun it should be a charm!
I also will be playing around with some different stuff for shore based mats to sit and camp on as well as how to transport these things,(probably cut them down and line the cockpit with them.
As I sit in my Lanai its very windy right now, I consider how it will be this August with a thin tent wall between me and the elements when its blowing sleet sideways. Well with the Nemo tents we have chosen it should be no big deal.
So next week I head to San Diego to teach at Jen Klecks' Aqua Adventures Southwest Sea Kayak Symposium.We always have a great time paddling and teaching the fine south westerners there. folks from all over the west coast and even the "desert states" like Arizona and New Mexico turn up! Then we might slip off to Baja for a couple of days play in the rock gardens there.
All for now.....Russell.

Houston...We have a Spending Budget!

Exciting Times!  The spending Budget has become available to us as of last Friday, March 14th and plans are in place to get the critical gear we need.  Also, much of our sponsored gear is starting to roll in, Northwater, Teva & Coleman Exponent.  I know Russell is excited about the flip flops & paddle floats....

KEEN0

Nancy & my other mother "Nancy"

Tim Here:  I have to tell, the most wonderful part of putting a trip like the VTH together has nothing to do with the actual journey....  It's all about the people you meet along the way that wish to support your efforts & wish you well. 

Last weekend I went in search of Socks & Mitts for the trip.  For many of you, this might be as exciting as having to do a load of laundry...  For me, it took a weekend and much conversation.

Through my many hours of gear research on the web I found a small cottage industry, genuine "Made in America" Mother & Son enterprise that produces the kind of gear that's been to both poles and Mt. Everest multiple times. Their name was reoccurring as I read many modern accounts of Polar Exploration.  Good enough for our little paddle, I say!

The company is called:  RBH Designs with Nancy (mother) & Ryan (son) at the helm for the past 10 years!  http://www.rbhdesigns.com/

The amazing Customer Focus & Satisfaction story is this:  I dropped RBH Designs a email note on Saturday Evening from their website, by Sunday night I had a detailed & caring reply stating a willingness to help make our trip a success.  Come Monday, Nancy & I connected on the phone and proceeded to talk RBH Gear, Kayaking in the Arctic, how they could help, church & poverty in Haiti over the next 85 minutes (yes, an hour & 25 minutes) continuously!  I finally ordered a pair of custom made, VAPOR TRIGG MITTS & VAPRTHRM Insulated SOCKS and let Nancy go!  (She even promised to have them to me for next weekend's snowboarding trip to Colorado for testing!)

All of this to say....  I just didn't order gear from some mega outdoor/outfitter company that has most of their production set up in China with a multi-million dollar ad campaign & paid Adventurers.  I now have most functional gear that was made with love, passion & perhaps a small prayer for our safety.  The kind of gear that you trace your hands & feet on a piece of paper & carefully measure....  They do the rest of the magic.  Gear with a Legacy from it's inception!

What I truly have is human nature at it's best:  Friendship & Caring all rolled into a small package!

I told "NANCY" that my mother's name was also, Nancy.....  And in her last email reply closed with:  "Your other mother Nancy"

Here's to all of the great Nancy's in the World!

Nancy Keen (Tim's Mom):  Apostle Islands - Lake Superior, June/July 2007

Canoecopia..Madison at 12 degrees.

I just returned from Madison ,Wisconsin where an event called Canoecopia was on. It is the kick off for the paddle sports industry each year and there are classes, speakers, factory reps. and lots of stuff on sale! It is put on by Rutabaga, A shop in Madison. A really great group of people. This year I was asked to come and speak on the Vacation to Hell...(I am thinking of it as the "When Hell Freezes Over Vacation".) I had two presentations and they were both pretty full. Lots of great questions and some new ideas for us to think about. I also was able to meet with John from Nemo Tents, they have some really cool tents, and Jim from Werner Paddles, I think they sold 150 paddles in 3 days! Anyhow I just got home and going to spend some quality time with my family now! Russell

Amityville, NY. - WINTER ICEBREAKER 2008

Just a quick note and a paddling picture from the WINTER ICEBREAKER 2008 hosted by the Dinghy Shop in Amityville Long Island, NY.  If you recall (or just scroll down)....  I was invited up the the Dinghy Shop over the weekend of February, 15th - 17th to pitch the VTH endeavor to a 100+ paddlers & adventurers!  Upon leaving from such a quick weekend I felt like I had a new extended family!

I sounds like a return visit is in discussion when we return from the Arctic for more paddling & "what we did on our Summer Vacation? chit-chat.

It'll be great to see everyone in a few months and few thousand paddle stokes!   Tim

(Saturday February 16, 2008 on the Great South Bay of Long Island.  The ICEBREAKER 2008 Gang at 38* F)

The Indomitable Alain Cormier.

(Alain,March 2008,during his morning jog.Zurich Switzerland.)

I met Alain several years ago when he was living in Chicago. He was moving to St.Pete and came into my kayak shop to see what the paddling was like locally.
    Over the next few years we became close friends on and off the water, through the high and low points of our lives we remained good friends,paddling buddies , popcorn eating ,movie watching,guitar playing,Land Rover driving Pals.
    In 2004 Alain met a girl on a plane and the next thing we all knew they were married and moving to her home town of Budapest,Hungary.
    We tried to do a paddle down the Dalmation coast of the Adriatic Sea but I couldn't go in the end. In the meantime we had talked about the next big Expedition and where it would be to.
    So when the Vacation to Hell came up he was in with out hesitation.
    Alain fits into the team like a hand in a  glove. He is thoughtful and thought provoking. He fills in some of our weaknesses and his weaknesses,(which I have not found yet),will be filled in by the rest of the team. A really good person that will look out for the rest of us while revealing in the place he finds himself.
    Claudia,my wife, recently told me she was very happy Alain was going because she knew he would take care of me if anything were to happen. I feel that way about everyone on the team. That is our biggest strength,as a team . We all look out for each other while loving the enviorment we find ourselves in.
    We know that the enviorment is our biggest challenge and our biggest ally. But like the Inuit before us we will try to use it to our advantage and hold tight while its working against us.
    Russell.

Nigel Dennis Greenlander Pro

(photo,Russell's kayak on North Carolina's Outer Banks, after a day of surfing with Lamar from Barrier Island Kayaks.)                                                    Things in life change rapidly sometimes.
When we found out how much it cost to ship one piece kayaks to Nunavut,it took our breath away.So we chatted it up amongst ourselves...talked to Mark Hall at Delta Kayaks, and finally realized we couldn't afford to get our one piece Delta Kayaks to Pond Inlet.
Mark from Delta graciously bowed out,(we still like Delta Kayaks and Mark, as well as  continue to have a lot of respect for Mark.) Then the race was truely on. To find a kayak that would come in 3 pieces for transport reasons ,but also it makes it easier to get up on top and over land/ice obstacles. To find a kayak that was expedition proven, and that meant it would be an all weather kayak.
     The Inuit had used such kayaks for at least a few thousand years, and Nigel Dennis had been making them for at least a few years. Being an expedition paddler himself,(Nigel with Paul Caffyn were the first to circumnavigate Britain,more recently his team of 4 circumnavigated South Georgia Island in the far south Atlantic.) He knows what works and what doesn't. How to build designs that go anywhere you could paddle.
    After talking with the team and Nigel,(while he was in Spain teaching.) we decided on the Greenlander Pro. Fast , sleek,low profile for more effective control in big cross winds, and he makes them in three pieces if you want! He also has passion for paddling the wild places of the Earth and enables other expedition paddlers to go to some of the wildest places around. Just look at any of Justine's "This is the Sea" DVD's and you'll see Nigel Dennis Kayaks all over them!
    You should check out his website and look at the sponsored paddlers/expeditions page. NDK is the premier expedition kayak company in the world!  www.seakayakinguk.com

Russell.

Kayak of Choice - Nigel Dennis Kayaks!

Some of you that have been with us from the beginning and monitoring the BLOG might have noticed a change in the "Kayaks of Choice" & sponsorship logo.

If that one got past you.....  Let me, with extreme excitement & confidence, introduce you to the kayak of choice chosen by Team Sweetwater for their reputation of world wide expedition proven performance & durability.  None other than Nigel Dennis Kayaks (NDK) offered thru Sea Kayaking UK in Holyhead, North Wales.  If you've been in Sea Kayaking for a nano second or longer, you're familiar with the NDK line and the reputation of the Romany, Explorer & Greenlander series of kayaks.

We've chosen the Greenlander Pro for our VTH endeavor because of their Length, Volume & Speed.  As mentioned above, it also doesn't hurt to know they've been paddled around the Globe as proven expedition vessels.

http://www.seakayakinguk.com/

Paddling the Greenlander Pro is like have dinner with an old friend.....  Exciting & predictable all in the same moment!

Our Custom Greenlander Pros:  (artwork by KEENO)

Size Matters....

I spent the weekend doing some close to home camping in the NEMO Equipment "Moki" that has been graciously supplied to us for the expedition.  After spending (2) nights sleeping in a temperature range from 35* to 40*, I had absolutely NO condensation build up on the interior of the tent or the breathable CHEEZ (CHEEZ = a optional metallic, insulating layer that is used in cold environments).  I was truly impressed!  Actually, it was one of the most comfortable nights sleep I've had in a some time!  I'm SOLD on the MOKI, but still have a subtle concern about size of this awesome tent.  We're basically struggling with classic LODGING COMFORT verse FOOD space in our 17'10" long kayaks over a 6 week paddle (with no resupply).

Not looking to duplicate any of the fates of the Franklin Party &/or the Donner party, for that matter!

Here's a picture of the how the (3) NEMO tents that I currently have for DEMO Compare.  Please understand that the "Moki" (2 bags on the far left) consist of almost every option available for that model tent.  By this, I mean:  Tent Body, insulating CHEEZ layer, (2) vestibules w/ separate poles, (4) tent poles, ground cloth, Link to attach 2 Moki's into a killer Base Camp, stakes, stuff bags, etc.  The GOGO on the other extreme is a cantaloupe sized Bivy bag that I slept in for 12 nights in the Bahamas.  Great Tent, you just have to unzip & go outside to change your mind, if you wish.  The Morpho AR being somewhere in the middle.

Please checkout the NEMO once again for clarification on these models if interested: http://www.nemoequipment.com/tents