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Everything kayaking, everything coastal
MAGAZINE
Volume 20, Issue 3
Fall 2010
FREE at select outlets
or by subscription
Aleutian images
Man and ecology collide
in remote Alaska
Photography
PM 41687515
Aleutian images
“The habitations are holes dug in the earth, covered with a roof, over
which the earth is thrown; when they have stood for some time they
become overgrown with grass, so that a village has the appearance of an
European church-yard full of graves.”
– Remarks and Observations on a Voyage Around the World from 1803 to
1807 by Georg Heinrich von Langsdorff.
photo by Stan Chladek
88 Wavelength
WavelengthMagazine
Magazine FallFall
2010
2010
the aleutian islands
U
PoN mY arrIVal on adak Island, I found the town adak for over 9,000 years. But the population slowly declined
was not so much a churchyard but a ghost town being throughout the russian occupation and then, in 1942, the U.S.
relentlessly eaten away by the constant and fierce wind military relocated all remaining inhabitants. Soon after the
and weather. Ironically, half the sign at the airport was also USa’s involvement in World War Two, a new air base strategically
blown away. It once read “Welcome. adak alaska, Birthplace of positioned on adak to fight the Japanese threat on the nearby
the wind,” but now just “adak, alaska the wind.” We were warned islands of attu and Kiska ballooned the population to over
about the wind before we departed and the message given at 4,500. During the height of the cold war, the headcount on
our arrival was loud and clear. adak peaked at about 6,000 Navy, Coast Guard and air Force
according to the russian priest Ivan Veniaminov in his Notes personnel. In the late 1980s the base was rebuilt to house 5,000
on the Islands of the Unalashka District, published in 1840, the people. Just a few years later the base was decommissioned,
population for adak Island in the early 1800s was 198 native totally abandoned and turned over to The aleut Corporation
aleut. archeological evidence shows that people have lived on under the alaska Native Claims Settlement act. u
Fall
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2010 Wavelength
WavelengthMagazine
Magazine 99
adventure Kayaking
Adak and the entire Aleutian Island Museum and Archeological Repository
archipelago form the 1.3-million-acre in Kodiak. He is a driving force behind
Aleutian Island Wilderness, part of the alaska the revitalization of indigenous language,
vast Alaska Maritime National Wildlife anchorage culture and customs, including kayaking,
Refuge. Today there are about 60 year- attu Tanaga Volcano . in this isolated region. Prior to our course
round residents and some seasonal visitors he was in Europe negotiating for the
mostly involved in environmental clean- Dutch Harbor
repatriation of artifacts and so was unable
up activities (the town of Adak is an adak to register in advance.
EPA Superfund Site and on the National Kiska He invited the other coach, Tom Pogson,
Priorities List). and I back to the museum and we had
Today everything – the schools, Kayak Symposium on Kodiak Island in the privilege of going into the back room
hospital, recreation facilities, power plants, Alaska. As the five-day kayak skills camp where all the good stuff is kept. Donning
warehouses, deep-water harbor, the runway got underway a young man, dressed in white gloves, we curiously and carefully
(one of the widest and longest in Alaska), jeans and a cotton shirt, asked if he could inspected artifacts from a forgotten past.
the ski and hunting lodge and a complete join in and learn how to kayak. We took With its organic materials and lack of
housing subdivision – all lie empty, decaying him in and very quickly we saw how quick written language, this remote culture
and battered by the relentless wind. Would and keen he was to learn. After a day or has left little trace of its rich history. My
Langsdorff recognize Adak in its stark two into the camp, we taught him to roll profound experience with Sven prompted
contrast? I don’t think so. in those frigid waters and I demonstrated me to learn more about Kodiak and the
And so we came with the odd goal to some single-blade rolling techniques (the Aleutian Islands, the people who inhabited
kayak the western Aleutian Islands and native Alutiiq of Kodiak used both single them and the skills that enabled them to
farther west than any modern sea kayaker. and double-blade paddles). survive in such a hostile environment.
Kayaking has been a passion of mine since It turned out the young man was Earlier that summer I had visited the
my dad and I built and launched our first Dr. Sven Haarkanson, an Alutiiq native, headquarters for the Alaska Maritime
kayak in 1968. Over the years I have built born and raised in Old Harbor, a small National Wildlife Refuge in Homer,
many more kayaks, including skin-on-frame village on the southwest coast of Kodiak. Alaska, where I daydreamed away an
craft, in an attempt to learn more about the Sven received his PhD from Harvard, is afternoon imagining a visit to this stunning
origin of my fascination. In 2009 I was a a MacArthur Fellow and the executive archipelago. The NOAA US Coast Pilot
guest coach for the Summer Festival and director of the award-winning Alutiiq u
hen a rare tranquil day like today New Zealand to paddle with the Rangers. We follow
comes to the often tempestuous Strait the others on a slalom course through the rock gardens
of Juan de Fuca, it becomes magical. that line the rugged shoreline, searching for a protected
The bow of our sleek double kayak campsite for the night. Sasha’s enchantment with the
slices smoothly across the mirror-like surface of the other-worldly panorama of storm-weathered stone and
water, and long ripples radiate out in all directions to serpentine kelp forests unfolding before us is palpable,
undulate hypnotically beneath the light of the summer and I strive to capture the magic of the scene with my
sun. Our sea kayaking team from California, the little waterproof digital camera.
Tsunami Rangers, paddles languidly westward towards Sea kayaking and watersports in general evolved from
historic Cape Flattery on the distant horizon. the most basic of human needs: hunger. Millennia ago,
Riding with me today in the front cockpit of my ingenious stone-age hunter/gatherers began to craft
open-deck Tsunami X-2 double kayak is a young kayak vessels from driftwood, animal skin and bone so they
guide named Sasha, who has traveled all the way from could pursue the game they could see abounding in the
Fall
Fall2010
2010 Wavelength Magazine 17
Photography
Kayaker
sea arch
Shooting from shore
with a (non-waterproof)
Slr camera and
different length lenses
allows for different
perspectives of
watersports and the
sometimes unique
environments where
they are taking place.
Here an extremely
wide-angle fisheye lens
allowed me to frame the
paddler dramatically in
a sea arch as he paddled
in a rocky cove on the
northern California
coast.
Kayaks
antarctica
On rare occasions where there are
no other options, we may have to
compromise and make use of smelly,
fossil fuel burning watercraft to
approach and photograph watersport
activities. For a single day off South
Georgia Island in Antarctica I gave up
paddling to photograph my kayaking
expedition teammates from a Zodiac
powerboat, driven at high speed by a
young crewman from our mothership
Russian icebreaker as the kayakers
were approaching historic Drygalski
Fiord, located near the usually stormy
southernmost tip of South Georgia
Island.
To capture this
image I mounted
a small waterproof
camera on the bow Self
of my kayak pointed
back towards me,
portrait
oriented to shoot
vertically with the
camera on self-timer.
I paddled out into
the surf zone, and
whenever I saw a
nice wave building
up outside I would
quickly reach
forward with my
paddle and press
the shutter button.
Then I would paddle
hard to catch the
wave. Occasionally it
worked!
Oregon The Tsunami Rangers are known for close-up, action-packed photos and videos of kayakers crashing through waves and
over rocks, but sometimes it is refreshing to step back and take a more contemplative, wide angle shot that places your
Coast subject in the context of a scenic environment. Here in a beautiful and well-hidden little cove on the southern Oregon coast,
surrounded by high cliffs and inaccessible except from the water, I disembarked from my kayak and climbed up on a rock
promontory to capture a wide angle shot of Ranger Tim Sullivan as he prepared to re-enter the sea.
Baidarka
sunset
On a summer paddling adventure among the San Juan Islands, we arrived
at tiny Patos Island just before sunset. I landed and ran to set up my camera,
equipped with a 300mm telephoto lens on a tripod, while my companions
continued to paddle their baidarka-style double kayak as the sun was setting. I
knew from experience that shooting from shore with a long lens would make
the sun appear large in relationship to the kayak in the foreground and add a
dramatic mood to the photograph.
Sunset dance
Sometimes the photo magic
lingers long after the paddling is
done for the day. At a well-hidden
micro-beach on the southern
Oregon coast, the sky continued
to grow even more vivid after
sunset, inspiring the Tsunami
Rangers to break into a martial
arts reverie. I mounted my SLR on
a tripod and shot the after-glow.
I imagine pterodactyls must have sounded contact – glow sticks are handy. Counting catch favourable conditions with an alpine-
way back when. River otters come up to eat off can be helpful with a larger group, but style pre-dawn start. If you feel called by
crabs they’ve caught, floating on the surface inevitably someone forgets their number the night spirits, proceed cautiously and you
making a delicate crunching noise not and the rest of the group has to chime in – may find you’ve opened up another world
unlike humans at a crab bar. “Dave, you’re number four!” of paddling opportunities.
Some of the scariest paddling I’ve ever There are many reasons to find yourself <
done has been on the open coast at night. paddling in the dark, whether a bold Dan Lewis and Bonny Glambeck operate
During an expedition down the Washington adventure in a controlled setting, a scary Rainforest Kayak Adventures out of
Coast in November one year, we were trying misadventure, or an expedient attempt to Clayoquot Sound.
to make it to an archaeological dig at Ozette.
Headwinds delayed our progress, and it was Instruction
pitch black at suppertime when we arrived.
Our friends were staying with the
archaeologists, and we could see the lights
in their cabin, so we headed in toward
the light. We could hear surf crashing all
around us in the dark, but what choice Kayak Academy (Seattle)
Experience IS Necessary! Since 1991, the Kayak
did we have? In the morning we woke Academy has been providing the best sea kayak
to see the low tide exposing a ledge of experience you can get. Count on us for all your
rocks covered in boulders. A canoe run to paddling gear.
the village had been cleared through the Phone: 206.527.1825 or toll-free 866.306.1825
Web: www.kayakacademy.com
boulders centuries earlier, and by heading Email: info@kayakacademy.com
for the light we had come right in on the
correct line! I’ve made a point since then
of getting off the water before dark when
paddling open coast.
If you want to enter the world of Hooksum Outdoor School
kayaking at night, my advice is to wait until West Coast outdoor leadership Training. Quality
skills training and Hesquiaht traditional knowledge
you are an experienced paddler, familiar for those pursuing a career or employment in the
with the gear and kayaking in general. Pick a outdoors. Certification courses include: Paddle Canada
location without wind, waves, current, surf, Sea Kayaking Levels I & II, Advanced Wilderness First
fog, or traffic. Preferably choose a place you Aid, Lifesaving, BOAT & ROC(M). Visiting Kayak & Hiking
Groups: Base your Hesquiaht Harbour adventures from
paddle a lot, so you are very familiar with our Longhouse. Meals and overnight stays available
the topography. Choose paddling partners in 2010.
with similar or greater skill levels. Stay close Phone: 250.670.1120
together and maintain audio and visual Web: www.hooksumschool.com
Email: info@hooksumschool.com
length. Just keep in mind that lighting and more likely to encounter local law or other source of light.
regulations for waters under local enforcement with their own versions of To add more visibility to yourself
jurisdiction can be quirky. Not infrequent what’s legal at night. and your boat, it’s also a good idea to
has been the night when a sea kayaker lit Now that you’re as legal as can be consider retrofitting your deck lines
to federal standards with a white C-light expected in most waters, other lights with the reflective dacron line used as
has been stopped and cited by local law you’ll want to carry are a matter of stakeout lines on mountaineering tents.
enforcement. In violation of local if not additional convenience and safety. also be sure to buy a PFD with sewn-in
simply misinformed versions of lighting among them are glosticks, lED lamps reflective bands which make you easier to
schemes, some kayakers have found and a red night vision light. Together they spot should you become separated from
themselves stopped at night for not make for better group cohesion, faster your kayak after a capsize. With SolaS
carrying green lights to starboard, red navigation and easier landings at night tape on your boat and reflective strips
lights to port. So be sure to check local come time to drag your kayak above on your PFD, you’ll be that much more
regulations by making a phone call to the high water mark. It’s a good idea to visible to the powerboats, ferries and
the local harbormaster if you anticipate buy an lED headlamp that you can use fishing vessels that run at night. Everyone
paddling at night in waters where you are hands-free. landing will be easier if you in your group will be visible.
less likely to encounter the Coast Guard can see what you’re hauling your kayak Finally, it’s good practice to carry
over, and setting up camp for the night an emergency strobe light. Universally
will go faster if you can see what you’re recognized as a distress signal, strobe
doing. lED headlamps are a particularly lights emit short bursts of high intensity
good choice; most have very long battery light readily seen by overflying aircraft
lives and multiple brightnesses. The best and nearby boaters. activate the strobe
for kayakers are submersible, waterproof after you make contact with rescue
and of rugged durability. personnel via VHF Channel 16, or, in
as for group cohesion, and to ensure more dire consequences, rocket flares
that members of a group can keep track if you need to signal an emergency.
of each other, it’s a good idea to buy a Don’t be tempted to use a strobe as a
dozen or so chemlights, also known as nightlight though – they’re meant only
glosticks. They’re inexpensive. activate for emergency signaling.
a couple of chemlights with a snap or a If you’re looking for lights that meet
shake and tie one to your bow toggle, many night paddling needs at the same
the other to the stern. The two faint dabs time, many companies sell multi-function
of yellowish light are just enough bright lights. The Hydrostar lights, for example,
for everyone in a group to keep tabs on from Seattle Sports, use lED bulbs
each other. Just don’t make the mistake and a twisting base switch to switch
of using green or red glosticks which can between strobe functions, flashlights of
be mistaken for port and starboard lights. varying intensities, and red night-vision
They will mislead other boaters, and may lights handy for illuminating charts and
get you cited for improper light use. compasses (or fishing gear) at night.
another piece of night paddling The roughly 6.5-inch tall lights have
gear handy to have is a night compass. suction cups for attaching to the fore or
Seattle Sports makes a pretty decent aft deck, and include spring clips and
if somewhat delicately made night lanyards for attaching to PFDs. They’re
compass, called the Nightquest, which reasonably well made if rather bulky. The
houses a red night vision binnacle only caveat is to choose a multi-function
light. You’ll also want a short-burst light carefully. For example, of Seattle
emergency strobe and eight strips of Sports’ three multi-function lights, only
SolaS retroreflective tape. SolaS tape, two emit strobe bursts both vertically
an acronym for the Safety of life at and horizontally, making the remaining
Sea treaty signed worldwide after the model useful only for vertical hand-held
Titanic disaster, is rugged, durable and signaling.
waterproof. apply a strip to each side of <
your paddle blade and to the starboard adam Bolonsky is a New England sea
The last rays of the day in Nuchatlitz and port sides of your bow and stern. all kayaking instructor and sea kayak
Provincial Park, Vancouver Island. will reflect back bright, distinct flashes of fishing guide based in Gloucester,
John Kimantas photo if illuminated by moonlight, a flashlight massachusetts.
Fall
Fall2010
2010 Wavelength Magazine 25
tours and Services
Odyssey Kayaking
BC Ferries port; Gateway to Northern and Central
BC Coast destinations. Sales, Rentals, Lessons, Trip
planning, and Custom Tours. 8625 Shipley Street
(across from the Post Office) Port Hardy.
Phone: 250-949-7392 or cell 250-230-8318
Email: odyssey@island.net
Web: www.odysseykayaking.com
Nutrition strategies
Whether training to race, or to just paddle longer, careful
attention to your diet can vastly improve your recovery time
s
ports nutrition has come a long way, and is easily radical formation in our cells.
one of the most researched disciplines in exercise science. But the devil is in the details. You can pop vitamin pills, drink
Literally thousands of research papers have been written on protein powder shakes, guzzle sports drinks, and eat all the
recovery nutrition. carbohydrates you can stomach, but if you don’t eat and drink the
We need to pay attention to recovering properly from our kayak right kinds of food, drink and supplements at the right time, you’ll
training simply because the human body is not designed for the be wasting your time and money. It’s not just what you eat but when
extended, rigorous, high-intensity workouts that we put ourselves you eat it that counts in your recovery. Here’s how to use recovery
through. It’s a wonder we don’t break down more often than we do. nutrition to get the most out of yourself after your hard training
The benefits of recovering properly from these hard training and long kayaking efforts.
efforts are clear. The kayaker who recovers quickly can train hard Post-training rehydration: replace water, electrolytes
again with a shorter recovery time, add more quality training in Your first priority is to fully replace muscle and plasma fluid and
his schedule, suffer fewer injuries and gain an enhanced immune electrolyte losses immediately after kayaking. Weigh yourself before
system. All this translates into a fitter, faster and healthier paddler. and after your training effort and make sure you drink the lost
The strategies we use to speed up our post training recovery weight back within an hour or two of finishing. In fact, aim to drink
are rehydration, glycogen resynthesis and protein and antioxidant 125 percent of the weight you lost from sweating because you still
supplementation. These techniques replenish our muscle fuel continue to sweat while you are rehydrating.
supplies, hasten the repair of muscle damage and combat free
Recent research shows that we absorb more fluid when in disguise, with excess amounts of sugar and caffeine. Select fruit
electrolytes are added to water, thus achieving better restoration of juices or reputable sports drinks according to your preference – and
body water. Sodium in particular helps retain water and stimulates there’s no rule that says you can’t drink both.
thirst. You’ll know you’re rehydrating adequately when you start
Use carbohydrates to replenish glycogen stores urinating again, which can be several hours after training. Urine
Carbohydrates consumed immediately after and from two to five should be clear and pale. Despite the refreshing taste, beer (or any
hours after exercise other alcohol) is counterproductive to good recovery because its
enhance muscle diuretic effect prevents you from rehydrating properly at a critical
The Goals of Nutritional Recovery:
glycogen restoration. time.
• Replace fluids and electrolytes
This is most effective a carbohydrate/protein mix replenishes glycogen faster
• Replenish energy stores (glycogen,
if ingested from Researchers have discovered that carbohydrate-rich fluids, when
ATP, etc)
fluid, because fluid mixed with protein, have an important benefit. They’ve found that
• Hasten muscle, tendon and ligament
absorption is faster a mixture of protein and carbohydrate taken immediately after
tissue repair
than digestion of exercise tops up our glycogen and amino acid stores much faster
• Reduce residual delayed onset
solid foods. Edward than a carbohydrate solution alone.
muscle soreness and pain (DOMS)
Coyle, Ph.D., exercise The general consensus is that carbohydrate-protein mixes double
• Return immune system to healthy
physiologist at the the insulin response and increases the rate of glycogen synthesis
status
University of Texas by 30 percent. Since insulin is the hormone that takes up sugar
in Austin, says the and deposits it into our muscle cells, it follows that a solution
first two hours after your workout are the most crucial for getting that creates a high insulin response will build high intramuscular
glycogen into your system. glycogen levels, and do this quickly.
“The muscles absorb glycogen like a sponge,” he says, but “four How much protein is needed for this synergistic glycogen
to six hours after training the absorption rate starts to decline.” building effect? We recommend that athletes ingest 0.4 grams of
Choose carbohydrate-rich fluids to replace your water losses, protein per kilogram of body weight immediately after training and
electrolytes and muscle glycogen. Reading the labels of sports again two hours later.
drinks is important because many of them are simply soft drinks The protein is best absorbed in the form of whey or casein
u
race day at Deep Cove Kayaks, North Vancouver / photo by Viviane Nishikiori
Fall
Fall2010
2010 Wavelength Magazine 29
health and Fitness
suppression and oxidative stress caused by Proteins also play an important role
kayaking. guidelines for vitamin in helping our body fight off infection,
Antioxidants, produced naturally in the supplements especially in the two hours or so
body, or obtained from our food, block • Take your multivitamin supplement after exercise when we’re particularly
with a meal to enhance absorption.
most free radical reactions. Evidence susceptible to catching upper respiratory
• Choose a supplement in which the
exists that certain antioxidant supplements majority of vitamin A is actually beta-
tract infections. As proteins make up the
reduce free radical damage in athletes. One carotene. Vitamin A, or retinol, should infection-fighting agents like macrophages,
study found that five months of vitamin E not exceed 3,000 IU daily. immunoglobins and white blood cells,
supplementation in racing cyclists reduced • A blend of synthetic and natural ingesting proteins after strenuous exercise
markers of oxidative stress induced by supplements is fine. Look for a mix will in all probability help us fight any
extreme endurance exercise. of vitamin E from tocopherols and intruding infections and bacteria.
Some studies show that Vitamin E can tocotrienols. Don’t pay more for “time- I’d suggest that you adopt a holistic
reduce leakage of cell membranes to result release” or “chelated” products. approach when devising your nutritional
in less creatine kinase (an inflammatory • If you take antioxidant supplements, recovery program, and attempt to use
enzyme) and several other indicators of keep doses to 100 to 200 IU of carbohydrate/protein sports drinks, fluids
vitamin E and 250 milligrams of
oxidative stress. Another study found with adequate electrolytes, and antioxidant
vitamin C.
that three grams a day of Vitamin C • Choose a multiple vitamin in
supplements as indicated. If you persist
administered for two weeks before and two which the vitamin D source is D3, or with this program you should find that
weeks after damaging eccentric exercise cholecalciferol, the type that is best your health is improved and your kayaking
significantly reduced onset muscle soreness absorbed. performance is significantly improved after
and pain in their subjects. a few months.
Monique Ryan, in her excellent book
Sports Nutrition for Endurance Athletes, Vitamins and minerals also play a role in <
reducing the oxidative stress that is brought Roy Stevenson has a master’s degree in
summarizes: “For endurance athletes they
on by endurance training.” exercise physiology and coaching from
(supplements) are crucially important.
Immune system recovery Ohio University. He teaches exercise science
Because of your training and stress it
Only one nutritional substance has been at Seattle University in Washington State.
imposes on your body, you may need higher
shown to enhance the immune system in As a freelance writer, Roy has over 200
amounts of vitamins and minerals than
athletes. That is drinking a carbohydrate articles on sports conditioning, running,
sedentary people. And, as an athlete, you
solution during and after endurance triathlons, fitness and health published in
have a highly vested interest in keeping your
exercise. Drinking one litre per hour of over sixty regional, national and international
immune system healthy so that illness does
typical sports drinks has been shown to magazines in the U.S.A, Canada, England,
not put a halt to your training.”
lower blood cortisol and epinephrine levels, Scotland, Ireland, South Africa, Australia
She continues, “Vitamins and minerals
reduce adverse changes in blood immune and New Zealand. To view more of Roy
are essential for metabolizing energy,
cells and lower anti-inflammatories such as Stevenson’s articles go to
building body tissue, maintaining fluid
cytokine. www.roy-stevenson.com
balance and carrying oxygen in the body.
SuMMeR
Fall 2010 Wavelength Magazine 35
Wildlife
Kayak-Friendly
Accommodation
explore the BC coast by
day, enjoy luxury by night, at
these resorts that specialize
in catering to kayakers.
with stiffer laws, the seals are still subject central and northern California coastline, deeper. They’re able to do this by collapsing
to harassment. Humans still get too close, most of their life remains a mystery. Each 95 percent of their lungs while storing
putting stress on females raising their year they embark on one of nature’s longest their oxygen in their massive muscles. Their
hungry pups. migrations, a distance of about 12,000 lungs are designed to collapse progressively
Although these unique animals have miles. From the frigid Bering Sea off the as they sink to the bottom. Their heart rate
made an extraordinary comeback, the Alaskan coast to remote islands off Baja decreases from 120 beats per minute to six
population bottleneck that they experienced California, the northern elephant seal is beats per minute. Their kidneys, liver and
in the late 1800s and early 1900s is still the only mammal that completes a double digestive system virtually halt operation
a delicate issue. Since all of the current migration in a single year. The first one lasts during their deep descents.
population of northern elephant seals from 73 to 124 days, and the second one Once they reach their established
are descendants of the same 20 to 100 lasts 126 to 234 days. Eighty percent of rookeries they can rest, wallow and flip
individual animals, the lack of genetic their lives are spent at sea. sand on their broad backs, giving onlookers
diversity makes them extremely vulnerable During those arduous migrations, like myself a chance to marvel at one of the
to new diseases. How vulnerable isn’t elephant seals swim, dive and feed on greatest marathoners of the deep blue.
known; scientists are currently studying squid, fish and octopus, reaching depths of <
how a new disease would affect the largest 5,000 feet. The longest recorded dive is 119 A guide at the Channel Islands National Park,
of the pinnipeds. minutes, and the average dive duration is 20 Chuck Graham is also a freelance writer and
As visible as they are today along the minutes. Males dive longer but females go photographer in Carpinteria, CA.
big difference to the overall time you spend speed. We almost always guess that the wind idea of true wind speeds and their effects
on the water. So sometimes you’ll want to speed is far higher than what it actually on the water. I’ve recently acquired a hand-
work harder in order to save energy in the is. Get into the habit of looking up wind held anemometer and the ability to record
long term. Other times, a little math may speed after a day on the water. The internet wind speeds in my exact location, and in
quickly convince you that avoiding strong is great for this. It’s often easy to consult real time, has greatly improved my accuracy
headwinds altogether (in favour of staying several automated lighthouse reports, so in gauging the power of the wind.
ashore or modifying your planned route) is you can get a good “real world” idea of <
by far your best option. what wind speed you actually encountered. Adapted from “Sea Kayaking Rough Waters”
Finally, in my experience, kayakers are By doing this post-paddling research on a by Alex Matthews available at
very inaccurate when estimating wind regular basis, you’ll start to have a far better www.helipress.com.
Summer Solstice
Pot Luck
o n gabriola island the
maritime culture is multigenerational and
large crowds are drawn to events like the
potluck recipes for such occasions: a
grilled eggplant parmesan appetizer and a
vegetarian stuffed portobello mushroom
Marinade
2 cloves of garlic crushed
Silva Bay Solstice Paddle and Potluck. It is dish. Both of these two dishes work well ¼ cup olive oil
so nice, as a young person myself, to live together because the same marinade can 4 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
in a community where kayakers of all ages be used on both the eggplant and the 1 teaspoon tamari or soy sauce
and skill levels get together to celebrate portobello, and they can be grilled together Ground black pepper
summer and be on the water together for over a fire, in an outback or Dutch oven or Spice to taste with chili powder
sunset. Sharing food on the beach is one even barbequed. grilled Eggplant Parmesan
of my favorite parts of being an expedition 1 medium eggplant sliced
kayak guide for the past eight years. It is grilled Eggplant Parmesan 2 medium tomatoes sliced
well known that food always tastes better I look for the smaller in diameter ¼ cup of fresh basil leaves
outside, but it tastes even better when eggplants to make bite-sized rounds for this 1 cup mozzarella cheese
you’ve paddled with a group to an amazing appetizer. Wash the eggplant and slice in
location in nature! 1cm-thick slices. Let them soak in marinade eat as finger food for a great appetizer over
The solstice paddle, an average Monday for at least 15 minutes before grilling. a small fire, or on a hibachi barbeque. Try
night on Gabriola, had a phenomenal While the eggplant rounds are grilling, these also in a sandwich with your favorite
turnout with about 35 people kayaking slice tomatoes in thin rounds, and grate one bread.
and three motorboats full of other friends cup of mozzarella cheese. Bring fresh basil
who joined in the festivities. We paddled in a plastic bag with the stem wrapped in vegetarian Stuffed Portobello
about 45 minutes outside of Silva Bay to a moist paper towel so that the basil lasts Mushrooms
a crescent shaped bay with sunset views, during the transport by kayak. Each of the portobello mushrooms
unloaded the picnic blankets, small cooler When the eggplant is cooked and tender needs to be cleaned and prepared by
bags and mesh market bags full of tasty all the way through, place the tomatoes and removing the stem and all the gills. Then
treats. There was an eclectic array of cheese stacked on top, sprinkle with chili marinate the mushroom caps for at least 15
food, just like the mixed age range of the powder for garnish, and continue grilling minutes before placing them on a grill clean
community! until the cheese melts. Remove from heat side facing down. The stuffing can be made
Here are some of my favorite vegetarian and place a basil leaf on top. Let cool, then in a frying pan separately, starting with the
3. Always have an
adventure on the
horizon.
Current Designs
If you’re like us, and painfully
aware that a good kayak can move
down the ranks as an option if the
seat isn’t comfortable enough, you’ll Kayak Kaboose
be happy to hear what’s in store from Here’s something for the kayaker who
Current Designs. New for 2011 is the has everything, and wants to take it along.
“Revolution Seating System, ” an axis You can either A) buy a bigger kayak with
rotating seat that may be the best thing more storage space or B) attach a Kayak
since bucket seats for cars. It is quickly the bottom and sides. The Revolution Kaboose to the back end.
adjustable with a lever-lock system so Seating System will be available in all CD’s This aquatic cargo carrier weighs in at
you can customize the seat position recreational and transitional models for 15 pounds and boasts a 138-litre carrying
to your personal preference, while the 2011. www.cdkayaks.com/ capacity in a tidy six-foot long waterproof
Dimension Adjustable Seat Back is container that looks a bit like a cross
fully articulated for height and angle.
Contoured plush foam padding cover Aerobed between a baby kayak, a pontoon and a
miniature submarine. An articulated hitch
If you’re a fan of nifty dual function allows unhindered rolls of either the kayak
products, this new Pakmat is worth a or the Kaboose for safety, and the Kaboose
look. The carrying case doubles as the can be detached mid-trip to retrieve items.
pump! When It’s clearly a niche product that will
done, deflate appeal mostly to lake trippers and
and stuff recreational paddlers, or maybe the
back inside occasional expedition kayaker. But be
the pump/ warned: you’ll have to drill into your kayak
case. The setup if you want to tow the Kaboose, so no
time is about lending it out for casual use.
60 seconds, a www.kayakkaboose.com/
claim verified You can win your own Kaboose in
in our test. Wavelength’s Clean Up the Coast contest at
Made of phthalate-free polyester wavelengthmagazine.com/clean/
material. www.aerobed.com
Delta Kayaks pod under the front deck. An added attraction is the “Sea View”
New from Delta Kayaks this year is the Delta 10, a new window nestled between the two extruding hull segments in the
recreational kayak with some extras that will appeal to the Delta 10’s catamaran hull configuration. www.deltakayaks.com/
discerning short and stubby kayak fans out there. At 37 pounds, it
features a large rear storage compartment and a front dry storage
Peregrine Kayaks
Every so often it’s like Christmas around the Wavelength office
as we unravel a test product. And Santa might have been extra good
to us early had not this sample from Peregrine Kayaks ultimately
been destined for a Wavelength reader instead of our gear closet.
The source for our interest: the Peregrine C2 paddle. Entirely of
carbon construction, its continuous carbon weave is designed for an
optimum strength-to-weight ratio. Built in a medium-sized touring-
style blade, a nice touch is the shaft adjusts from 215-225cm in
length thanks to a sliding connector. Just choose the length, choose
your feather, lock and you’re on your way.
You can win this finely crafted paddled from Wavelength in our
Clean Up the Coast contest at www.wavelengthmagazine.com/
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berries and kelp, you may want to try some and humor that helps make this a charming
traditional recipes. The Nuu-chah-nulth adventure. Available for sale online as well as
navigation: Tribal Council has put together a selection for view at film fests across North America.
Sea State and of traditional food recipes in camus, with
Weather proceeds benefiting Uu-a-thluk, a First
Freedom of the Seas Nations organization for sustainable
Vol. 1 Sea Kayaking
management and development of ocean
www.skils.ca From
resources. Interesting and possibly yummy.
Mountains to
Ocean
Dan Baharav
Murrelet Publishing
this is
A few select how-to manuals have Canoeing
helped shape modern sea kayaking, and it is 12 Adventure Films by
Justine Curgenven
hard to ignore the contributions of the likes
www.cackletv.com Everyone who kayaks enough will no
of John Dowd, David Burch and Doug
doubt eventually have enough content
Alderson, to name a few. But assuming the
for a decent book; add the discriminating
need to update, repackage and reformulate
eye of an ecologist and a whole new
our collective expertise in sea kayak skills,
perspective opens up. Such is the case with
the experts at Skils have perhaps nailed
Dan Baharav’s narrative of trips through
the formula in terms of presentation and Fans of This is the Sea and its three
the North Cascades, San Juan Islands
scope. followup titles will find the celebration
and the Olympic coast. Dan combines
The first volume in their new how- continues with a focus on canoeing
his experiences kayaking with nuggets
to series tackles Navigation: Sea State and some of the sport’s most talented
about the various coastal watersheds,
and Weather with a level of technical paddlers, whether it’s wilderness touring
adding another layer of interpretation
information sure to appeal to both or challenging whitewater. The two-disc
for those traveling the waters of the
beginners and veterans. Clouds, currents, DVD has about three hours of video in 12
Pacific Northwest. The blend of trips
clapoitis – very little is missing from this films. Follow a 1,000-mile birchbark canoe
and ecological/hydrological insight makes
soon-to-be sea kayaking bible. The Skils journey, northern wilderness expeditions,
it quite different from a guidebook, but
team of Michael Pardy, JF Marleau, Andrew a voyageur adventure and awe-inspiring
possibly just as useful. You can find not
Woodford and Piper Harris have combined whitewater.
only great destinations, but probably
their collective experience and knowledge Filmed by Justine Curgeven it features
information you didn’t know, even if you
base in a presentation augmented with a Karen Knight, Kevin Callan, Becky
are a regular paddler of these areas.
myriad of illustrations and photographs. Mason, Mark Scriver, Paul Mason, Andrew
Westwood, Bob Foote, Ray Goodwin, Employment
^Hailey Thompson, John Kaz, Wendy
Grater. Winter Guiding in Belize ‘10/’11
camus: Island Expeditions is looking for professional guides
(chum-us) to work winters in Belize. Sea kayak, river experience,
adj. marine biology or strong naturalist background.
Very satisfying, when Paddle to Minimum two seasons multi-day guiding experience.
Seattle Email resume: tim@islandexpeditions.com or call
you’ve been well fed 604-452-3212.
www.nuuchahnulth.org Josh Thomas
and J.J. Kelley Assistant Retail Manager
paddletoseattle.com A North Vancouver based kayak and cross country ski
retail store is recruiting for the position of Assistant
Retail Manager.
The successful candidate must have retail sales
experience in Ocean Kayaking, Cross-Country
Already a favorite of viewers at paddle Skiing and snowshoeing. Extensive knowledge of
Point of Sales systems, inventory control, product
If you’ve kayaked the west coast of film fests where it has picked up a myriad merchandising and customer service through superior
Vancouver Island, chances are you’ve of awards, Paddle to Seattle follows friends product knowledge. Must have reliable transportation
wittingly or otherwise paddled Nuu-chah- Josh Thomas and J.J. Kelley as they build and be flexible and able to work weekends. Diploma
from an Outdoor Recreation Management Program
nulth territory. So if you’re tempted to their own Pygmy kayaks and paddle them
required. Wage Range is $16 - $20/hr based on
try some local food, which could range for 97 days from Alaska to Seattle 1,300 experience and qualifications.
from the more common salmon to salal miles through the Inside Passage. It is the wit Please respond by fax to 604 987 2255