Sponsors

       First Ascent-Eddie Bauer stepped to the plate to provide the gear and finances for our successful Ellesmere Island circumnavigation.  We thank these wonderful folks with all our hearts.

      Over the years, Polartec, manufacturers of the fleece products that so much gear is made from, has supported me at pivotal junctions in my career. I've been the recipient of four Polartec Performance Grants: one for kayak exploration in the Siberian Arctic in 1993, two for the Pacific Rim expedition, 1999-2000, and one for our successful Ellesmere Island circumnavigation. 

      Central to any kayak expedition, of course, is the choice of kayak. Our options were limited by the fact that a traditional sea kayak, 16 or 17 feet long, won't fit in the doors of the airplane that flies to our starting point at Grise Fiord. With this critical restriction in mind, we've decided to work with Wilderness Systems and will be paddling their Tsunami 135.

      On a long expedition, every gram of extra weight in your paddle means that you will lift an additional ton over the course of every month. We chose AT Paddles as our paddle sponsor because of their groundbreaking technology to make the strongest, lightest paddles on the market.

      I've tried many different sails on my kayaks over the years, but now I've come home to roost.  I used a Wind Paddle Sailon my 2010 solo expedition in the Solomon Islands.  This is the best sail I have ever used and I recommend it highly.  It lifts the bow, providing plenty of power, while at the same time is low to the deck and stable.  In addition, the sail is very compact and extraordinarily light and easy to set up and take down, which fits my kayak temperament perfectly.  

Over the course of the Ellesmere expedition, we traveled in three very different and challenging environments.  First we walked on ice in May in temperatures dropping to near zero, Fahrenheit.  Then we trudged through slush during the thaw and finally, we padded on open water in  late July and August.  For footware, we used a layering system, with neoprene socks, NRS Storm Boots, and Forty Below Overboots as a critical outer layer.  Thanks to NRS and Joel at Forty Below for helping us.

On the Ellesmere expedition, we paddled in ice choked Polar waters.  Very simply, we needed the best paddling gear in the Solar System.  So we went to our friends at Kotatat to supply us with paddling jackets and PFD's.

     I would also like to thank Thermotech for providing plastic for the skid plates, NRS for many accessories, Smith for sunglasses, and Watershed for critical dry bags that lived on our decks.