Friday night update

Keirron and George got in another 32 miles today after 28 yesterday (and they both appreciate a little break from the relentless 20 knot headwind). This puts them just 12 miles out from Nikolski.

As part of their engagement with local sea otter research, Keirron reported three "dancing" otter photographed today. Kayaks have a long and complicated relationship with the northern sea otter; a paddler's stealthy vessel allows us to approach these mammals more closely than a motorised research vessel could do. Keirron and George are well-equipped to photograph rafts of otter, or individuals, in enough detail for the professionals to identify individuals later.

Here's an updated chart with the team's progress:

... and I will try to stick to this Google Earth 'pin' convention:
white pins are guess-timated locations
green pins are based on measurements I have received
yellow pins are original stage or reference markers.

Strong work guys!

Umnak Island

Keirron checked in yesterday saying they'd paddled 20 NM since landing on Umnak, and planned on another 28 miles today. If this plan worked out and the winds allow they may be roughly where I am guessing on the map below.

The weather is still living up to its reputation, blowing 20 knots in their faces and raining sheets yesterday. Today was expected to blow a bit less, but the gear will stay wet - over half a centimetre if rain is in the forecast.

Sunday looks like another windy one. Weather direction has shifted around from SE winds to NE - NNE. There's no more snow in the immediate forecast.

The remaining inhabitated village on Umnak (population 18, 2010 census) is Nikolski, still nearly 40 NM distant.

Below are photos of  Mount Recheshnoi (left) and Mount Vsevidofe from Nikolski (right).

 

Safe travels!

Sat phone updates

Keirron called tonight, 19:20 CEST, 10 hours ahead is 9 am Anchorage time. In the background I could hear - yes, you guessed it - wind.

In the last few days' paddling they have had 35 knot (18 m/s) headwinds to add to the horrendousness, have dug boats out from a foot of overnight snow accumulation, and a couple days decided not to leave the shore at all. But sometimes Alaska is like that. Two days were also beautiful, and account for most of their progress.

They are on Umnak Island. I don't know exactly where they are but will guess anyway, based on time elapsed and ETA to Nikolski.

Stumbled onto these beautiful photographs of Umnak Island (southern half mostly): http://xpda.com/aleutians/umnak/

Taking advantage of the upside of bad weather, Keirron and George have had a bit of time to poke around; I've been doing some myself on Google Earth, comfortably from the kitchen. Fascinating area, lot of military and possibly mining activities on these volcanoes. 

For example ... military? Alien?

And lest we forget these are active volcanoes ... here's the Okmok Caldera, which formed the part of the island they are currently camped on; it last erupted July 2008.

More about their current host:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Okmok

And not surprisingly every one of the ocean aerials without cloud cover seems to have whitecaps (aka white horses). Hm.

Carpe Solis

It's currently about half way through Keirron and George's first full day of paddling. Word yesterday was that they'd paddle while the weather looks good. I imagine they'll squeeze the last bits of light out of the day, find a sheltered spot, and I'll have an updated location to share while they're brewing up the evening tea.

Here's more on where they've been enjoying themselves, Dutch Harbor on Unalaska.

The name Unalaska originated with the Aleut inhabitants of the island, as documented by Russian fur traders hunting along the west coast of in the 18th century. They described the island "Ounalashka", literally "Near The Peninsula".

Today the region may be most famous for Deadliest Catch. (Well, now the Keirron and George have left, of course.)

More history: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unalaska,_Alaska

Cheers,
Jeff

setting off today!

We spent yesterday looking around Unalaska village, doing a radio interview with Stephanie at KUCB-FM, checking out the museum of the Aleutians and keeping our dynamic plan updated.
It was blowing a steady 25 knots, gusting 60mph and snowing.

We'll make a start around noon today, as the wind has dropped overnight, and we're itching to get going. The ground is frozen solid, and the fresh snowfall is making the whole community of Unalaska picturesque. Its going to be amazing!

We'll keep in touch : )
Keirron & George

a message from Unalaska

 Leaving the Moose behind in Homer (it had taken a liking to George)

 and a farewell to Tom Pogson who has bent over backwards to assist us in every way

 we took the kayaks on-board Puk uk and headed off in the afternoon

 amongst a pod of Orcas soon on in the voyage

 Jake's onboard to capture the adventures of Billy, Colette and the birdies who will come on at Adak.

Stella Sea Lion haul out en-route

plenty of reflection time as we close on the Aleutians

 past Cod fishermen in totally calm conditions

 we a mixture of 'everything' weather and sea state wise, some bits were a little lumpy and chilly

 every pass, every island or peninsula has its own weather system, wind direction and strength

 things change fast, and often unpredictable out here it seems : )

 passing Bird Island early morning, the bay was literally heaving with Humpback Whales.

 we passed two charter boats searching for Grey Whales, and then waiting for Orcas to arrive and hunt them, a japanese film crew and a National Geographic crew.

 having already seen a pod of Orcas, we can guess what's coming.

 they can identify individual whales from their 'flukes' - like a fingerprint

 Birdlife is also increasing, with the amount of marine life, and changes in the sea conditions

 black sand beaches of Unimak Island, with its large population of Brown Bears, and stunning features.

 Finally getting into Dutch Harbour very early this morning, mind blowing.

The crab fishing fleet is in dock, George has been chatting to the crew docked astern of us, their ship Seabrooke is one of the stars of Deadliest Catch...

Billy Choate, super happy as always, an absolute legend!

Keirron & George

ps. getting messages through on the Sat phone now, thanks Jeff and Karel, keep them coming.

Going Dutch...

So last Friday Keirron and George hopped aboard the M/V Puk Uk, piloted by their host Billy Choate, for transit to Dutch Harbor. Tom Pogson snapped a couple photographs as they sorted out gear.

M/V Puk Uk

 

This trip takes them into the heart of the Aleutians -- where they will begin their trip west.

As I post this it's nearly quarter till 2 in the afternoon; the boys have likely bought too much food and are gnawing away at what they can't fit on board while staring at a grey sea over a moderate breeze, enjoying perhaps the last sun for a day or two. Forecast calls for some precipitation and near-freezing temperatures though mid-week.

If there's an SMS in the morning I will post new coordinates right off.

Cheers,
Jeff

staying at Billy's

 Sunrise this morning at the float plane lake, pretty early.

 We been staying as guests at Billy's house, and the moose family can be spied in the local copse, or sometimes trotting about in his garden!

 Tom had a black bear on his porch yesterday... had to chase it off!

 Homer Spit is an amazing place to gaze at the distant mountain ranges and snow capped volcanoes...

rumour has it, there's a delightful restaurant serving local fresh fish meals there too.

 Bald Eagles can be seen frequently, this one was pretty close : )

 We got most of the stickers on the kayaks, and packed our kit, heading off on the PUK UK tomorrow around midday local time, for Unalaska.

 We hitched back to town from the end of the spit (about 5 miles) meeting another terrific character, and over two decades of experience working out of Dutch Harbor.

Its easy to see why folk live here

K & G