Visit Gino Watkins Base Camps 13th - 22nd July 2022

In collaboration with a very experienced local guide, I have put together an extremely unique 12 day trip for the summer of 2022. The objective is to visit both of the Gino Watkins base camps.

Camp at each and fully explore. Also access the inland ice in the vicinity where Watkins and his team would have accessed with a potential overnight bivi. The trip will visit many sites documented in the various Watkins / Chapman books and explore others too. You will be traveling and living with local people and my guide.

On this expedition access is by hunters boat - not kayaks. English speaking local hunters / guides will facilitate the expedition - taking care of boat logistics, safety and any bear defense issues. One of my Watkins expert’s - who has kayaked with me in and out of both expedition sites will be with you for the duration of the expedition. You will be journeying approx 400 miles, through some amazing area’s and transit spectacular sections of coast - all the time surrounded by ice bergs, sea ice and the ever present Greenland icecap.

Boat pick ups and return to airport. Tents. Cooking gear. Food, stoves and local accommodation when scheduled in settlements or hunters cabins is all provided. This is a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in and experience the unique culture and history of a remote part of Greenland, where subsistence hunting and the changing seasons dictate the way of life.

There are only 4 places available on each trip. Dates to be confirmed. July and August 2022 £ 4800 - this is not including flights. Full details on request.

2021 Advanced trip "The Watkins Trail".

In 2021 I will be leading a small expedition, south down the coast past Sermilik fjord.
This trip will initially aim for Natavit and explore the site of the original British Arctic Air Route Expedition base.
During the trip we would hope to get up onto the ice cap with an over night bivi.
The final paddling route selection will be made at the time based on ice conditions.
This is an advanced trip, aimed at experienced expedition paddlers.
Stoves, fuel, breakfasts and freeze dried main meals while on trip are provided.
Kayaks, paddles, decks and PFD's will be supplied.
Boat shuttles and transport in Greenland is included.
Bear defence and group safety gear is provided.
Specific training will be delivered during the expedition.

Expedition fee does not include your flights.

1 / 3 ratio.

Send applications with full paddling / expedition CV to
info@seakayakadventures.co.uk

Expedition fee (TBC)
£ 3800.00

New for 2020 - A Walk on the Wild Side.

For folk who are not dedicated paddlers, we are developing an amazing hiking trip.
It will utilise all my reliable contacts for boat drop off's and pick ups, emergency support and logistics - so you can access some truly amazing terrain.
The initial exped in June 2020 is aimed at a small group of experienced hikers / back packers who are keen to get off the beaten track.
In fact there is no track.
This is a pilot project for future teams and is consequently priced accordingly, rest assured we have it pretty well sussed and you will be in the competent hands of an experienced trip leader.
The route will aim to explore the wildest and remotest parts of Sermilik Fjord (the local ice fjord) and should provide amazing photographic opportunities of icebergs, glaciers, Alpine style peaks and local wildlife.
Its a full on 8 day trip, but a local settlement will be visited to experience the Greenlandic way of life and hunting culture as well as giving you the chance to resupply.
Having said this, the team will need to arrive with their own freeze dried / dehydrated food ready for the duration.
Team members will need to bring their own personal equipment (list provided), tents, sleeping bags etc - however if required petrol stoves can be provided. Fuel and maps are provided!
The route is hard but manageable, with several options to allow for conditions at the time, requiring a lightweight / minimalist style approach for this fantastic "walk on the wild side".

DATES 23rd June - 2nd July
Trip fly's into Kulusuk from Iceland on the 23rd June.
Folk are then taken by hunters boat to the start point.
A boat shuttle returns everyone to the airport at the end of the trip for their homeward journey on the 2nd July.

Flights to Greenland are not included - budget for about £760 from Iceland and participants need to provide their own travel and medical insurance.
2020 Discounted Trip Fee
£930

Please contact me for further information

Why is it ....

This picture was taken a few years ago, during a trip from Ittoqqortoormiit (Scoresbysund) to Angmagssalik.
At this point we had crossed the entrance of Scoresby Sound and were about 300 miles into the trip, so about half way from Ittoqqortoormiit.
Sat in our kayaks, NDK HV Explorers, which we had finished fitting out ourselves and then shipped out from Nigels the year before.
Here we are looking onto the completely uninhabited Blosseville Coast.
The most amazing thing, other than the fact that in all probability no one had even landed here, let alone walked up those valleys and climbed any of the peaks - was that most likely we were the only people within a 300 mile radius. No one behind or in front of us - Iceland was 300 miles away and the west coast of Greenland a similar distance.
Quite a unique situation really.
A couple of days later while at sea we had our first Bear encounter, he was swimming along in the sea ice hunting seals and our paths crossed. A truly amazing experience, uneventful for the bear, although still very unforgettable for us.

And people often ask - why is it you enjoy kayaking in Greenland so much........

NDK Explorer - my old faithful

I just cant believe how well my old NDK Explorer has done over the years.
It was made way, way back in another time by Mike Webb, when the small factory was next to the "Paddlers Return", for an exercise with the Holyhead Life Boat. It wasn't expected to survive that!
I then got hold of it and after a bit of TLC used it for many years as a fleet boat.
As it was never expected to last its original mission it never had a skeg fitted (not worth the labour and extra expense), so was a challenge for some folk to use.
However in 2008 I shipped it out and added it to my growing fleet of kayaks in Tasiilaq, East Greenland. Since then it has been used every summer - as my guide boat, as without a skeg its so easy to pack and has quite a bit of extra space, and with no skeg it is less prone to damage and potential leak spots.

Admittedly it has undergone some repairs, but nothing too major, keel strips every few seasons keep it solid, strong and bone dry.
The hardest thing was fitting a new cockpit rim a few years ago, I had a lesson at the factory in Holyhead and was supplied the correct stuff to mix up when I got out to Greenland.
However as expected, this was a particularly unpleasant task to be doing outside my storage container in the heat, dust and mosquitoes.
Ironically, two days later this great repair job got damaged, when an new and over enthusiastic helicopter pilot at the pad in Tasiilaq managed to lift the empty kayak up and blow it over a small cliff. I fixed it, but it was a shame.
Folk say every scratch tells a story or reminds you of a memorable moment, well there are too many stickers on mine (they make great cover ups for repairs) to remember them all, that's for sure.

I can say though, that after an early hard life, and then a re birth to the sea ice of East Greenland, she is still going strong.
Now with well over 5500 Arctic miles under her hull she is still fit for purpose in this pretty demanding environment.
Always paddled fully loaded and always braking trail when the sea ice gets thick.
Like many old girls - she has put on a bit of weight here and there, but that's fibre glass for you.
Still a looker though, much loved and admired by many.
One things for sure - she will outlast me.

If any suitably experienced kayakers fancy a trip of a life time - then there are still a couple of seats, in less used and equally attractive kayaks, available on one of my guided expeditions this summer.

Top tip - seal blubber, removes all signs of scratches on a Navy Blue hull.
Happy Paddling...

Geoff Murray writes....

Geoff Murray from Tasmania writes...

I first paddled with Martin back in 2012.
I was immediately impressed with not only his relaxed manner and obvious competence but also the quality of the kayaks he supplies.
Most tour companies that operate on the churn principle supply lesser quality plastic kayaks that "just" do the job.
Martin's are the sort of kayaks you would buy for yourself. In fact, the kayak I paddle when I am on one of his trips is the same make and model as one of my own in Tasmania,a Rockpool GT. During the trip, discussion of plans and aims is inclusive and friendly while at the same time you know there is a competent mind in the background considering all aspects of the trip from the point of view of safety, to individual paddler's abilities, the need to resupply and ultimately to providing the team with the best trip possible.
So far I have paddled in East Greenland 3 times for a total of around 900kms. Two of the trips were with Martin and one was a specific solo photographic trip, for which Martin supplied me with kayak (Rockpool Menai 18) and logistical support. I imagine there are other places as good as East Greenland but I haven't found them yet.
I have visited West Greenland which doesn't offer the raw feel of the East. If you want adventure, go East! On my second expedition Martin guided a small team to Lake Fjord, which was where Gino Watkins died in 1932, a truly fascinating place.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Arctic_Air_Route_Expedition

I have also paddled 300kms along the Antarctic Peninsula on a recent expedition camping on ice along the way. This expedition was inspired having read about John Rymill who was one of Gino Watkins expedition members in the 30's. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Rymill
Certainly an excellent trip but for me East Greenland is better. Antarctica is unbelievably committing with kilometre after kilometre of ice cliffs, really unpredictable weather and very few sheltered campsites. Overall, a very dangerous place to paddle. Plus in no way could the accessible and regularly visited part of the Antarctic Peninsula be called wild and remote. It is normal to see cruise ships, zodiacs and yachts every day. Remember, 30,000 people a year visit Antarctica in a 3 month window. You don't have to go far in East Greenland to escape all of that. Antarctica lacks the unique, captivating culture and social history of the East Greenland Inuit. A friendly and charming race of people. It is also logistically far easier to get to East Greenland compared to going to Antarctica. And cheaper!
I will definitely be returning to East Greenland, and I will travel with Martin.

Not long now - I can't wait !

Not long now......

Spring is nearly here in Shetland, on some days at least, and the evenings are starting to get much lighter so the paddling season is now well underway. However the past dark months were an ideal and busy time to be gearing up for our summer in East Greenland. Flights, accommodation and logistics are now sorted and team members are focusing on their kayak and general fitness, equipment lists and packing systems.

I own a comprehensive fleet of quality UK kayaks and equipment, which is permanently kept in Tasiilaq, so folk can often paddle the same boat they are familiar with at home, so this helps when it comes to working out if everything will go in.

Always an option, some folk are staying on a bit longer after their expedition dates with me to further explore this amazing area and do some dedicated hiking, while others are teaming up with family or friends to explore Iceland a bit, on the way back home from Greenland.
This season sees a multinational group of folk making up the teams, paddlers from America, Australia, Switzerland, Germany, Norway and the UK, we have good teams (as always) going out this season.
Greenland is now becoming a popular place for kayakers and is getting busier every season.
However the Angmagssalik region of the east coast where my expeditions are based, with only one flight from Iceland a day, is in comparison less accessible and consequently quieter. I have been running guided trips on the east coast every summer for the past 12 years and have seen little significant change.

There are only two access points for the east coast - Kulusuk and Constable Point so traffic is not excessive. The main settlement of Tasiilaq (via Kulusuk) is on Angmagssalik Island and was at one time called Angmagssalik. Here the local ‘commune’ or town council administer an area the size of the UK with a population of approx 2500 people – many of which are seasonal contractors, involved in building and infrastructure projects. In fact the total population of Greenland is only 56,000 – with the remaining 53,000+ living on the south and west coasts.

Consequently, once out on expedition we are pretty much on our own and apart from local seal hunters we don’t see many other people. Over the past 19 years I have developed some good local contacts who are able to provide back up services. So should anyone have a medical issue and need to be evacuated to the modern local hospital, then that base is covered. If conditions dictate, then checking in with these folk every few days by satellite phone gives me a heads up as to what the local ice is doing and enables our journey to make the best of the conditions. This also gives us added options enabling our trip to venture further afield to lesser known areas and gives added flexibility as to where expeditions start and finish.
Having spent so much time in this area I obviously now know it extremely well, certainly my current trips are much improved on the ones I ran in the early days, generally being more adventurous, flexible, interactive and safer.

Ice conditions on the east coast are very different from the south and west side, as the main polar drift flows south down the east coast from the Arctic Ocean.Conditions can at times be unpredictable and challenging (Fun), however that’s why folk join me – to paddle amongst sea ice and ice bergs. Over the years the word has got round and I now regularly get folk joining my trips from New Zealand, Tasmania and Australia as it’s much easier, cheaper and safer than venturing to the Antarctic to paddle in ice. I also get many folk joining me having first paddled on the west coast.
Although no as bad as some, my trips are still expensive,so a good lead in time is advisable. I obviously don’t skimp on service or safety, the kayaks and equipment are my own. They are good quality and well maintained and I know the history of every bit of kit. During the lead up phase as well as on trip I try to give folk options and advice and allow them to make decisions and have control - its important folk feel it's their trip, with me along in the background to guide and support and step in when appropriate or the conditions dictate. As a result my trip dates fill up quick and I don’t really advertise, also I get many repeat bookings which say’s a lot.

East Greenland doesn’t take prisoners, so don’t get caught out. Every expedition is run by myself, and I am always supported by at least one back up leader who is capable of taking over should the need arise. They know the area, ice conditions, weather anomalies and my systems well, having been out to this area with me several times before. Team members are introduced to my way of working and taught how to read and negotiate ice and ice bergs, as well as transferring their existing navigation skills to our 1:250000 scale maps, route planning, identifying camp sites, get outs and plan B's.

Some time back I wrote the ISKGA Paddling in Ice Module. This along with BC guide modules are covered during the expedition and certificates are available for interested parties. Hazard and Risk and ‘expedition mind sets’ are looked at in depth, all with the aim to help further develop your existing skills and provide knowledge for future unsupported trips to this area on your own.
The Arctic is a fragile and delicate area, slow to recover from neglect, abuse or over use.
Throughout the expedition we implement a minimal impact and sustainable approach towards our journeying.

So – if this sounds like the sort of thing you may be interested in, an truly amazing kayak adventure, in the Arctic, paddling amongst the sea ice, negotiating icebergs, encountering whales and wild camping amongst fantastic wilderness scenery. Then why not contact me for further details info@seakayakadventures.co.uk