On October 8, 2023, the expedition party known as The Arctic Cowboys reached Cape Bathurst, the western terminus of the Northwest Passage. In doing so, West Hansen, Jeff Wueste, Eileen Visser and Mark Agnew became the first known people to kayak the entire Northwest Passage under human power only in a single season.
The Arctic Cowboys Dramatic Finish To Complete The Northwest Passage
The Arctic Cowboys spent 100 days with their kayaks in the campaign to complete the Passage. With temperatures already subfreezing, the last leg of the journey has proved formidable with slow progress and days windbound in camp. To reach the western terminus and the Beaufort Sea within a closing season window, the team had to paddle a 16-mile day in the most harrowing seas seen on their trip.
“The team experienced the roughest waves of the entire expedition throughout the 16 miles to the official finish of the Northwest Passage,” the team reported in a blog post following the ordeal. “They seal-launched from Whale Cliffs in 15-foot waves, some going over West’s head with 20-foot breakers at the turn.”
Once they rounded Cape Bathurst, the team technically completed their record-setting expedition, yet the trip is far from over. The team has since had to make their way another 140 miles southwest to the town of Tuktoyaktuk in the adverse weather conditions. As of Tuesday, The Arctic Cowboys are still en route according to Expedition Manager Barbara Edington. They are currently expected to arrive late Wednesday or early Thursday.
The Arctic Cowboys embarked on the 1500-mile journey from Button Point on the northern side of Baffin Island on July 2, with the intent to travel the Northwest Passage east to west. However, the expedition began officially on July 18 when they crossed from Baffin Bay into Lancaster Strait, the internationally recognized eastern boundary of the Northwest Passage. Multiple parties, including a team of rowers and a solo rower, also set out on attempts of a human-powered completion of the Passage this season, but all other campaigns conceded.
Over 83 days in the official Passage, The Arctic Cowboys kayaked without assistance from sails or any propulsion other than their own paddles, and now hold the first claim of completing the journey in a single season.
Stay tuned for an upcoming interview with Expedition Leader West Hansen. Learn more about The Arctic Cowboys 2023 expedition to kayak the Northwest Passage at www.thearcticcowboys.com.
I am 84, and was silly enough to go North of 60 about 10 or 12 times in winter. The summer working trips do not count, even though 10 or 13 different sizes of biting insects do get a fellow’s attention! Grin.
Surveying for Geophysical Contracting companies was my job. At first, we used K&E Transits that George Washington would have been able to operate!
My toque is waved for those hardy paddlers! I saw 15’ storm waves on Cape Krusenstrern one September, from the shore, and from our 45’ aluminium twin-Cat powered Jetboat. It had already snowed 2”, with the Arctic flowers still blooming near our Camp on Lady Franklin Point of Victoria Island.