Kayaking in the Arctic Ocean

05/29/2006 English German

Edition # 61
San Francisco, 05-29-2006

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Kayaking in the Arctic Ocean

Figure [1]: Angelika is sitting in the front of our double kayak.

Michael To experience the Arctic Ocean up close, we booked a kayak tour in Homer, which was also attended by another vacationing couple from the state of Arizona. Angelika and I got a double kayak with two entry holes. Angelika sat in the front and I was in the back at the rudder, each of us received a double paddle. Everyone had to put on a piece of clothing that looked like a ballerina's tutu. This skirt is made of waterproof neoprene is stretched over the entry hole after (carefully) stepping into the floating kayak, so that no water splashes into the interior of the kayak from above while paddling.

If a kayak capsizes in the ice-cold water and both rowers suddenly find themselves upside down, you need to exit as quickly as possible by pulling a loop that detaches the plastic cover from the entry hole. Then the kayak guide quickly paddles over to help you turn and stabilize the boat so you can carefully get back into the now water-filled kayak. You then have to pump out the water on the spot using a hand pump. This is, of course, a bit annoying in 40 degree cold water. Then you paddle to shore and have to change out of your wet clothes and into a ridiculously patterned dry overall that the kayak guide keeps ready for such emergencies. Allegedly, you even have to wear it to the pub where a tour that ended so abruptly will be celebrated! According to our guide, who has been leading tours for many years, this has happened exactly seven times under her supervision, mostly with overconfident teenagers. Fortunately, we were spared such emergency maneuvers, as the sea was in a good mood and calm that day.

Figure [2]: On the left is our kayak guide, on the right are the other participants on the kayak tour.

Figure [3]: The volcano "Augustine" is puffing away near Homer.

This naturally raises the question: How did the kayak pictures come about? Or: How cool does someone have to be to put a Nikon D-70 in a plastic bag, strap it to a kayak, and then take it out on the sea to photograph with it on the shaky little boat? Answer: Pretty cool, the vacation could have quickly become a lot more expensive.