Searching for Gino Watkins 2016 - Preview

Just a brief blog post to bring my blog up to date.

It is nearly two years since my last visit to Greenland, which went so badly wrong. Despite the problems of the trip and the subsequent health issues I have decided to go again.

Preparations are almost complete and I fly to Iceland on 24 July 2016.




This time we have five team members including myself. Martin is once again leading and the other team members are: Geoff from Tasmania, Donna (USA) and John (Scotland). We have all been to Greenland at least twice before and we have many years paddling experience between us.

Our objective once again is Lake Fjord or Tugtilik to use its proper name. Whilst exploring the area around Lake Fjord we want to document the various campsites, land marks and water locations so that any paddlers who follow this trail will have information to act as a guide.

 We shall take a hunters boat to a beach near to Sermiligaq after first stopping in Tasiilaq to pick up the kayaks and do a last minute shop. My main meals for the expedition have been purchased in the UK from Extreme adventure food extremeadventurefood.com who have been very generous in supporting our adventure.



The intention is to paddle from Sermilgaq north east picking our way through the islands to Lake Fjord. One place I would like to return to is Depot Island, the site of the last campsite on my previous trip.





If we make it to Lake Fjord we would like to spend a few days exploring the area. As before the biggest obstacle will be Hell Corner. This is a twenty two mile stretch of exposed coastline named by the members of the BAARE's of 1930 and 1932. The jump off point will be the island of Store which is on the south side of a large fjord called Kangerdlugsuatsiak.


Hell Corner on a fine day. Photo courtesy Geoff Murray

Once we have crossed the entrance to Kangerdlugsuatsiak there is a small beach where we can land and make an assessment of the conditions. If they are not suitable we shall double back and explore the many local Fjords, many of which have yet to be paddled by a European.

 I know from my stay in Tasiilaq hospital that this area is also well known as a good spot for hunting Narwhal so we hope to see some unusual wild life.  I also intend to try and fish from the kayak using the same techniques that I was taught by Micheal who took me fishing out of Tasiilaq.







This promises to be another exciting trip which hopefully will end better than the last one.

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