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Kayaking the Northwest Passage with West Hansen

Shelby Stanger|

Transcript

In the summer of 2023, West Hansen led a team of kayakers, known as The Arctic Cowboys, through the Northwest Passage, making history as the first people to cross it by human power. The journey took them 103 days to complete, during which they encountered polar bears, icebergs, and some of the most intense weather of their lives.

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Shelby Stanger
Shelby Stanger

Shelby has paddled a remote portion of the Amazon River, surfed from Tofino to Tavarua, and interviewed countless CEOs, entrepreneurs and pro athletes on assignment for international brands and publications from Outside Magazine to Vans. Her Wild Ideas Worth Living podcast amplifies adventure narratives, and empowers others to live their passions and get outside. See more of Shelby on her website or follow her on Instagram. REI member since 1996.

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2 Comments

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  1. Sheila R

    Not to say their expedition wasn’t amazing but I can’t help question that their was the first. Years ago I met Victoria Jason who paddled the NW passage much of it solo and wrote an amazing book of her time. ‘Kabloona in the Yellow Kayak’.

    Reply
    • West Hansen

      I loved Victoria’s book, especially as a contrast with Don Starkell’s recounting of their time together up in the Arctic. Victoria and Don departed from Churchill, Manitoba, which sits inside Hudson Bay and well inside the eastern boundary of the NWP. They portaged a great deal over land, which – along with missing several hundred miles of the route to the Atlantic Ocean – takes them outside of the definition of a navigation. For a record of all attempts: https://www.thearcticcowboys.com/past-present-kayakers-and-rowers-of-the-northwest-passage/

      Reply