Mark Agnew
Stuck in ice in the Northwest Passage.
Arctic Cowboys named in Greatest Kayaking Expeditions of the Century (so far)
I'm blown away. Our Northwest Passage expedition has been been named in the top 10 Greatest Kayaking Expeditions of the Century (so far) by Paddling Magazine.
We are the first team to kayak the entire Northwest Passage and the first to do it by human power, no motors or sails, in a single season.
I'm blown away for several reasons. Firstly, when I was in the thick of it and having done it, I lost sight of the size of our accomplishment. I just got on with it and did it. There wasn't time to contemplate what we were doing. Although, at one point, Eileen and I did try and discuss if this was "historic", but the idea was too abstract and self-aggrandising, so the conversation fizzled out.
Enquire about a talk today
This recognition is a reminder to myself: kayaking the Northwest Passage is a big deal.
The second reason I'm blown away is because of the company on the list - I've read about all sorts of expeditions, and now to be on a list among them, is quite astounding. In particular, I've read about "Justine Curgenven and Sarah Outen’s 2014 journey marked the first modern-day kayak crossing of the 2,500-kilometer remote [Aleutian Islands, in Alaska]. Over 101 days, they confronted more than 20 crossings between sparsely populated islands in cold, remote and rough seas," which Paddling Magazine ranks #4 on the list.
The third reason is a moment of self reflection. I started kayaking in 2020 as Covid-19 broke out. And just three years later, I completed an expedition that is considered one of the greatest of the century. I can't articulate how bonkers that sounds to me. I recently wrote about how I quickly went from novice to two time world first record setter. Yet, sometimes I need to remind myself - it was a crazy journey to start kayaking and ascend so quickly.
(From left): Mark, West, Jeff and Eileen
The fourth and final thought is for my teammates. The Arctic Cowboys - leader West Hansen, Jeff Wueste and Eileen Visser. The praise is all well and good, but what if we'd achieved our goals but had a miserable time doing it? It would hardly seem worth the suffering. Yet, with those three, I had the greatest experience of my life.
Moments like this, being named on such a prestigious list, remind me not just of what we accomplished but the special memories I had with my teammates.