Earlier this year, we were approached by Charlie Turnbull, a young Australian adventurer with a passion for the outdoors. He had recently launched his “career” with a 25-day, one-thousand kilometer canoe journey from Mongolia to Russia, through one of the least densely populated areas on earth; from the southern end of Lake Khovsgol to the tiny river Eg, south across the Mongolian plains to the Selenga river, then crossing the border into Russia, and straight into Lake Baikal.
The travels were documented on Patagonia’s Australian website at http://www.patagonia.com.au/journal/2013/mongolia-to-russia/
Our emails criss-crossed while Charlie outlined his new plans – in a nutshell, to hike and kayak the length of Iceland. The proposed route traversed the volcanic highland region of Iceland and onto the Hofsjökull ice cap, crossing the ice to the headwaters of the Pjorsa River, then 230km of kayaking whitewater and flat sections to the Northern Sea. The trip would be in June/July, when the temperature averages 15 degrees C. The bulk of the paddling would be calm, with some rapids.
We discussed what products would be best suited for their needs – a tough decision as there are several. They needed a two person that could carry some gear, but weight was a concern. The need for material that would not become waterlogged in a chilly setting; and the need to traverse some rapids. We discussed Advanced Elements, Innova and others, and finally focused on the AquaGlide Klickitat Two, a 42-lb whitewater, self-bailing kayak that AquaGlide agreed to provide for the trip. And as the expedition expanded with a videographer to document the journey, we sent along an AquaGlide Chinook Two for Sam Brumby and his camera gear, Advanced Elements fiberglass Orbit breakdown paddles, and Astral Designs super-lightweight Ronny PFDs.
With good-humored ribbing from friends and family, Charlie and company headed off.
In July, we heard back from the trio. According to Charlie, “What an epic 20 days. The boats were amazing, so tough. Grade III glacial water, volcanic rocks, long portages – held up perfectly. The footage and pictures we have are awesome as well, will send through in the next weeks or so.”
Charlies’ crew is currently working on a multi-part video series on the Icelandic trip, which will be part of a larger project called ‘Tales to Tell’. Tales To Tell is a collaboration between friends with a passion for adventure, journeys and storytelling; through image, film and text, the friends hope to share experiences and inspire others to explore and create at home and abroad, and in doing so foster a healthy respect for the environment.
The final video documentaries will be uploaded to the Tales to Tell website at http://www.talestotell.com.au/
But until that moment, Charlie has given us a “sneak peak” at