or, a rough guide on what to pack for an expedition in the Northwest Passage
One 140 litre and one 110 litre duffel bag plus carry-on with electronic equipment like camera, personal locator beacon, batteries, charging cables, GoPro, etc. The first picture shows all I took with me to Canada. However several bits from kit list such as insulated Arctic trousers and jacket and gloves I only bought here in Canada.
| Item | Qty |
| Gloves | 2 |
| Warm brimmed hat with lanyard | 2 |
| Sunglasses, category 4 with lanyard | 2 |
| Seamless underwear, at least some warmer/woollen ones | 14 |
| Water resilient/hydrophobic or waterproof but breathable Socks | 14 |
| Foul weather gear Top | 1 |
| Foul weather gear Trousers/salopettes | 1 |
| Set of oils (poncho/jacket and trousers, 2mm thick non-breathable rubber) | 1 |
| Strong but flexible trousers, warm and windproof | 1 |
| Windproof balaclava face covering | 2 |
| Fleece | 5 |
| Arctic synthetic down jacket | 1 |
| Reasonably well insulated jacket like fleece with padded lining | 1 |
| Synthetic down mid-layer | 1 |
| T-shirts, thermal | 5 |
| Arctic level thermal base layers – long johns and top | 2 |
| Synthetic down under- trousers | 2 |
| Dry robe (to wear on top of other gear when on polar bear watch) | 1 |
| Arctic -30C synthetic down sleeping bag + waterproof bivvy | 1 |
| Arctic -30C self-inflating sleeping mat (65×190×7.5cm) | 1 |
| Sailing boots (leather top layer, gore tex beneath), 2 sizes bigger | 1 |
| Running shoes, 2 sizes bigger | 1 |
| Smartphone/shockproof/waterproof case – download charts for the NWP | 1 |
| Charging cable(s) | 6 |
| Cigarette lighter adapter12v to USB | 1 |
| Battery bank for smartphone | 1 |
| Butane lighter | 2 |
| Hammar lifejacket | 1 |
| Hammar lifejacket rearming kit | 2 |
| Immersion suit (supplied by NWP) | 1 |
| Three-point harness | 1 |
| Personal locator beacon | 1 |
| Suncream enough for 100 days factor 50+ | |
| Lip Balm sun stick, enough for 100 days factor 50+ | 2 |
| Biodegradable baby wipes | 300 |
| Mosquito head net | 1 |
| Strong insect repellent | 1 |
| Lightweight easy dry towel | 2 |
| Talcum powder | 1 |
| Large packets of Blister plasters | 4 |
| Seat padding of your choice | 2 |
| 100 days’ worth personal supplements and/or medication | |
| Money/credit cards | 1 |
| Passport and any visas/permits you may need | |
| Anti seasickness tablets to last your journey | |
| Multitool | 1 |
| Small personal knife | 1 |
| Head torch and spare batteries or rechargeable headtorch | 1 |
| Adequate spare batteries for all kit that needs batteries | 1 |
| Eating utensils | 2 |
| Large thermal mug with lid | 1 |
| Headphones | 1 |
| Water bottles | 2 |
| Pee bottle clearly marked | 1 |
| Thermos flask – optional | 1 |
| Thermal blanket | 1 |
| Clothes pegs | 6 |
| large waterproof bags that fit all kit | 2 |
| Smaller dry bags | 6 |
| Small mini carabiners | 6 |
| Toothbrush | 1 |
| Toothpaste | 2 |
| Floss | 1 |
| Sponge/cloth | 1 |
| Waterless soap | 1 |
| Shampoo/waterless shampoo | 1 |
| Rubbing alcohol gel | 1 |
… did we miss anything?
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE EXPEDITION
22 July – LHR to YCB
2 August 2024 (Cambridge Bay to Starvation Bay)
4 August 2024 (Starvation Bay to Wellington Bay)
12 August 2024 (From Wellington Bay 6h further Westward)
15 August 2024 (53mi/96km from Botany Island to Richardson Islands)
18 August 2024 (from Richardson Islands past Marker Islands)
22 August 2024 (23mi/37km Westward from Miles and Nauyan Islands past Lady Franklin Point – extremely tough conditions – ‘MISSION IMPOSSIBLE’)
23 August 2024 (Dreadful 10 miles – 12mi/19km – that felt like 100 miles to Douglas Island; welcome committee of two dozen seals)
25 August 2024 (An easy 19mi/31km from Douglas Island to Lambert Island; MS Fridtjoff Nansen passing)
27 August 2024 (An easy 7mi/9km along Lambert Island; yacht Night Owl passing by us)
28 August 2024 (STARTING OUR 64MI/104KM PUSH EARLY; passing Hanseatic Spirit, MS Roald Amundsen, yacht Honshu)
29 August 2024 (Arriving at Cape Hope after 64mi/104km – new team best)
30 August 2024 (EMERGENCY BEACHING at a bay next to Cape Hope)
31 August 2024 (CABIN FLOODED; LEAK FOUND)
Mike’s Poem about our Northwest Passage Expedition
3 September 2024 (REPAIRING HERMIONE)
DETAILS OF LEVEN’S MASTERPIECE: THE PRELIMINARY REPAIR and preparation of the re-launch of Hermione
4 September 2024 (A LOT OF DIGGING and another unsuccessful attempt to refloat the boat)
5 September 2024 (REFLOATING HERMIONE, MOTORING TOWARDS PAULATUK; MILITARY PLANE PASSING)
6 September 2024 (BACK TO ROWING AFTER EMERGENCY MOTOR BREAKS)
8 September 2024 (my 50th birthday; ALMOST CRASHING THE BOAT into rocks; Skynet; a pod of whales)
12 September 2024 (starting our last big push before Paulatuk; RUNNING AGROUND 3X; BIOLUMINESCENCE; Northern lights)
13 September 2024 (ALL HELL BREAKING LOOSE – ALMOST CRASHING INTO CLIFFS)
NORTHERN LIGHTS, 15 September, near Paulatuk
15 September 2024 (REACHING PAULATUK)
16 September 2024 (eating proper food; shower; the good life)
19 September 2024 (flying back home; 5 flights; Breakfast Club at Inuvik Airport)
Stefan will be rowing the Northwest Passage this summer – A little Q&A
Northwest Passage Expedition – Kit List
Trevor’s Travel Trivia IX – The Northwest Passage
My home town’s newspaper, Burghauser Anzeiger, has published an article about the Expedition
