The team got started a little earlier today, as the conditions were ideal. In fact, West was able to shed his shirt while setting up and taking down camp. The sun hitting the water made the [...]

The team got a later start today due to the 25 mph wind gusts that blew their tent around while they were trying to stow their gear in their boats. The winds in the area where they set up camp [...]

The team stayed up until midnight, reorganizing gear after the departure of teammate, Rebekah. They slept in this morning and took things a little slower.

It is with a heavy heart that I write this update. Due to some pretty intense nausea caused by sea sickness and anxiety, I decided to bow out of the expedition.

Since the beginning of the expedition, the team has endured high, gusting winds and 5 foot waves, at times. Yesterday was no exception. In fact, out of the 3 days, it was their most challenging.

Last night, they set up their bear fence. It took all three of them to ensure it was set up correctly. West brought up a good point: they won’t know if it works unless the line is tripped by a bear.

The Arctic Cowboys had a nice day of paddling with the wind at their backs. Final distance was about 13.7 miles They will head out early in the morning after a little re-working of gear weight [...]

The team strapped their 3 empty kayaks onto Titus’ boat, stored their gear in the center of the boat and stood up for the 2.5 boat ride to Button Point. There was not anywhere to sit, so [...]

After four days of waiting out gale force winds, the Texas-based trio of paddlers known as the Arctic Cowboys are poised to launch their attempt to kayak the entire Northwest Passage.

For our last night in Pond Inlet, we were invited to dinner with Chris Mutch, a wildlife biologist in his 3rd year in Pond Inlet. He’s lived a few other places throughout Nunavut/NWT during his [...]

Held up a few days in Pond Inlet by bureaucracy and now weather, we’ve definitely caught up on sleep and any calories not previously crammed into our formerly fit frames. One upside is that for a [...]

THE FIRST KAYAK DESCENT OF THE VOLGA RIVER Making our way up to the Canadian Arctic, we’ve been met with several reporters, government officials and regular folks who have questioned, [...]

Yesterday, we feared a possible eviction from the apartment in Pond Inlet where we've graciously been given refuge while awaiting our launch, so in the middle of what the rest of the world (the [...]

Unfortunately, the weather will be unfavorable to launch in the next day or so. Headwinds up to 20 miles per hour are expected, bringing some discussion on whether to wait until the winds pass. [...]

The team headed over to the Parks Canadian office today in order to take a required orientation regarding information about camping in the national park with an unloaded, locked firearm. The [...]

The Northwest Passage’s days as a mysterious, notoriously difficult arctic sea route might be numbered. The world is warming and the passage connecting the Atlantic and the Pacific is opening for [...]

After departing Austin, Texas, USA in my pickup truck with all our gear, food and kayaks for the expedition, we drove for three hard day across the country to Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, somehow [...]

Last day in Ottawa. It was rainy and we mainly hung out in our comfy hotel room, enjoying the soft beds and indoor plumbing while we still can. I almost wore my cowboy hat out but I just couldn’t [...]

On Saturday, we got to spend some quality time with Sean Rowley and Derek Specht who drove down from the Toronto area to hang with us. They host the podcast, Paddling Adventures Radio, and [...]

We explored Ottawa today! After a calorie packed breakfast and a bit of house keeping. I peeled off for an afternoon of sight seeing through downtown Ottawa that included a veggie burger, French [...]

Trio of Texans planning to kayak from Pond Inlet to Tuktoyaktuk

A Texas trio are about to attempt to kayak across the Northwest Passage, setting out from Pond Inlet, Nunavut, and paddling all the way to Tuktoyaktuk, N.T.

My sister and Expedition Manager, Barbara Hansen Edington joined us along with my niece, Lauran Edington for a few days during our week-long layover in Ottawa on the way to the Arctic, so we did [...]

The Arctic Cowboys are temporary stuck in Ottawa. My best-laid plans have been bumped askew a bit. The months leading up to our Northwest Passage kayak expedition I was on the phone with Canadian [...]

In this episode, we talk story with the Arctic Cowboys, a team of experienced paddlers from Texas who are about to embark on a expedition of a lifetime.

Want to see what it’s like ramping up to an expedition with a goal to do what has never been done? Rebekah Feaster, Jeff Wueste and I spent the last two weeks in a whirlwind of activity [...]

The Northwest Passage is a contemporary folk song that was written by Stan Rogers in the 1980’s. I has since become the unofficial anthem of Canada and discusses the attempts to discover the [...]

Lessons in irony: typing an extensive blog about being weary, only to have a computer glitch that erases everything I typed, so I have to type it again (sigh). Opportunities For Growth abound. [...]

I’ve been on the phone off and on for the past three years with the extremely kind staff at Canadian North Airlines to plan for our expedition. They’ve been extremely helpful and very [...]

Gathering, sorting, organizing and storing gear is far more exhausting than actually kayaking 2000+ miles during an expedition. Fortunately, I’ve got my beautiful and tolerant bride to help [...]

With 21 days remaining before our team drives out of Texas for Ottawa, then a flight to the Arctic, things are tense. Frequently, I’m asked by a reporter or someone curious about our [...]

Ironman Switzerland 70.3 was a long and hot slog fest. The mountainous terrain around Rapperswil-Jona in 96F heat is nothing to be scoffed at and I was humbled by how difficult I found the [...]

“If I had a rocket launcher. If I had a rocket launcher. If I had a rocket launcher.” -Bruce Cockburn We’ve acquired these shotgun shells that are similar to bottle rockets on [...]

“I went home with a waitress, the way I always do. How was I to know she was with the Russians, too?” -Warren Zevon We’re getting down to the final weeks of preparation for the [...]

Meet the Canoe-Racing Texans Tackling The Arctic’s Toughest Passage

Meet the Canoe-Racing Texans Tackling The Arctic’s Toughest Passage BY JEFF MOAG   |   JUNE 10, 2022 All this weekend and into next week, West Hansen and Jeff Wueste will be paddling their [...]

You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out, Kid! (aka: You’re Going to Die) Prior to and during my expeditions there’s always a small handful of people that predict that I’ll be killed or that I’ll get someone [...]

Episode 329: West Hansen, the Arctic Cowboys and an expedition through the Northwest Passage  

Apologies to Joseph Stein, but I am one of those who simply loves maps. I have a handful from the early 1800’s when the Amazon regions were being explored. Right now I spend a lot of time [...]

I’ve started the 260-mile Texas Water Safari canoe race 25 times and completed it 21 times, with numerous category wins and two overall wins. Expedition partner, Jeff Wueste, and I have [...]

We can count on a novel by John Irving to contain wrestling, Maine, mother-issues, prep schools and morality issues du jour. With Jonathan Franzen, it’s going to be family issues. Messy, [...]

Jeff Wueste and I raced in the 34-mile Texas River Marathon yesterday. It’s the official preliminary race for the 260-mile Texas Water Safari and the results determine your team’s [...]

  There is a lot more involved with canoe/kayak racing and expeditions than training up, getting the right gear and hitting the water. Many outside of our communities know little or nothing [...]

Training on the river Livenza near my home in Sacile, Italy is going well. This river reminds me a little bit of the San Marcos River in Texas minus the swift current, all the rapids, and the [...]

Many people are all too familiar with the situation whereupon a huge crush they’ve fostered for some extremely attractive hunkahunkaburninlove turns out to be about as lively and exciting [...]

I imagine I may be one of a thousand reviewers comparing Daniel Mason’s “The Winter Soldier” to E. Hemingway’s works, so I won’t linger on that aspect of the novel [...]

So, Andrew Jordan at Templar Knives in the Netherlands, donated some pretty incredible stainless steel planet killers for the expedition members to take through the Northwest Passage. I mean, [...]

Lots and lots of money is never a substitute for due diligence when it comes to exploration and adventure.