Expeditions

Hayley Shephard to embark on a first solo sub-Antarctic sea kayak expedition to save albatross.

Story and photos provided by Hayley Shephard

On January 22 Vancouver Island based wilderness guide and expedition leader Hayley Shephard will set out to attempt the very first solo sea kayak expedition around the remote sub-Antarctic Island of South Georgia.

An exceptionally isolated, storm-torn island, South Georgia stands ultimately alone in the middle of the Southern Ocean, its nearest neighbor 1,400 km away. Treacherous seas constantly batter the coastal rocks and ridges, and fearless animals generously congregate on the few accessible beaches, taking shelter from the savage winds.

It’s so dangerous that Hayley is required by British law to have a support vessel. But this vessel is not there for support. It is there for search and rescue; it is there if Hayley fails.

And there’s reason to fear she may fail. There’s also reason to hope she will outlive any failure, as she embodies the same persistent spirit as her hero Ernest Shackleton -- the Antarctic explorer who turned disaster into the most famous lesson in survival.

In 1999 Hayley was the first woman to solo sea kayak the 1,200 km circumnavigation of Vancouver Island, followed by another epic adventure in 2005 when she was the first woman to sea kayak alone around the rugged and exposed coast of the sacred Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands).

Hayley has spent the previous 9 years during the Canadian winter taking tourists to the ends of the earth exploring Antarctica onboard ice strengthened Russian ships. This is how she was first introduced to the Island of South Georgia.

Hayley’s epic adventure will take up to 5 weeks and encompass a daunting 500 nautical miles. There will be days where Hayley will spend at least 12 hours in her kayak utilizing good weather windows.

Beyond Hayley’s personal ambition, there is a great urgency: to save the albatross, the world’s largest flying bird.

Worldwide, 95% of the albatross species are endangered. Because they spend most of their lives at sea, frequently circumnavigating the entire globe, they are the most vulnerable to the longline fishing nets cast by giant fishing vessels.

South Georgia, known for its rugged beauty & abundant wildlife, is home to a number of albatross species, and it has found a way to save these birds from extinction by changing fishing techniques.

Bringing public awareness to the devastating decline in albatross, and more importantly, sharing the solution to save them, is a mission that has become equally as important to Hayley as her need to explore.

Hayley is currently fundraising to pay for the mandatory support vessel which added a hefty sum to her expedition budget. Tax-deductible donations can be made through Wild Places Fund (a Canadian registered charity) or directly through Hayley’s website.

Hayley will be equipped with a laptop computer and satellite Internet. Followers can track her location in real time with Google Earth. She will run a daily blog with progress reports, at times posting photos and audio broadcasts.

Info:
http://www.kayakingtosavealbatross.com
http://www.hayleyshephard.blogspot.com