Brian Craig (BScEng'81) is an investor, entrepreneur, mentor and adventurer. Brian manages Adventure Capital, a family office investment firm that invests in founders and teams that share his adventurous spirit. Adventure Capital's investments are focused on early-stage, enterprise B2B SaaS firms, and Brian supports these investments by mentoring the entrepreneurs and governing through a Board of Directors position.
Brian has always been drawn to adventure, and he wrote about his latest expedition – attempting to kayak from the base of the Aleutian Islands to Sitka on the Alaskan panhandle – and shares lessons from that paddle.
Written by Brian Craig:
I had expectations that this expedition could be a breakthrough that would open up new possibilities for adventurers, young and old, to travel by kayak to some of the most remote and harsh frontiers that remain on planet Earth. Instead, we failed to complete the passage to Sitka and a sense of incompletion will always loom over the memory of this experience.
As we reflect back on our adventure the question still lingers: are the Aleutians a new playground for adventure-seeking enthusiasts, or will this rugged, wild frontier remain in its nascent, wild state?
Two 60+ year-old men (with me being the senior member at 65) attempted to kayak a span extending from the base of the Aleutians that brokers the flow between the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska, to Sitka on the Alaskan panhandle. This was our third kayak expedition in Alaska, and while this was the most ambitious project, we approached this initiative with the normal confidence of persevering against the elements and achieving our goal.
After 67 days in the wilderness enduring hostile weather and seas, we terminated in Seward - hundreds of miles from our objective. It was a gruelling adventure, and the Aleutians and the Kenai Peninsula represent a stern test, but once again we proved to ourselves that no objective is too overwhelming provided the necessary competency (outdoor survival skills and extreme paddling ability) and preparedness are intact.
These harsh conditions are no place for novices and people with a curiosity to explore, as they will test the most hardy and accomplished adventurers.
This was our most 'monumental' expedition, and co-adventurer Jack Rosen and I would rate the Aleutian experience the pinnacle of our three Alaskan paddling adventures. That seems to belie the hardship of enduring some of the most extreme weather we have been exposed to, and paddling conditions that included 6 metre swells and changed by the minute, but we came closer and more immersed into the natural world than either of us thought possible.
Carving out our existence amongst the Coastal Brown Bears (52 of them in the Aleutians) and building relationships with the abundant marine life (whales, sea lions and sea otters) were beyond what either of us dreamt feasible. The roles were completely reversed on this occasion; the human element was in the minority and vulnerable in our daily struggle to survive, while the wildlife were in supreme control in the comfort of their undisturbed, natural habitat and flourish in these hostile environs.
The disappointment of not completing this adventure will fade (particularly as we have commenced the planning of the next expedition and our return to Seward), and the hardship we endured will over time shape the folklore, but the wildness of the Aleutians will never be forgotten. It's doubtful I will attempt anything so ambitious again, and I will fear for the safety of any loved ones who tempt their fate in this rugged, inhospitable terrain; it is a place that can barely be survived, let alone thrived. It is for these reasons it merits a different respect and will always stand unique as the greatest outdoor adventure that I have experienced. The Aleutians hold a very special place in my adventurous soul; it's just possible that this intransigent old man has been shaped by this impenetrable terrain.
Five things I've learned from this and other adventures:
1. Preparation
It's the finer details that can often determine survival or failure in adventures like this. For most of our travel we were hundreds of miles away from any form of rescue or support, so its critical that one prepares for all of the incumbent risks and points of failure to ensure a successful outcome.
2. Resourcefulness
We don't travel with many of the conveniences we take for granted, so we need to be inventive and creative on how to adapt to these wild conditions. Whether on the water or on land, we need to adopt a 'solution mindset' to enhance our comfort and safety in conditions that are in constant flux. While our gear might be limited, invention and creativity can lead to abundance in the outdoors.
3. "You can't plan an adventure"
This is a quote from a friend Lyle Wilson at Nipika Lodge, and it speaks to the array of uncertainties that are possible when embracing the outdoors. We will always confront something that was not anticipated, and it becomes the adventurer's responsibility to weave that event into the experience.
4. Nature
This is the gift that never stops giving; I have a wonderful relationship with nature, and I feel immense gratitude to have enjoyed the experiences that I have had. Nature enriches any soul.
5. Self-development
The self-empowerment we gain from stepping into the unknown is a powerful gift. When we have the confidence to prevail against the harshest elements we are rewarded with uncommon self-belief and lifelong survival skills.
There is one more of these expeditions left in this aging mariner/soul-seeker, and while it's too early to start fixing dates, you can be confident this will manifest over the approaching months and years. Alaska beckons one more time! A planned return to Salt Spring Island will give this project the appropriate symmetry and closure, so for now this project is to be continued…
In the meantime, let's remain adventurous and find new ways to be inspired by the natural world.
