Some great advice and experience to prepare for a great adventure in the future. Looks like some requirements before your even considered.

I would imagine a new kayak would be a must. I would think a dry run would also be in order to familiarize yourself with a new one as well to make sure there are no defects.

How much use and stress has been exerted on your current kayak on your last journey? I think it was considerable? 

Quote from: tedski on Today at 04:12:46 PM

Just my 2 cents.

HI Tedski, thanks for your concern, as usually, you always use so sharp words. I believe no one is perfect, what we can do is to be alert, to be careful, I will be good.

I saw some NCKA quote an interest words: "A ship in a harbor is safe but that is not what ships are built for". I do like this word, this theory not only apply for ship, but also for man

And not all the R2AK applicant will be accepted by organizer, around 50% will be rejected, they accept me should have their own judgement, so please don't be too worry for me, I will be very much appreciated for the useful information/advice which someone give to me, like how to get the weather forecast(MooMoo), what the real situation looks like there (Ex-kayaker)......

Life is short, just do it. Once again, thanks for your care and concern. 

I'm sorry my words come across as sharp.  I intend for them to be blunt.  You have to understand that it comes from a place of pulling dead bodies out of the water and returning them to their loved ones at the dock -- or worse not finding them at all and having to show up to their loved ones empty handed.  In the vast majority of those cases, it was due to a lack of experience and poor judgement.  Your actions leave a mark on everyone involved in your rescue and recovery.

I've said it before and I'll say it again that your sense of adventure is inspiring.  I agree, more than you can realize, on your points about old sayings, too.  However, there's a difference between adventure and recklessness.  I think the R2AK is a great aspiration, I just don't personally feel you're there yet.  I think you should do more trips like your other ones that work up to the mileage of R2AK.  Maybe do some shorter trips that are as remote as R2AK but shorter in distance.  "Training" is a word that comes to mind.

Think of it this way.  Just because I ran a Turkey Trot two years ago and a 5k this year doesn't mean I'm ready to sign up for the Ironman.

I hope that softens the sharpness some.  You're an extremely valuable member of this community and you would leave a very large hole if something were to happen to you.

Im w tedski on this one Mr. X.   There seems undue aggregate risk, and this is coming from a lawyer who just last week rode my bike down to LA solo w no SAG.  Ppl called me crazy to do it at all let alone in three days, so i fully appreciate the adventure lust. 

Id hate for the community to lose u, brother. 

Peace n safety b unto u Mr X

I hate to be a nay sayer and I don't intend for this to be mean or judgemental -- I hope you can take this as constructive, yet firm advice.  Your last two trips showed that you are not experienced enough to do the R2AK trip.  You were literally scared for your life in moderately severe conditions within immediate rescue range.  The R2AK is the opposite of that.  You had very near disaster moments due to poor judgement and lack of seamanship that could result in your death on the R2AK. 

Remember that you may be 1-2 days away from rescue when you press your PLB button, if you can get your frozen hands to work.  When you are malnourished and severely dehydrated, you won't have the sense to push the button because your brain will be starved.  When you're not dressed properly and your crack reappears, your survivability in those waters will be measured in hours, not the days it will take to find you and rescue you.

As evidenced in this thread so far, though, you will not heed this advice and you will do this trip anyway.  So, before all else, make sure your family is whole and update your life insurance policy for current needs and costs so that your poor decisions don't financially burden them. 

Just my 2 cents. 

That will be quite the adventure. Everything I’ve read about the inside passage gave me goosebumps w its brutal currents and unpredictable chaos

Hi Bluekayak,

Thank you for your information, sadly I have to use this repaired Kayak, I will be good