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SKIING THE ANTARCTIC PENINSULA PART 1
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GETTING INTO WINTER CLIMBING SHAPE WITH FA GUIDE CHAD PEELE
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CARSTENSZ PYRAMID THE HEROES PROJECT EXPEDITION IN THREE ACTS
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KYLE MILLER ON FIRST FILM PREMIERE AND TRANSITIONING FROM SKI BUM TO PRO ATHLETE
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BE FIRST RECIPIENT JON TURK RECAPS HIS EPIC, FIRST CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF ELLESMERE ISLAND
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TAHOE GUIDE MEETING DAY 2 THE GUIDE BUILT PROCESS
Be First recipient Norm Hann traveled 385 kilometers by stand up paddleboard along the coastal waters of Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest to help bring awareness to the consequences a proposed oil pipeline and tanker traffic could have on its native people and wildlife.
By Norm Hann
A voyage of this magnitude had never been attempted on a stand up paddleboard in Canada before. The Great Bear Rainforest stretches from Vancouver Island north to southeast Alaska. It is one of the largest remaining tracts of unspoiled temperate rainforest in the world and is one of the most prolific areas for marine and terrestrial wildlife anywhere in the world. It is also the traditional home of coastal First Nations who have used the bounty of the ocean and forest to sustain themselves for millennia.
The purpose of my expedition, which I called “Standup4GreatBear,” was to bring attention to the traditional food harvesting areas of the First Nations, the amazing ecosystem of the Great Bear Rainforest and the proposed development that could threaten them. The journey became much more than that.
The Standup4GreatBear expedition lasted 11 days. Our team’s shortest day was six hours and our longest day was 12 hours. The weather gave us a gift and allowed me to complete my itinerary and accomplish my goals. I paddled my board 10 days and averaged 35-40 kilometers a day. We had one rest day that we spent with whale researchers who expressed their thoughts about oil tankers and shared how unique and special these waters are for whales. They called the waters along proposed the tanker route a “whale sanctuary.”
People along the way asked me if the paddling was hard or if there were any challenges. My answer was always the same. “When you are paddling for, and representing, the people and wildlife of our amazing coastline, you feel like the most powerful person in the world, challenges seem small.” The expedition was not a race or a feat of endurance; it was a special opportunity we had to hear the song of the coast and of the people. It’s a very powerful song and one that we all can be part of: We say no to oil tankers on our coast, and our answer will not change.
The First Nations from each territory provided boat support for our expedition. They provided guidance and local knowledge. They were proud to show us precious food harvesting areas and sacred and spiritual cultural sites. All First Nation communities welcomed us with open and loving arms while children danced and community members sang to greet us. They were celebrating who they were and what they felt about their coastline. They saw what was going on in the Gulf of Mexico and expressed how sad they were but also reaffirmed that something like this could never be allowed to happen here. Looking into their eyes and hearing their songs I knew what their lands and foods meant to them. I felt proud and honored to represent the voices of the coast.
Our story was picked up by media including CBC Radio, CBC National News, Global TV and numerous news publications, and our story was heard.
My deepest thanks go to team members Brian and Shannon, to the four First Nations communities, and to the people of the coast and everyone who supported me. The expedition ended on May 18, 2010, but my Standup4GreatBear journey is just beginning.
First Ascent’s Be First program is an opportunity to pursue your passion for adventure, to go for your summit—whatever that might be—and get sponsored to do it. To learn more or apply, click here.
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Comments 
Congratulations on your successful completion of the Standup4Bear Expedition. What a great cause in light of all the oils spills currently threatening the livelihood of so many.
Sounds like a sweet trip! I love SUP’s. I would really enjoy to hear the in depth story and see more pics! Try using http://www.sharethisadventure.com to share the whole trip.