Members of The Arctic Cowboys met at the New World Deli in Austin to present tales from their expedition. West Hansen with his long-time paddling partner, Jeff Wueste along with Mark Agnew and Eileen Visser completed an 83-day, 1600-mile kayak expedition through the Northwest Passage in the Canadian Arctic in 2023. This was the first successful human-powered transit of the passage in a single season. They were supported by Barbara Edington and Tom McGuire along with West’s wife Lizet Alaniz and Jeffs’s wife Sheila Reiter. Polar bears were a constant threat throughout the journey and they had some close calls, including one bear that was pawing at their tent. The team was prepared with tandem kayaks and the ability to be self-contained for long stretches. By following the path of earlier successful motorized and sailing vessels, they were able to navigate the ice-free passage at the right time with the right team.
