The Big 5 Kayak Challenge started back in late 2008 with a plan to complete 5 unique kayaking challenges raising money and awareness for two charities. Less than 3 years later Richard Harpham will complete his 11th kayak and canoe based expedition and reaches a milestone of 5,000 miles of human power which has also included cycling on London to Marrakech and to Holland at Easter.

Richard is heading back to Alaska and Canada for Expedition No. 11 on 11th June 2011 to join the gap or ‘fill in the missing link’ between their previous 1000 mile expedition along the Inside Passage by kayak and their 700 mile Yukon trip by canoe. This will involve a 220 mile journey starting in sea kayaks in Juneau, the capital of Alaska and paddling up to Skagway.

“This expedition is exciting for so many reasons, reaching 5,000 miles of expeditions is not something I expected when we started this whole thing. The journey has taken us to so many amazing destinations, being close to wildlife such as bears, whales and wolves has been a privilege and the people have been incredible, those who supported us and those we met along the way. For example on this trip we are hooking up with three sets of friends we made on previous expeditions which is fantastic (at the start and finish). To be sharing this expedition with my brother, Matthew, is also pretty special” – Richard Harpham.

The small team of two will then take to the historic Chilkoot Trail crossing the border into Canada on foot. The trail was the treacherous route taken by thousands of prospectors during the Klondike Gold Rush around 1897. Many lost their lives on the trail and on the white water on the rapids of Miles Canyon and Whitehorse. . Climbing to an elevation of about 1200 metres above sea level the team will then make their way to the lakes that join onto the Yukon River. Starting mid-June 2011 they aim to coincide with the end of the break-up. This should ensure that there is still snow in the mountains but that the rivers and lakes will be unfrozen. In the event that the lakes or the river are still frozen then Richard and Matt will end up being forced to trek further rather than use their rafts.

The team will be carrying all their kit including food and rations and the Alpackarafts, the lightest expedition rafts in the world. “We have been working closely with Vango Force 10 and Paramo, two of our sponsors to source their lightest kit and will also be taking a couple of their new lighter prototypes on test. “ Richard commented. The expedition will take an estimated 10 days on the trail and paddling to allow the journey to be documented by video and images. It promises to be an exciting trip linking different modes of travel in a beautiful vast wilderness.

For more information contact Richard Harpham at richard@prokayak.co.uk

Information on the trail here

The team haves filmed and photographed their expeditions for their website www.big5kayakchallenge.com. They continue to raise awareness for the River Access Campaign (allowing access to rivers in England and Wales www.riversaccess.org) and also for the Marine Conservation Society who they are also fundraising for. (www.mcsuk.org) The Big 5 kayak Challenge is undertaking a new campaign to sample and record pollution by brand and by type around the UK by sea kayaking 15 iconic locations and canoeing 5 rivers. The www.seamoresense.org campaign will gather momentum during 2011/2012.

The Big 5 Kayak Challenge is about a small team taking on 5 distinct and unique expeditions, paddling some of the most challenging water on the planet. We are also supporting some great causes.

The Big5 Kayak Challenge 2008/9

- The Isle of Wight, 85 miles, round it and back – COMPLETED SEPT 2008
- The length of Thames, during arctic conditions – 183 miles in 36 hours! COMPLETED FEB 2009
- The English Channel, dodging ferries, 25 miles open sea – COMPLETED APRIL 2009
- The Scilly Isles from Lands End – 40 miles open sea – COMPLETED MAY 2009
- The Inside Passage – Vancouver to Alaska – 935 miles, avoiding orcas and bears – COMPLETED JULY 2009

Big 5 Kayak Challenge 2010

- Round Malta and Gozo – 88 miles COMPLETED APRIL 2010
- Canoeing the Yukon, 700 miles of wilderness COMPLETED JUNE 2010
- John O Groats to the Orkneys 85 miles COMPLETED AUG 2010
- Scotland to Ireland, 125 miles, Unsupported, COMPLETED SEPT 2010
- London to Marrakesh, cycling and kayaking 2,363 miles COMPLETED 6th NOV 2010

Big 5 Kayak Challenge 2011

- Cycling to Swifts rugby tour, Bedford to Dractden – 293 miles COMPLETED APR 2011
- Juneau to Whitehorse by kayak, hiking the Chilkoot Trail and packarafting down the lakes and Yukon River – DUE JUNE 2011

Our Amazing Sponsors

The team are proudly sponsored by companies including: Paramo Clothing, Buff Headwear, Bamboo clothing, Olympus Cameras, Whitby Knives, Alpacka Rafts, Aquabound Paddles, Prijon Sea Kayaks, Mountain Fuels, Vango Force 10, Trangia. Above & Beyond Alaska, Kayak Center and Canadian Affair, Be Well Expedition foods are supporting this trip as well. Typically we work with these companies to provide promotional opportunities, images and video and feedback on technical designs.

About Richard and Matt Harpham

Richard spent 10 years in business at director level running companies and has a successful career safely behind him! After leaving corporate life he became an entrepreneur and launched a new internet start up which he grew for 5 years. The business, an online sports and leisure community, consisted of an online store with over 120 sports brands and an online community with over 5,000 items of sporting content and was described as a ‘Facebook for sport’. He has three different degrees, in Marine Studies (from Plymouth), Environmental Management(from UEA – Postgraduate) and a MBA (from Cranfield University). Richard currently works part time as a consultant in the charity and voluntary sector and managed the Ghana Ski Team to the Winter Olympics, Vancouver 2010. He is a qualified commercial diver and has played rugby all round the world.

Matthew is a keen climber and has bagged his fair share of Munros. He has climbed Kilimanjaro and peaks in South America and New Zealand. He is a charted mechanical engineer with a degree in mechanical engineering and a Masters in Process Engineering from Cranfield University. His career has been spent working in the water industry spending much of this time living in Scotland to be close to the hills. He also enjoys archery and regularly takes part in enactment battles. Matt has also played rugby around the world.