BajaNomad - Kayaker Ends 1,000-mile Paddle to Baja Attempt

Kayaker Ends 1,000-mile Paddle to Baja Attempt

BajaNews - 8-27-2010 at 08:49 PM

http://www.thelog.com/news/logNewsArticle.aspx?x=11250

By: Jack Innis
August 26, 2010

The military has a saying that all plans go out the window once you step into the field of combat.

While long-distance solo kayaker David Kalwick never engaged in combat during his July attempt to paddle from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas, Mother Nature gave him such a tough fight that he was forced to abandon his planned quest.

Kalwick left Shelter Island July 17 in hopes of paddling and fishing his way along the Pacific Ocean side of the 1,000-mile Baja California coast. Even though the added weight of gear for the extended expedition was within the small craft’s capabilities, he soon realized he was not making adequate headway.

“My average speed was 2.2 mph,” the 48-year-old San Diego-based 3-D animator wrote in his online blog. “Typically, it’s 3.5 mph with all my fishing gear. I wasn’t moving as fast as I had hoped.”

Loaded down with 300 pounds of high-definition video equipment, marine electronics, food, water, fishing gear and a hand-operated water maker, the kayak proved extremely cumbersome on land. When Kalwick reached La Bufadora Beach just south of Ensenada, he found he could barely tug the craft up the beach to secure it for the night.

“Each heave-ho would only move the kayak a few inches,” Kalwick said. “Unfortunately, being so heavy, it was extremely difficult for me to move on land.”

That’s when Mother Nature decided to add to his woes. An Ensenada-based kayak guide told Kalwick big waves were forecast for the next five days, and warned that his planned route included beach landings that would be dangerous in high surf. He advised Kalwick to either wait it out or reroute to the Sea of Cortez side. With Baja California Sur’s hurricane season looming, the idea of waiting five days to resume a slow pace seemed foolhardy.

Kalwick decided to end his paddling quest and move to the Sea of Cortez, to concentrate on fishing. It took him more than 15 hours to paddle north to Rosarito Beach, where he arranged for transportation.

Little did he know he’d be stepping out of the frying pan and into the fire.
“Unfortunately, though I knew it would be warmer, I never anticipated the heat that I experienced there,” he wrote of the 100-degree-plus temperatures on the water. “The surf won’t kill me, but the heat certainly will.”

The intrepid kayak angler caught sea bass and grouper and spent one night camped in an ancient volcanic cone on a remote desert island, watching Baja California’s incredible night sky. He returned to the United States Aug. 18.

“I had made a commitment to myself about what I would do if things went wrong or if I found that I was on a path to destruction,” he wrote in his blog. “Being a pilot, I’ve been taught that it’s not one thing that goes wrong, but a culmination of many mistakes that leads to most tragic accidents. Ninety nine percent of the time, its pilot error and can be avoided. I did not want this trip to be a Darwinian experiment.”

The kayaker originally hatched his plan to paddle the Baja coast in 2009 and preparing several months before the journey began. Kalwick hoped he could organize a ground support crew to give him a better chance to succeed. Unfortunately, such support was not in the cards.

“I spoke to several people who have done similar-type trips, and they all advised against going without ground support,” he said. “The reasons are obvious: such as less gear to carry, more supplies available and help with potential medical emergencies.

“I put the word out, but I couldn’t find any friends who were able to commit to the support required for a trip like this,” Kalwick said. “I’m not one to rely on others, so I tried to figure out what I could do without a support team. I knew that certain conditions would have to prevail if I was going to succeed.”

Kalwick was on extended vacation following his adventure and was not available for comment.

BajaBlanca - 8-27-2010 at 08:55 PM

I bet he takes an extended vacation :tumble:

.... it is neat that he tried and sad that he couldn't get enough people to help along the way ....

tattuna - 8-27-2010 at 08:58 PM

I admire his ambition and the fact that he was smart enough to know when to quit. Many of us were living vicariously through his blog and routing him on. Even though you didn't make it, saludos to you Wavester, it was a valiant effort!

woody with a view - 8-28-2010 at 06:10 AM

is that our guy from a month ago, or so?

Udo - 8-28-2010 at 07:11 AM

That's him, Woody.
He was doomed from the start. He was to start in June, and instead started in mid July.
If he would have had a Hobie Adventure Island, he would have gotten all the way to Cabo.
Also, knowing he'd have to carry 300 lbs of gear, I think I would have made some king of beach wheels that one can attach to the bottom of the yak for schlepping up the sand.

oxxo - 8-28-2010 at 07:13 AM

I have done the route from Long Beach to Cabo in a big boat. This guy was the victim of his own poor planning. The best month for attempting this trip, for following wind and current, is November. If he could average 2.5 to 3 knots, 12 hours a day, it would take him 4 to 6 weeks to complete the journey. July is not a good month because of prevailing sea conditions in the Pacific. Second, with 300 pounds of gear, he should have planned for removeable wheels for his kayak. Third, he should have made provisions for sleeping aboard his kayak at night in open water while dragging a drouge to control his drift. Beaches and surf suitable for landing a kayak are few and far between on the Pacific side. Fourth, July is never a good month to plan strenuous outdoor activites on the SOC side.

The guy just didn't have enough experience to make this trip. I'm surprised he didn't make some test runs with his kayak fully loaded, to determine potential speed and maneuverability, before setting off. I think this voyage is possible with the right contingencies. Maybe he'll know better next time and plan accordingly.

oxxo - 8-28-2010 at 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Udo
If he would have had a Hobie Adventure Island, he would have gotten all the way to Cabo.

Udo, you and I posted at exactly the same time and came to the same conclusion. But I would not pick the Adventure Island to do this trip, not enough carrying capacity. I would have picked the inflatable Mirage i14T, slower than the AI but more seaworthy and lighter in weight. I think the AI is a great flat water kayak but has limited utility on the open ocean.

shari - 8-28-2010 at 07:34 AM

David arrived here by truck one evening....super nice guy. I admired his abandon the plan attitude...smart...do what's safe is the best plan.

elgatoloco - 8-28-2010 at 08:11 AM

Nice try. Maybe he will give it another go. I could see doing the SOC with support. We kayak fish on the Pacific side and have had a few 'wet' landings. How far did he make it? Where is his blog?

BajaNomad - 8-28-2010 at 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by elgatoloco
Where is his blog?

http://wavster.blogspot.com/

Pompano - 8-28-2010 at 03:00 PM

The pages of Baja history are filled with kayakers making this trip. He'll try again and get it done the next time.

[Edited on 8-28-2010 by Pompano]

desertcpl - 8-28-2010 at 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fishabductor
It's probably safer than riding a bicycle down baja. Those people are retards. :lol:

ditto fish

elgatoloco - 8-28-2010 at 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaNomad

Quote:

Originally posted by elgatoloco
Where is his blog?

http://wavster.blogspot.com/

Gracias!

mtgoat666 - 8-29-2010 at 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaNews
Loaded down with 300 pounds of high-definition video equipment, marine electronics, food, water, fishing gear and a hand-operated water maker, the kayak proved extremely cumbersome on land. When Kalwick reached La Bufadora Beach just south of Ensenada, he found he could barely tug the craft up the beach to secure it for the night.

“Each heave-ho would only move the kayak a few inches,” Kalwick said. “Unfortunately, being so heavy, it was extremely difficult for me to move on land.”

what fool take 300 lbs of baggage in a seakayak?
he only needed to cary food/water supplies for 5 days maximum -- he would never be further than a day or 2 from a town or fish camp.

Bajahowodd - 8-29-2010 at 03:30 PM

He got his 15 minutes of fame.

BajaDanD - 8-29-2010 at 03:55 PM

Come on this guy had no idea what he was getting into from the vary start. If he did he would have planned it better. The only smart thing he did was quit while he was still alive. He's lucky he didnt loose all his gear on one of his beach landings, while trying to drag 300lbs of gear out of the water and find himself stranded somewhere with no food or water. I know plenty of people have kayaked form SD to Cabo but this guy was more concerned about camera stuff so he could film it. give me a break.
My opinion the guy was just one bad decision short of being an Idiot.
Fail to plan Plan to fail.

gnukid - 8-29-2010 at 04:13 PM

Something to learn from...

Many successful sailing round the world trips now bring very little in the way of electronics and use a home base navigator with a sat phone connection so as to avoid the weight, time and chance of failure.

Less is more for sure in long distance

For this guy definitely a Oct-Nov run would be good, and he would have had better chance of shore crew meet-ups with so many travelers then.

Also the suggestion for sleeping on board seems like a good solution to the occassional lack of safe landing problem, I have done some trips and the landings/launchings are the hardest part for many.

Barry A. - 8-29-2010 at 05:03 PM

Many years ago I provided land support to 3 kayakers that paddled from Rio Hardy to Los Cabos, but they did it in several stints of one month each, and over several years, and always in winter---usually Oct. or Nov. The fresh water was the main thing they needed support with-----most other stuff they just carried along, but certainly not 300 lbs worth. They went like back packers---very light, but they did have video-cams and a sat-phone, as well as handi-talkies. They all used fold-boats/kayaks, very expensive (vinyl over frame type). It can be done, but it is tricky and you have to know what you are doing. One of these friends was the president of the kayak club of the Northwest and definitely knew what he was doing---one other guy was not so experienced, and one very intrepid experienced and beautiful girl (who I was secretly in love with by the time the trip ended). :spingrin:

For the Gulf, summer is a killer!! And any time of the year when the winds are blowing hard you have to have the patience and time to just hunker down on land and wait it out.

I resupplied them about every 200 miles, or so. The stretch from near Los Corrales (below El Barril) to Santa Rosalia was a long one, as is the stretch from Gonzaga to BOLA.., and from Rio Hardy to San Felipe.

Barry

maspacifico - 8-30-2010 at 07:55 AM

I might be hallucinating but when I move to Maui, in 1987, seem to remember a story about a guy that kayaked from San Francisco to Hawaii. The reason it sticks in my mind is that he was aiming for Oahu but ended up in Kahului harbor on Maui. Sitting on a bench with his kayak and some guy starts talking him and pretty much doesn't believe where he came from....which is what I would have thought! Solo unaided trip...now I'll have to google it.

wilderone - 8-30-2010 at 08:07 AM

"... a guy that kayaked from San Francisco to Hawaii."
Yes - Ed Gillette. I took my first kayak lesson from him and was hooked. Been on several Baja trips with him as well. Super great guy, absolute skillful, smart sea kayaker and leader. I learned so much from him.
A solo, unaided trip is certainly within the realm of reality - you just need to know what you're doing - mapping, weather, gear, self-rescue, boat skill, strength.

maspacifico - 8-30-2010 at 09:21 AM

Wilderone...just read the article in LA Times. Sounds like he was pretty lucky even though he knew what he was doing. Makes following the Baja coastline seem almost tame. I used to windsurf off Maui a lot. I can't imagine being in the open ocean on a kayak with 30 knot tradewinds and nothing to hide behind. For 2000 miles.....amazing!

wilderone - 8-30-2010 at 10:17 AM

" ... following the Baja coastline seem almost tame"
I agree. On our 150-mi. trip (Loreto-LaPaz) it would have been tame had we followed the Gulf coast. But we island-hopped, racked up some long days - 22 miles one day, and were put behind schedule by strong winds blowing up 2 ft. troughs. We were on Isla San Francisquito and needed to get back to the coast, as it was too rough to get to Espiritu Santos islands as we had planned. I was pretty scared as we launched out into the white caps, but soon learned that the swell and force was consistent. After you're in it for a bit, you've learned how to handle it, and then you time a landing between surf breaks. We were all "solo" and unaided - essentially had each other for companionship, but needed to rely on our own skills, gear, strength etc. Ed knew the risks and called the shots, listened to the weather radio - but nobody can paddle for you. If you're alone, you better know the risks and how to handle them, but certainly doable.

BajaNomad - 8-30-2010 at 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by wilderone
"... a guy that kayaked from San Francisco to Hawaii."
Yes - Ed Gillette.

Ed Gillet. Monterey to Maui. 64 days. He and wife Katie owned Southwest Kayak in San Diego for some time and led tours in Baja. Presently an English teacher at Eastlake H.S. in Chula Vista.

L.A. Times article:
http://articles.latimes.com/1987-08-28/local/me-2830_1

Gillet's account of the trip:
http://www.quintanna.com/mtnsports/seakayaker/articles_1.htm...

oxxo - 8-30-2010 at 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaNomad

Monterey to Maui. 64 days.

That sounds about right, approx. 32 miles per day. So if he averaged 3mph, that would be a 11 hour day, with 13 hours of rest. Interesting to note that many sailboats and power boats only average of 5 to 6mph on this route. I am planning a Cabo to Oahu trip in my 40 foot boat in the next year and hope to average 6.5 to 7mph, 175 mile days.

Just shows how far off our intrepid Baja kayaker was off in his calculations.

[Edited on 8-31-2010 by oxxo]

wilderone - 8-31-2010 at 07:07 AM

Per-day, and mph calculations can only be a very rough guide. Ed got caught in a more than one storm that blew him off course; he got very little rest over the whole trip. He was planning on the trip taking about 50 days and had food for that amout of time. When he finally reached Hawaii, of course he was ill-kept and bedgraggled looking, and because his legs were so weak from sitting in the kayak for 2 months, he staggered into a convenience store for food and drink. They thought he was a drunken bum - he had an armful of candy bars, milk, etc. - dumped them on the counter and pulled out a wad of cash.

"Cabo to Oahu trip in my 40 foot boat in the next year and hope to average 6.5 to 7mph, 175 mile days." Good luck.

oxxo - 8-31-2010 at 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by wilderone
He was planning on the trip taking about 50 days and had food for that amout of time.

That would mean he expected to average 44 miles a day, paddling a kayak, for 50 days. I think that is unrealistic and he was lucky to survive the voyage as well as he did. There is no way he should have expected to average 4mph over the ground (11 hour days) for 50 days. I think he did very well to complete the voyage in 64 days.

I would think that rather than let his legs atrophy over 64 days, he would have gotten out of the kayak and swim, pulling the kayak for maybe an hour a day. He was obviously in great physical condition.

BajaNomad - 8-31-2010 at 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by oxxo

Quote:

Originally posted by wilderone
He was planning on the trip taking about 50 days and had food for that amout of time.

Wilderone's had personal contact with Ed and may know the details better through first-hand conversations. According to the articles I linked to, it mentions he planned for the trip to take 40 days, and packed enough food for 60 days. He went the last 4 days without food. At least that's what's been written.

AndyP - 9-2-2010 at 11:32 PM

Gillet used a kite when he had good winds, and managed some 80 mile days.

http://www.canoekayak.com/features/stories/gillet/

I remember reading an article years ago where he wrote that it was the unusually calm trade winds that really put him behind schedule. Honestly I think questioning the decisions (maybe other than the decision to the trip at all!) of a kayaker of his skill and experience is a bit like giving Michael Jordan advice on his dribbling.

oxxo - 9-3-2010 at 05:07 AM

So, for one third of the trip he used a kite to propel himself? That is a lttle different than paddling the whole way. People have made the West Coast/Hawaii trip in a sailboat smaller than his kayak. I have a woman friend who went solo from Seattle to New Zealand in a sailboat not much larger than his kayak. She had to scull on days when there was no wind. Ths was in the 1980's also. Years ago, one guy rowed all the way across the Atlantic in an 8 foot boat.

Our intrepid Baja kayaker could have learned a few things from this guy. A parafoil kite would certainly make this trip more feasibile. I think it is possible to paddle all the way from San Diego to Cabo without pulling in at night or paddling all the way from Monterey to Hawaii without a sail. It just takes better planning and a lot of luck.