Dermot higgins yukon

A year-old Irish man has completed an epic 3, km canoe trip along dermot higgins yukon Yukon River in North America, which took him a whopping 56 days. Dermot Higgins began his grueling 3, km journey in Whitehorse, in Northern Canada, at the beginning of July and finished at the Bering Sea, in Alaska. Higgins, who completed his epic voyage at the end of August, dermot higgins yukon, survived encounters with bears, cracked ribs, and bad weather to complete the journey. He told CBC News that he thought it was "all over" when he got stuck in the middle of the river during a "squally storm".

Dermot Higgins dips his paddle into the Pacific in Vancouver last month, after his solo canoe trip down the Yukon River this past summer. It is hard to imagine someone less likely to paddle the length of the Yukon River than Dermot Higgins. Late last summer, the husky Irishman took up the lonely, herculean voyage on a lark. Every summer, a handful of adventurers set out to conquer the mighty Yukon. Most of those who attempt it fail to reach the Bering Sea, done in by frigid waters, dangerous wildlife, hideous weather and vast, unforgiving wilderness.

Dermot higgins yukon

He departed on Aug. Higgins averaged about 60 miles a day. He said it took him exactly 56 days, having paddled for 35 of them. The down days were spent resting and getting to know numerous special Alaskans. That was very, very special. Along the way, Higgins had a close call with a bear, capsized his canoe, and battled loneliness and sleepless nights. He had a purpose of raising awareness for mental health after his own battle with depression and attempting suicide. Near the end of his trip, he formed a special bond with one family living in the small town of Marshall. They took him in and he stayed for a week and learned about a tragedy they had just experienced for themselves. Her body was eventually found miles down river and the funeral had just taken place a few days before he arrived. At the end of the day, the family wants justice for Kimberly.

In their camaraderie, he found strength enough to carry on.

A close call with a black bear wasn't enough to deter a year-old Irish paddler from completing a 3,kilometre trip on the Yukon River from Whitehorse to the Bering Sea. Turns out, the bear incident — in which Dermot Higgins passed out from pepper spraying himself while trying to fend off the animal — was just one of many adventures on the day canoe trip. Higgins said he feels proud to have completed the trip through the Yukon and Alaska, adding there were some hairy situations. In addition to sometimes paddling naked in the wilderness, Higgins said he cracked some ribs, and encountered bad weather, which capsized his boat. Higgins said he was able to drag the half-submerged boat in the current and eventually made it to shore after an hour.

Dermot Higgins dips his paddle into the Pacific in Vancouver last month, after his solo canoe trip down the Yukon River this past summer. It is hard to imagine someone less likely to paddle the length of the Yukon River than Dermot Higgins. Late last summer, the husky Irishman took up the lonely, herculean voyage on a lark. Every summer, a handful of adventurers set out to conquer the mighty Yukon. Most of those who attempt it fail to reach the Bering Sea, done in by frigid waters, dangerous wildlife, hideous weather and vast, unforgiving wilderness. The retired schoolteacher from the coastal town of Skerries, near Dublin, committed to the trip earlier this year, in the wee hours of St. A Canadian sharing his table gave him the idea. Higgins arrived in Whitehorse in late June, having spent the three months following St. James, perhaps taking pity on him, tossed in some food barrels, a lifejacket, spare paddles, a camp stove, a machete, a fishing rod and some lures. He was alone: The three friends who had pledged to journey with him had all dropped out.

Dermot higgins yukon

The Irishman became maybe the least likely paddler on record to traverse the Yukon River from its headwaters near Whitehorse, Canada to the Bering Sea. The journey took him 56 days, and he finished on Aug. Higgins was in as diminished physical condition as he said he was. A ccording to The Globe and Mail , he really did agree to the trip in a bar. Celebrating this past St. Several potential partners rallied around Higgins — but all dropped out before July 1, his launch date. Completing the Yukon River is challenging, even for hardened paddlers.

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A stiff drink that evening at a bar in town began to chip away at his resolve to fly home. However, The Globe typically limits commenting to a window of 18 hours. Dermont Higgins photographed with his canoe in August A ccording to The Globe and Mail , he really did agree to the trip in a bar. I remember hearing it and seeing the cloud of orange spray hitting the bear just as it hit me too," Higgins told CBS News. Higgins almost threw in the towel then and there. Customs phone to alert authorities of their arrival. The Irishman became maybe the least likely paddler on record to traverse the Yukon River from its headwaters near Whitehorse, Canada to the Bering Sea. I was choking and I couldn't see, and I started vomiting. Sign up to IrishCentral's newsletter to stay up-to-date with everything Irish! It is hard to imagine someone less likely to paddle the length of the Yukon River than Dermot Higgins. Higgins averaged about 60 miles a day.

A year-old Irish man has completed an epic 3, km canoe trip along the Yukon River in North America, which took him a whopping 56 days.

Stay safe Sir. Zeam - News Streams. Closing comments 18 hours after initial publication helps to ensure effective moderation so that conversations remain civil and on-topic. Somewhere deep within him there remained a reserve of grit, and good humour, vast enough to see him off. Athlete Of The Week. For the last three hours of his journey, he had to bail frantically every 10 minutes just to stay afloat. The Irishman became maybe the least likely paddler on record to traverse the Yukon River from its headwaters near Whitehorse, Canada to the Bering Sea. Connect With Us. Add your comments or reply via Twitter whitehorsestar In order to encourage thoughtful and responsible discussion, website comments will not be visible until a moderator approves them. On really windy days, he hand-railed the bank, pulling himself along using plants and trees. December 30, Jerry Kobalenko.