Kokatat Sponsors Antarctic Peninsula Expedition To Increase Global Wa

Arcata, Calif., – Kokatat, the independent paddlewear and accessories company, is sponsoring a land and sea expedition covering a never-before navigated section of the Antarctic Peninsula. Chilean kayakers and explorers Cristian Donoso and Mario Sepúlveda will use Kokatat products including the GORE-TEX Expedition dry suit, the GORE-TEX Deluxe sea skirt, and other Kokatat accessories for their self-supported journey beginning in November.

For eighty days these two explorers will attempt to complete an itinerary of 1600 kilometers, following a maritime and terrestrial route from the coast to the highest summits of the Antarctic Andes.

Donoso and Sepúlveda gained notoriety previously for their self-supported kayak expeditions across Antarctica and Patagonia; the duo have made a name for themselves by paddling waters not previously covered by man.

“The main goal of this expedition will be to alert the public about the effects of global warming on the Antarctic coast,” Donoso said. “In order to achieve our goal we will make a photographic and audiovisual register of landscapes and wildlife of this Antarctic region from the non-disturbing perspective of a kayak expedition.”

The Antarctic Peninsula is warming five times faster than the rate of Earth’s overall warming. Many species with the capacity to live in these cold, icy and harsh conditions, are now losing their only home.

The expedition will begin in Drake’s sea before passing the southern Shetland Islands. The duo will set up basecamp on Portal Point, located on the western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. From there they will climb the Antarctic Andes up to the Forbidden Plateau, where they will leave a deposit with food.

On return to sea they will initiate a voyage in kayak that will take them to the north end of the continent. Passing though Antarctic Channel and Erebus and Terror Gulf, the pair will get to Pitt Point, close to the base of the Victory Glacier; here they will establish their second base camp.

Next they will cross the glacier and its cracked ice fields, raising the kayaks and other equipment up to the Detroit Plateau, where they will begin a land voyage of 700 kilometers. Through the highest summits of the Antarctic Andes and getting supplies from the deposit left in the Forbidden Plateau, the explorers will advance with skis and crampons up to Bay Daisy, dragging the kayaks like pulkas.

In Margarita Bay they will return to the sea, advancing north towards Petermann Island, where their return vessel will meet them, “Arctic Dream,” in the middle of January, 2010.

Visuals and written documentation will be used for the creation of a documentary film, book, articles and a web site that will expose the consequences of global warming on the wildlife, land, and glaciers of the Antarctic Coast. Follow the journey as it happens on www.andesantarticos.com.

About Cristian Donoso & Mario Sepúlveda
Christian Donoso led a previous more extensive kayak expedition to study the effects of global warming in the Antarctic, and the first self-sufficient expedition in kayak that climbed a mountain in this continent. He has tackled near 50 expeditions in Antarctica and Patagonia during the last 16 years, acceding to sectors never before explored. He has also realized several expeditions along the Mountain chain of the Andes, Mata Atlántica and Polynesia. In 2006 he earned the Rolex Awards for Enterprise in the category Exploration and Discovery.

Mario Sepúlveda is a climber of great experience in the Andes. He has been a Chilean champion of ski mountaineering, representing his country on several world tilts. In the last decade he has been employed as national park ranger and guide at two mountain parks, one being the Volcano Ojos del Salado, where he lived for several months at more than 5000 meters of height. Nowadays he is employed as adviser at avalanches and winter risks for APM Srl Argentina.

About Kokatat Watersports Wear
For the past 38 years, Kokatat has built a reputation as a friendly company of paddling enthusiasts, dedicated to creating innovative paddlewear and accessories. Kokatat is a highly trusted brand known for its independence, high level of quality in addition to an extremely well respected, service-driven business model. Kokatat is an incredibly strong brand and is known for authenticity and launching game changing paddling products.