After months of intense training, a Northumberland veteran is all set and ready to embark on a gruelling 500km solo paddle along the Hess River in the Northern Yukon, Canada.
Veteran Dan Smith, from Belford, will set off on his epic adventure next week with the prospect of navigating through the alpine wilderness across rapids with only remote back up for support.
If he succeeds, he’ll be the first person from the UK to achieve such a challenge but, as he sets off to fly out to Canada on Friday 11 July, he is filled with hope and anticipation.
The Hess is considered to be the most remote and challenging canoe-able whitewater rivers in Yukon and he will be faced with relentless wilderness, armed to fend for himself with only his canoe, bear spray, a shot gun to protect himself from apex predators and enough food and supplies to last him for the two-week trek.
Dan, an ambassador for homeless veterans’ charity Launchpad, is no stranger to setting himself personal challenges. In 2018 to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War, he kayaked solo the length of Britain. He successfully completed the 998-mile ‘Paddle of Britain’ challenge, setting off from the top of Scotland and paddled via inland waterways to the south coast of England in just 53 days, raising a staggering £27,000.
For this year’s challenge, he is raising awareness and £30,000, which will be split between two charities, Launchpad and Team Forces.
Commenting on his challenge, Dan said:
“All the hard work is done now. It’s been challenging because I needed to train on rapids that would replicate what I’ll be faced with along the Hess River so most of my training has been up in Scotland, but I’ve managed.
“This challenge has always been a dream of mine and I can’t wait to get going. I’m physically and mentally prepared for what lies ahead and I know it’s going to be tough but, I’m ready. As a veteran, I wanted to give back to charities that are close to my heart and support those who are less fortunate and have struggled with the transition from the military to civilian life. When times get tough, which I’m sure they will, I’ll keep reminding myself of my purpose and why I’m actually doing this.”
When Dan arrives in Canada, he’ll be flown into Keele Lake deep in Yukon territory and at that point, he’ll have to fend on his own for two weeks. He’ll be documenting his journey with cameras.
He continued:
“I’ve always wanted to explore as a kid and I want to try and inspire others and the next generation to be outdoors and go on an adventure – it can be life changing. I hope this challenge demonstrates that anything is possible if you put your mind to it.”
Jill Murray, Chief Executive of Launchpad, said:
“Dan is about to embark on an incredible journey and I wish him a safe and successful trip. I’d like to thank him for raising awareness and funds for Launchpad, which will be reinvested into frontline services to enable us to continue to support our residents.
“For most residents who move into one of our houses and have been living on the streets or sofa surfing, they embark on their own individual journey’s and are faced with anticipation but, when they put their minds to it, they can get through it and move on to live independently in their own homes. I’m sure Dan will approach this challenge with a positive mindset and successfully complete what lies ahead.”
Launchpad is a homeless veterans charity providing vital accommodation and targeted support to UK Armed Forces’ veterans experiencing homelessness and unemployment.
The charity has three houses in the North of England, in Newcastle, Durham and Liverpool providing accommodation for up to 98 veterans who come from all over the UK.
