A new website is in the air!

Recently I have been building a (new) website that should gradually replace this blog. So from now all the updates, reports, pictures and video's will be posted at:

www.outdoorempathy.com

From Zwartsluis to Wolvega by kayak

In the weekend of 14 en 15 May I have made a kayak trip of one hundred kilometers, from Zwartsluis in the province of Overijssel, to Wolvega in Friesland. See the video at:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcpKdHu7zHQ

From Leiden to Amsterdam by kayak

In the weekend of 15 to 17 april I made a kayak tour from Wijde Aa (near the city of Leiden) to Amsterdam. See the video at


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCzlS1r5_mQ

Snowboarding movie St. Anton

Last sunday evening we (Simme and I) arrived from a snowboarding weekend to Austria. Tobias, Jasper and Jeroen had been leaving earlier that day. See the video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=555bSkADrM4&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

Just finished the YK3!

Last weekend I went into the dunes near Haarlem to try out my new home made tent, the YK3. Some details still need attention, but all in all I am quite satisfied with the result. The tent can be used for two persons and weighs 1400 grams. For more pictures see the 'home made gear' section. 

Mountainbike video

You will find a new HD video at youtube, shot during a mountainbike trip near Schoorl, the Netherlands. I used to live there about 15 years ago. A few years later the 'mountainbike route' was official but I never tried it. So this is the first time, although I was familiar with many parts of the route.
Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfKEQoRISCA
part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcbPga_-38E

Kitesurfing at the Dutch coast

I just youtubed some fresh footage of a downwind kitesurfing trip from Zandvoort to Bloemendaal! Ok ok, not so radical for big swell minded surfers, but I smell great opportunities...
Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWGclZN0LHE
Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZO4nRiYsdo

Captured on television!

Two weekends ago, a television crew from the national news filmed me and my friends kitesurfing at Wijk aan Zee. Check 
http://www.hartvannederland.nl/nederland/noord-holland/2011/windkracht-8-laat-je-vliegen/

dare-devil by kayak

A South African fellow sended me a link of a record-high descent by kayak, from Palouse falls, Washington. The video displays some scary moments, so be aware!

 http://www.wimp.com/highestwaterfall/

Condolences to Hendrik Coetzee

I read an article in The Economist, concerning a South African explorer and writer, Hendrik Coetzee. He has recently died while making a trip by kayak in Central Africa. See the full article at

http://www.economist.com/realarticleid.cfm?redirect_id=17797148

The video is online!

I have made a video of the Siberian adventure! If you are interested, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Sm6zV7fSAs and see for yourself!

Into the wild .. and a safe return!

Hi there! I just arrived from a fan - tas - tic trip into the Siberian wilderness. Many thanks to Simme, mom, Egbert and Bas for maintaining the website. The lesser frequency of updates during time was caused by less sunshine to recharge the sattphone, heading into autumn. For an impression of the trip, click on 'Siberia 2010' to the right. More material will be added due time, so please do not hesitate to check this blog every now and then!

8th Update Location: 18-9-2010

Five days ago he traveled by train to Taksimo.
On the train he met an elderly lady who gave him a bed in her home in Taksimo offered. After a relaxing night (I assume) he did some shopping in town.
I assume that food to the gram exactly measured.
Each gram count is one too many!


Canoeing on the river Muya, about 30 km covered per day.
In the Paramok rapids of the river he had to leave the river.
From there he could follow a path through to the river Vitim




Grotere kaart weergeven

7th update (11 sept)

So, I gather from Lionne (his aunt) that mr siberia is doing well. Apparently he has reclaimed his outdoor rhythm and has caught 6 rainbow trouts and was even presented some potatoes and sweets by a few Russians he met recently. I never knew they make wodka out of potatoes. I dont know about you, but by now I cannot image how the world looks out there. Without any pictures its just hard to picture.

As you see on the charts below he has peddled downriver. This was not as easy going as we would think but a lot of miles have been covered. When you read his plans (http://outdoorempathy.blogspot.com/p/siberia-2010.html) his original trip always involved the town Taksimo. So that is where Yuri is heading for now. Either by train or by catching a ride with someone: he (and fate) will just think of something won't they. I have pointed out the town of Taksimo on the map below, (taksimo being point a, his current location point b). From Taksimo he can embark the rivers Muya and the Vitim (which ends in the mighty River Lena).

Grotere kaart weergeven

where the rivers flow

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZ1fmfCclCha-gMq1lO4acSkFLRtEH4J22uN1TXoND8xyHETkO4mduSDlybrn8PAUsGXbb9dZgRKmC5ksoMLtpI9ElPE3Z31aeLJEchtZELzScl15adZ3T3zHFq4-WvGgLwRhiTBNtIY/s1600/Afbeelding+rivieren+Siberie.png

6th update

He is walking around for approximately 7 to 10 days (depends on the fish biting).

So mr Klaver is now transmitting more and more happy vibes through the siberian ether. He called me friday during a meeting: I managed to scribble down some coordinates and then sneak out to learn that walking around in the wilderness is currently tough and that, feeling ever fitter, he is looking forward to start trekking in the higher mountains. And because higher altitudes mean less (or more organised) trees, he expects to be able to cover larger distances any day now. 12 kilometres is the current max. If you ever had the privilege of walking with yuri you'll know that is not a lot. He said that he found a good 'wild trail' and caught and cooked two nice trouts (or salmons, i dunno). No shortage of food and water mean carefree hiking of course.

ok: some simple facts for the quick readers:

> he mended his kayak

> the waterlevel is higher than he expected

> he bought a pistol to scare away the occasional bear.

In the meantime in Holland: now yuri is gone exploring, I feel like we are all taking over some of Klaver's typical doings. For example: during a very busy festival I found a tiny frog in the grass that I quickly caught and released somewhere safe. I know Yuri would have spotted it earlier, but would have done the same. Later that week I experienced the best day of the year in kitesurfing. Kitespot IJmuiden received 3 metres of barreling waves with epic winds. Using my favorite stormkite (6 m) I turned on top of one of the biggest waves of the day, faced a big drop, thinking that Yuri would have done the same.

2 all: do read the comments: Rina, yuri's mum, has written down a good story! And if you have something to tell: pleae use the comments as well.

Grotere kaart weergeven

5th update (30 aug)

ok, thnx guys for all the recent comments and thumbs up for Klaver sharing a massive amount of priceless information. It seems to me that Yuri, being so far away, has never before in his life communicated so thorough to so many people about his whereabouts ;-o Just kidding of course! (although he can be far away sometimes).

His satellite phone is working properly. Although some of us have a hard time understanding him due to delay on the line or long intervals of silence. Somehow trees block the connection he claims. Wonder how this will be in the mountains.

Back to business: the voyage through the lonely unknown turns out to be full of strange encounters. With bears (they name the region Sibearia for all the obvious reasons..), and drunken Russians. Apparently he has been invited for a nice Vodka session. Classic!

Walking about is still very uncomfortable due to the heat. Canoeing is better. In the comments Donna says that he has a whole/tear in his canoe. I did not get this message from other sources so I do at the moment not know if this is true. I can also imagine that he has mended his vessel by now and is well on his way to the mountains. The water has levelled out to more comforting proportions I hear so no worries there. Also maybe nice to know that he is walking around with an alarm pistol to scare away the odd inquisitive bear. Yuri must be smelling quite attractive by now from a female bear point of view.

Tiny update: judging from his latest coordinates he is now in the mountains. and some more Good News: I have figured out a way to link to his latest position via

Google Maps.

very well then this is the final proof of him having mended his rivercraft: these coordinates prove to be further down the river than the coordinates given in the comments below.

Keep commenting guys and girls!

Looks like he is heading towards a fork in the river.

4th update (25 august)

Just had a long conversation with the expedition leader (easy when you're travelling solo ;). He has walked downriver, but this proved very uncomfortable due to high temperatures. The waterlevel of the river turns out to be lower downriver so the canoe is still the best way to travel. He is now heading for the mountains. See google maps for more info on his progress.

His coordinates are: 56.0007 , 111.73295. Fill these in in Google Maps.

3rd update (22 augustus)

Another small update: it is confirmed that Yuri will wait untill the waterlevel has dropped. More news will follow soon we hope!

2nd update (22 augustus)

Just received an update from Yuri. I missed his call but he left a message on my voicemail service. The line was very bad and was cracking up all the time. I could make out three sentences. I have the impression that he had travelled down the river but encountered the first gravel banks so to speak. I think that means rapids. ""the water has risen by two meters since I have been here", Yuri said.

So that basically means that he is stuck. I could not make out the rest of his story because of the bad connection, but I can imagine that his original route down the river is not accessible. I hope that he can walk back and can think of a good alternative for the remainder of his trip.

If anyone has more info, leave a comment!

1st Update (16 augustus)

Yuri has arrived in siberia, russia. His planeflight stopped without any delay in Moscow (considering the forest fires) and is now making his way to the first part of his expedition. He phoned to Rina with his satellite phone to say that he is a ok. Here below are his exact coordinates

Hi there. To let you what I am up to in Siberia, I will post messages on a regular basis, as well as my GPS coordinates. You will be able to pinpoint my exact location with the help of Google maps. Just copy and paste the numbers, zoom in and there you go!

For photographs and full coverage you'll have to wait until October. Can't help it. See ya!

Wave - kitesurfing at Witsands, South Africa, Februari 2009

Crabs having an argument in the river Devinska, Bulgaria.

Cheeky salamander after a rainy morning in the Devinska gorge.

Peddling downstream on the river Valldajakka which has its source at the Norwegian border.

A walk along the river Spietjaujakka. To the right you see the Akka mountain and the Niak mountain far away.

Descending the Akka mountain. I didn't manage to reach the Stortoppen peak because I started the climb rather late in the evening.

Walking a narrow path along the Vercours plateau, France.