solo sea kayaking Loch Torridon
Quote from “Skye and North West Highlands Sea Kayaking” by Doug Cooper:
“Shieldaig Island provides a home for much wildlife, including herons that provide the symbol for the village. Most noticeable are the resident sea eagles that are found on the west side of the islands, occupying a former herons’ nest. These huge birds with their wingspan of up to 2.5m are an incredible sight.”
A large portion of this post is for owners of Trak or other folding kayak and those like me who aren’t clever enough to drive, not wealthy enough to own a car or don’t want to use personal vehicle to get to the water. And for anyone else interested.
Is the Trak 2.0 what I thought it would be?
For me, the idea of a folding kayak means I can plan a trip in the middle of nowhere at a short notice, I don’t want to depend on facilities like boat hiring services, I don’t have the space to store a full sized rigid kayak and I don’t drive so I wouldn't have the means of getting it from home to the water. Although I wouldn't mind, I don’t see myself landing in the middle of Alaska via small float plane, instead I use the train or bus or taxi most of the time all three with every trip.
When I bought this kayak in 2019 I had in plan to go out being self sufficient. Since then, life kept me busy but now I’m actually testing it. Few months ago I’ve done the first trip, solo sea kayaking Loch Bracadale (read the blog post here) and it went well. Now I’m going full steam ahead, solo kayaking on a sea loch and wild camp along the way. Is it going to live up to my imagined expectations?
All of the below I managed to fit on me, on the decks and in the kayak.
Turns out the Trak 2.0 Kayak can carry proper winter camping gear, if you’re planning on going with a bivy or hammock or a lighter tent with a smaller sleeping bag you’re laughing. Now I know what to take on the next trip.
the paddling kit and most of the other gear is very much specific to where on the planet you're paddling, weather conditions, your skills etc:
Kokatat Odyssey drysuit
Kokatat Storm cag
Kokatat Poseidon PFD
Kokatat Tributary Hydration System
Kajak Sport Inuksuk Greenland Paddle
Celtic Classic Multi Paddle 650 paddle
Palm spraydeck
Kokatat Outercore Habanero liner
Kokatat Surfskin cap
Kokatat Surfskin balaclava
Reed Chillcheater poggies
Palm gloves
Magic Marine boots
Rescueme EDF1
Rescueme PLB1
Whetman Equipment line
Palm bilge pump
Palm paddle float
camping / sleeping gear:
Hilleberg Soulo tent
Thermarest Neoair Xthern sleeping pad
Rab Neutrino 800 sleeping bag
Rab silk sleeping bag liner
cooking gear:
MSR Windburner stove
MSR fire steel
MSR 4L Dromedary water bag
Victorynox knife
Primus long spoon
clothing and personal hygiene:
as much wool in as many layers as you need
as much soap and as many towels as you need
photo / video gear:
Canon EOS R
Canon RF 15-35mm f2.8L
Canon RF 70-200mm f2.8L
Billingham Hadley Digital
Canon lens pouch
4no LP-E6 batteries
X-Rite Colourchecker
GoPro HERO6 Black
GoPro HERO5 Black
4no GoPro batteries
Aquapac Itunes
Lectrosonics PDR
M152/5P
Manfrotto Befree Carbon
Canon rain cover
don’t forget the memory cards, a battery pack and charging leads
The bags.
On this trip I used the 14L Kayak Deck Bag and the two 40L Expedition Gear Floatation Bags from Trak themselves and the Ortlieb Travel Zip Waterproof Duffel, 50L I believe it is. The only thing I needed to be mindful of was to push the stern Trak bag as far as I could so the Ortlieb and the roller bag would fit behind the seat. I filled up the Ortlieb bag only to carry on trains, buses and taxis, inside the kayak it goes less than half full. I’m not sure if the backpack they sell fits with the roller bag although looking at the quality of the tapered bags I wouldn’t throw the money on their pack. I wish Watershed would do same sort of size float bags. I’ve been abusing their gear a good few trips whereas with the Trak bags I’ve done a few self rescues and two trips and they already look like I have to lift them on my shoulder instead of dragging them on landings.
This kit list might seem overkill for some but is what makes me comfortable solo sea kayaking and most of it is valid regardless of the kayak used. I feel good when someone else is worried for me and not because I’m evil but I worry less hearing what others consider dangerous. Weather conditions, places I go to or condition of the gear can be checked and I can act on it but did I pack everything? What’s missing? That’s my worry.
Why Loch Torridon?
There are plenty books, guides, blogs, videos talking about Loch Torridon doing a way better job than I could ever do, I can only talk briefly about my own experience in the area which I've seen and cycle up and over the surrounding landscape before and it really is as amazing as described everywhere. Usually on a kayaking trip I'm looking for wildlife, scenery and a wild camping spot to top the previous and on Loch Torridon I've seen the sea otter and white tail eagle even if for only few seconds, the seals were always around following me and the camping spot was the most scenic I’ve ever pitched my tent on.
Lessons learned.
A few “do it again” and “don’t you ever think of doing it again” lessons for me to take on board for future trips.
1. Keep the Canon inside the deck bag, on hand for the landing shots. If you’re more skilled than me you can use it out on the water as well. Definitely not me, I even dropped a GoPro in the sea before. Side note, Canon EOS R with either RF 15-35mm f2.8 or RF 70-200mm f2.8L fit in the Billingham Hadley Digital bag and all fit inside the Trak deck bag.
2. Don’t land on a protected island no matter how much you want to shoot the white tail eagle, three seconds of GoPro footage is good enough. Practice using the Canon on the water without dropping it.
3. If you carry two cameras take only one tripod. Get yourself a whatever action camera you prefer adapter to plate for whatever tripod you’re using. Very important is to wash the salt water off the tripod if you want to use it again.
4. Pin all of the guide lines on your tent and open the vent window if you don’t want to wake up in a wet sleeping bag from the condensation and floppy tent.
5. Learned again to expose to protect my highlights. Half screen black on the back of the camera means well exposed highlights.
6. Move the mic away from noisy drysuit. The morning launch shot would've been perfect with cleaner sound. I need to find a better place for the lav mic.
Excuses out of the way, please watch the video.
My relationship with Trak 2.0 Kayak is still complicated but I do tend to love it more than hate it.
