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End of 2023 Thoughts

Posted on by Art "Karts" Huseonica

As I look forward to 2024, I am reminded of my major disappointment in not completing my Yukon 2020 expedition to paddle the length of the Yukon River in 2023. Stopping short 100 miles/160km from the Bering Sea hit me hard mentally because I always finish what I start. My U.S. Coast Guard contact reminded me that, “It’s better to return home defeated than in a body bag.”

Paddling on the Yukon River in Alaska in June 2023.

I have no immediate plans to return to the Yukon River in 2024 due to finances. I’m still paying off this year’s expedition costs. Ugh. I’ve certainly been invited to participate in numerous adventures and expeditions in 2024, but the monies simply aren’t there. I’ll still do regional hikes and mini-adventures solo and with a few select friends.

I’m staying very busy with training hikes, volunteering on various projects, and catching up on my reading. Subjects include adventures, biographies, and self-help books from eclectic authors. Refocusing on staying in touch with friends and family is helping to keep my mind off the Yukon. Of course, there is pressure from a lot of folks for me to write my memoirs. We’ll see.

Yukon River expedition Website: http://www.yukon2020.com

I will always greatly appreciate your support and encouragement. Be well my friends.

Disappointment for Karts… Again

Posted on by Art "Karts" Huseonica

(August 27, 2023; Sun City, AZ, USA) The Whitehorse Star newspaper published a comprehensive article about Kart’s failure to reach the Bering Sea and set a record. You can read the article for free here. Journalist Morris Prokop has followed Karts’ adventure on the Yukon River for two years after his attempt last year was thwarted by 100-year flood event.

Yukon River Expediton 2020 – Melinda Land

Posted on by Art "Karts" Huseonica

(March 21, 2023) Art “Karts” Huseonica is excited to announce that Melinda Land has joined the Yukon 2020™ team paddling from Carmacks to Dawson City, Yukon Territory, Canada. You can read all about Melinda for free without a subscription here.

Yukon River Expedition Update – Feb 2023

Posted on by Art "Karts" Huseonica

(February 9, 2023; Sun City, Arizona, USA) Art “Karts” Huseonica is excited that his reboot of Yukon 2020 is fast approaching. He plans to put-in on May 28th at Carmacks, Yukon Territory, Canada where he pulled out on June 21, 2022. He’ll be joined by guest paddlers, including Bruce Jobin and Melinda Land. Karts will have more about his special guest paddlers in the coming months leading up to the expedition.

Karts on the shore of Lake Lebarge with his canoe on shore in the background. Wearing a lime shirt with a blud neck gaiter.

Before he puts in, Karts will publish a GPS link so that you can follow his track and progress from Carmacks out to the Bering Sea. This track is part of the trilogy of proof required verify his adventure. Other required items of proof include documenting all eye witnesses and location selfies and videos.

Recently, Karts announced that he is going to dedicate his Yukon River expedition to his brother Joe Huseonica. On Christmas morning, the Huseonica family lost Joe. He was born in Lucerne Mines, Pennsylvania, USA in 1944 and has always provided enouragement and support for Karts.

Photo of Joe Hueoncia in a yellow golf shirt overlooking a metropolitian area.

Karts believes that Joe is going to be on the river with him, guiding and protecting him with every paddle stroke. The expedition canoe will have decals remembering Joe. In addition, all relevant YouTube videos and the expedition’s documentary film will be dedicated to him.

Fundraising continues as the reboot costs and inflation continue to ravage his original budget. Please visit: https://www.yukon2020.com/support

Death Valley Adventure

Posted on by Art "Karts" Huseonica

(December 31, 2022, Sun City, AZ, USA) Art “Karts” Huseonica attempted to climb Telescope Peak in Death Valley National Park in early December. But the tallest peak in the park wasn’t having it. Road closures from two major storms in late summer destroyed roads that were vital to accomplishing the feat. West Side Road remained closed past its opening date and upon his arrival, Karts learned that the road up to Mahogany Flats was being closed within the hour. Here’s a narrated slide show of the adventure on YouTube.

No Flipping on FlipSockz

Posted on by Art "Karts" Huseonica

(Sun City, AZ, USA / October 22, 2022) Art “Karts” Huseonica, 71, is excited to announce a new relationship with FlipSockz. A locally-owned business in Massachusetts, USA, FlipSockz caught Karts’ attention because he’s always looking for the ultimate sock for over his liner socks. Of special note, is the built-in gaiter on the FlipSockz. See photos.

Custom designed to include a 62% Merino Wool comfort blend, Flipsockz eliminates dirt, grit, and debris from getting stuck in Karts’ boots. “I’m very pleased with the results of extensive testing in various environments I did with this new product, including numerous washings and drying,” said Karts.

The nylon sleeve simply flips over any boot, preventing mother nature from getting trapped, keeping his feet comfortable. Here’s a short FlipSockz YouTube video. During tests, Karts found that the sleeve/gaiter greatly reduced the water getting into his boots during stream crossings and hiking through wet vegetation.

Karts is also pleased to announce that anyone can use his coupon code of karts20 to receive 20% off their FlipSockz orders. Passionate about helping U.S. veterans, the folks at FlipSockz donate a portion of proceeds to various veterans groups. Feel free to follow FlipSockz on Facebook and Instagram to see what charitable projects they are working on. Karts receives no commission on your puchases. He loves FlipSockz that much.

Karts is hoping this relationship will extend to all his adventures and expeditions, including his Yukon River expedition in 2023. Meanwhile, he was happy to get FlipSockz to wear on his upcoming Death Valley record-attempt. Details are still confidential except that FlipSockz is the primary sponsor. Karts already holds a Death Valley record for being the oldest person to successfully complete a documented double, solo traverse. He also holds several other documented extreme records. FlipSockz joins several other companies and a charity that help support Karts’ adventures in various ways.

September 2022 Update

Posted on by Art "Karts" Huseonica

Art “Karts” Huseonica (me) is staying focused on being fit and preparing to reboot https://www.yukon2020.com in May 2023. In case you missed them, below are two very short YouTube videos to keep you updated. Later this month I’ll publish another video with a more detailed update. Meanwhile, I’m back to fundraising for the expensive expedition reboot.

You can be part of my record-attempt expedition by donating at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/frm3wy-yukon-2020-river-expedition. There is also an option to memorialize someone by dedicating the expedition and documentary film in their name. See https://www.yukon2020.com/support for more information. A detailed cost outline can be provided by upon request.

Karts Stops Yukon Expedition

Posted on by Art "Karts" Huseonica

It was a fabulous Yukon River expedition until I rode the crest of the flooding into Carmacks. I was healthy and strong doing 50 miles/silent 82km per day easily. The river rose every day after that and submerged the few available camps down river and making it impossible to reach streams with fresh water entering the river. The amount and size of debris was according to local residents, the worst they’d ever seen. Carmacks officials called it a 50+ year event.

Yukon River in Carmacks

I had the gear, supplies, and the skills to navigate a flooded river, BUT local and regional authorities advised me against continuing on. This included the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the First Nations. I had to consider this because if I continued and something happened that it would come back to bite me and reflect poorly on my expedition, aka, the Kindness Expedition.

The First Nations hold the Yukon River sacred, and see it as an interconnectiveness to all life. To continue on would disrespect that belief and bring discredit to me and the expedition. Right now I’m totally gutted. I had this, I was strong & healthy, but a very quick spring thaw sent the feeder rivers into flood stages which poured into the Yukon River. I could have sat it out three more weeks until the flooding receded, but that would put me past my August 15th deadline to be back up river out of the Bering Sea. The weather there gets really bad after August 15th. Plus, there’s very limited and costly extraction areas further into Alaska.

Karts’ charity of choice for the expedition is Beads of Courage

Everyone tells me that I made the right decision, but still. Ugh. A Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reporter who interviewed me said that I don’t appreciate all the attention that my expedition had gotten in Canada. She hoped that I would make the “right decision.” My international legal counsel and my Native American liaison assured me that I did the right think to demonstrate respect and kindness; afterall the expedition is also known as “The Kindness Expedition.”

I can’t forget the experiences I had with my First Nations’ interactions and the many people I met and who I paddled with. They gave me the nickname of “He who paddles on clouds.” I got a lot of good information, personal thoughts, photos, and videos for the documentary film. I will reboot the expedition on May 28, 2023 from where I pulled out in Carmacks.

Debris was a constant danger

Yukon Canoe Leader

Posted on by Art "Karts" Huseonica

Yukon First Nations’ paddler Donna Johns will be paddling with Art “Karts” Huseonica on a segment of the Yukon River this summer. Donna is her Nation’s canoe leader.

Donna Johns paddling Bennett Lake near Karts’ insertion area.

Donna is an experienced paddler, canoe racer, community activist, and catalyst for building a healing camp in the Carcross/Tagish First Nation. Karts will spend two days with Donna learning about her ancestors, culture, and challenges for First Nations People. After a visit to Carcross and the Nation’s community and cultural center, they will camp at the site of a future healing camp being designed and developed with Donna’s assitance.

Donna Johns in her Nation’s attire

Karts is very grateful for this unique opportunity, something that hasn’t been experenced in modern history of Yukon River expeditions. Having Donna along to paddle through her Nation, Karts will have a very unique opportunity to learn about her people’s history. Donna is a member of the Killer Whale clan and is a mother and university student.