An international team of whitewater kayakers, including Canadians Tyler Fox and Max Davidson, led by Aussie icon Anthony Yap, will head into the wild outback of Western Australia in just a couple short weeks. Their plan? An ambitious, 4-week expedition down the monsoon-flooded Fitzroy River.

Team paddler Adriene Levknecht told Werner, “During a 6-week journey to the Kimberly Wilderness of Western Australia, [we] will raise awareness to fight the proposed industrialization of this pristine region... home to such endangered species as humpback whales, marine turtles [and] Dugongs... [as well as] one of the oldest human cultures in recorded history. 

"During this trip we will be spending a month on the Fitzroy River, which during flood season is regarded as the highest flow river in the world.  With raft support, we hope lightened boat loads will allow us to truly explore this river and its tributary creeks."

In addition to huge boating on the Fitzroy, the team plans to make first descents of Mt Hardmen and Mt Wynne Creeks, learn to live off the land while supplementing their diet with "bush tucker", explore ancient Aboriginal rock art, talk to local Aborigines about life in the Kimberley and raise awareness of threats like damming, coal mining and large-scale agriculture.

Follow the expedition at: http://www.kayakthekimberley.com/latest.html

Photo courtesy Kayakers for the Kimberley