HILLEBERG AMBASSADOR: WORLD'S LEADING SEA KAYAK EXPLORER Freya Hoffmeister

Freya Hoffmeister is one of the world's greatest sea kayaking explorers (perhaps even the greatest).

She recently completed the first stage of "No. 3 - The North Island," her first circumnavigation of North America. From March to August 2017, she circumnavigated the entire western coastline from Pacific City, Oregon, to Kodiak, Alaska. This feat will mark her third circumnavigation of the continent. She has used Hilleberg tents, particularly the Allak and Staika, on her previous journeys, including around Iceland, New Zealand's South Island, Australia, South America, and Ireland. For this North American adventure, she once again chose the Allak.

"I'm partial to the high-quality, Swedish-made Hilleberg tents. I consider them my go-to campsites for extreme sea kayaking adventures—literally, my 'Hilleberg Hotel!'" Freya says. "This trip will be divided into two parts, starting in Seattle and ending in New York City, circumnavigating North America. The total distance is over 50,000 kilometers, passing through the Northwest Passage, the Panama Canal, the interior of the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of California, and even crossing Hudson Bay. It's expected to take ten years to complete. I've once again chosen my favorite Hilleberg Allak tent."

In May 2015, she completed "The Second Continent Expedition," becoming the first person to successfully circumnavigate South America. The journey, which began in August 2011, spanned four years and 24 stages, covering 27,000 kilometers (16,000 miles). She primarily used Allak tents on this expedition, but also employed Staika tents in challenging conditions. "In the southern tip of South America, known for its strong winds, I relied on the rock-solid Hilleberg Staika, and even camped in winds exceeding 100 knots."

Two years ago, she completed the first circumnavigation of the continent, The Race Around Australia Expedition. The journey took about a year and covered 15,000 kilometers (9,400 miles), making it the only time in the past 30 years that a route considered one of the most challenging sea kayaking routes in the world has been completed.

Earlier, in 2007, Freya completed a record-breaking circumnavigation of Iceland in just 33 days. She then set out to become the first woman to sea kayak around New Zealand's South Island. After 70 days, she successfully completed the feat, setting a new personal record and feeling incredibly satisfied with the protection provided by Allak.

(For more information on this expedition, her previous adventures, and to read her blog entries and trip reports, go to freyahoffmeister.com )