Solo adventurer conquers Fitzroy

Melbourne kayaker Lachie Carracher has become the first man to solo paddle WA’s mighty Fitzroy River

at the height of the wet season, overcoming 2m freshwater crocodiles, huge waterfalls and deadly rapids to complete the 400km journey in six days.

Carracher, 22, paddled into Fitzroy Crossing on Wednesday night to finish the expedition that began at Mt Barnett, about 300km north-east of Derby, on February 4.

Raised in country Victoria and a member of the Australian Whitewater Kayak Team since 2005, Carracher

said the history-making trip was the highlight of a career in which he had conquered many of the planet’s deadliest rapids.

“I’ve paddled all over the world,” he said.

“There really haven’t been many expeditions of this nature ever done solo. It was a big undertaking and I definitely tried to set the bar a bit out of my comfort zone.”

Recognised as Australia’s biggest river volume-wise, the Fitzroy is usually tackled by bigger groups that take more than three weeks to complete the gruelling paddle.

But by going solo, Carracher said it was easier to rack up the kilometres in quick time.

He said the biggest challenge did not come from waterfalls, rapids or crocodiles but the feeling of complete isolation in the remote WA outback. “If you make one mistake out there, then it’s very serious consequences in terms of an injury or fatality,” he said.

“The only way out was for me to paddle. From Mt Barnett I didn’t see another soul until I got out at Fitzroy Crossing. I didn’t see a plane in the sky or even a fence.”

The volume of water flowing down the Fitzroy is 21 times greater than that of the Colorado River as it passes through the Grand Canyon, a fact which makes it one of the most challenging rivers to navigate, according to Carracher.

“It is something I’m very proud to have conquered solo,” he said. Named adventure magazine Outer Edge’s Young Adventurer of the Year for 2009, Carracher said there was an ulterior motive to completing the daring expedition.

“The goal was to try raise a bit of awareness for the environmental issues facing the Kimberley area,” he said.

“It is the most pristine savannah woodland you will find anywhere on the planet and is one of the only places in the world, and certainly the only place in Australia, that has avoided any mammal extinction through European settlement.”

Carracher, who is helping the Australian Conservation Foundation, said he would consider repeating his solo trek down the Fitzroy.