Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 22/02) - Henry Nierychio is boldly going where no Sea-Doo has gone before -- or at least he thinks.

The Surrey, B.C. native crossed Great Slave Lake last week on his wave running machine, and after spending time with his in-laws in Yellowknife, is now on his way up the Mackenzie River.

If all goes well, he should land in Tuktoyaktuk this weekend, and then make the 4,200 kilometre trip back down the river.

As far as he knows, no one has done the trip in such a craft before.

"If a tug boat or a barge can do it, so can a Sea-Doo," Nierychio said before setting off from Yellowknife Thursday afternoon.

"I wanted to do the Mackenzie because it's there. I don't know if anyone else has ever done it on a Sea-Doo before."

Nierychio's Sea-Doo is built for travel. It can carry enough gas for a 400-kilometre trip, as well as his tent, cooking pots and utensils, food, and just about anything else he would need for a long trip on the water.

It also rides well on the water, crucial for ploughing through the two-meter waves on Great Slave Lake and other big bodies of water.

"Being a three-seater it's wider, longer, and much more stable," said Nierychio. "There's enough holes and compartments on this Sea-Doo that if you're innovative, you can carry a lot."

Among his food items, Nierychio will be carrying some beef jerky, pepperoni, and the good ol' standby, Kraft Dinner.

Some may think such a trip foolhardy, but Nierychio has done this sort of thing before.

Last year, he Sea-Dooed from Vancouver to Skagway, Alaska with his son Michael.

"It was pretty good because we'd only go out in good weather," said Nierychio." Most of the time we spent travelling, and going into town."

Nierychio has also seen the Mackenzie River before. Twenty-seven-years ago, he came across it while working for the Department of Public Works.

Needless to say, however, his wife and family anxiously await his safe return.

"She's very understanding," said Nierychio. "She said, 'Go for it, just come back alive."