This is a long trip into some of the wildest and most remote areas of the Canadian Arctic.
You can join for 1 or all parts of this trip if you have the time and sufficient experience. This will allow us to get a food drop.
It is a self-organized and co-led trip. Each participant is expected to contribute to the organization and leadership of the trip. We all have various gifts to contribute. Some are physically stronger, some are better fishermen, some have more financial resources some have more time for food packing. I am looking to create an inclusive group of paddlers of various ages.
The pace is medium fast and allows for the enjoyment of the land and fishing. However, at times we might have to push hard (in case of windy weather, late ice melt or other challenges).
Below are some resources to study.
Please contact me with questions or if you need more information.
We will need about 5 months to do a thorough preparation. So please apply early!
Resources:
https://jackpinepaddle.com/expedition/east-arm-great-slave-lake/
Robert Perkins "Into the Great Solitude”. A book inspired by his trip to the Baillie River.
Robert Perkin’s video “Into the Great Solitude” a 72-day solo journey into the Arctic
Back -Meadowbank 1999 Ray Dejardins Back River Odyssey
2016 trip report/video Baillie, Back,Thelon to Baker Lake
Carsten Iwer’s pictures from the Back River and Great Slave Lake and Beyond
Alan Jacobs trip report from the Back 2005
Jennifer Kingsley book Paddle North about her trip to the Back
John and Kate trips Yellowknife to Chantrey Inlet via the Back River
Back River references from John (see John and Kate trips above):
Anderson, J. 1855: Journal of Chief Factor Anderson of the H. B. Co., of a journey from Fort Simpson, McKenzie River to the mouth of the Great Fish River, via Great Slave Lake etc. The Canadian Field Naturalist 1940, (54) Nos 5, 9, 10, 11 & 12 and ibid 1941, (55) Nos 1, 2 & 3.
Back, G. 1836: Narrative of the Arctic Land Expedition to the mouth of the Great Fish River and Along the Shores of the Arctic Ocean in the years 1833, 1834 and 1835. John Murray, London
Galaburri, R. W. 1991: The Rat Lodge Revisited. Arctic (44) 3, 257-258.
PDF copy here:
Hanbury, D. T. 1904: Sport and Travel in the Northland of Canada. Edward Arnold, London
Harmuth, H. F. 1985: Great Slave Lake to Baker Lake. Nastawgan (12) 4 pp 12-13
PDF copy here
Kingsley, J. 2012: Father Joseph Buliard – He Came and Dwelt Among Us. Up Here Magazine July/August
PDF copy here
Pike, W. 1917: The Barren Ground of Northern Canada. E. P. Dutton & Company, New York
Seton, E. T. 1911: The Arctic Prairies – A canoe-journey of 2000 miles in search of the caribou; being the account of a voyage to the region north of Aylmer Lake. William Briggs, Toronto