12-day Thelon River Adventure - Detailed Itinerary
Trip Dates: June 28 to July 9, 2003. This trip is suitable for novice and experienced canoeists. The Thelon, one of Canada's premier Heritage Rivers is the quintessential northern canoeing experience. The Thelon River offers classic tundra scenery punctuated by a forest oasis and an unmatched opportunity to see migrating caribou, wolves, muskoxen, barren ground grizzlies, eagles, falcons and swans. The river valley is also rich with evidence of human history. Remnants of Dene and Inuit occupation dot the landscape. Recent European explorers/trappers also left traces of their passing. These sites and more will be shown to paddlers by an Inuit guide on the trip. There are numerous opportunities for day hikes in pursuit of muskoxen, tundra wolves and plant species found nowhere else in the barren lands. As there are no rapids of significance, this trip does not require any paddling experience. While days with strong headwinds can require more paddling effort, the Thelon tends to be more of a "float" as most of it's length experiences good current.
Pre-trip: Wilderness Spirit guests should arrive in Baker Lake, Nunavut, Canada a minimum of 1 day before your trip starts. We will pick you up at the Baker Lake Airport and transport you to the lodge. Wilderness Spirit will drop off your waterproof barrel so you can pack your gear prior to the start of the trip (day 1 of your trip). At this time we will respond to any unanswered questions and notify you of your departure time on Day 1 of the trip. Hotel guests will be able to leave suitcases or backpacks at the hotel free of charge until you return from the canoe trip.
Day 1: In the morning of your first day we will have breakfast at Baker Lake Lodge and load the planes with our gear and canoes and fly into the Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary and start our adventure on the Thelon River. We will set up camp and settle in for our first night in the northern Canadian wilderness.
Days 2 to 11: After breakfast we'll start our journey through the wildlife sanctuary. This trip is timed to maximize our opportunity to encounter herds of migrating caribou. The first several days travel present us with the best chance to see female caribou and their young as they pass through the wildlife sanctuary on their northerly migration. They are, of course, accompanied by wolves who den along the river and are frequently seen. One of the Thelon's unique features is a forested oasis encountered halfway through the trip. This area was a favourite winter dwelling place for more modern day explorers and for Dene and Inuit who occupied some campsites up to 8000 years ago. One such place we will explore is Warden's Grove. The forested parts of the river are where we are most likely to encounter moose. We'll stop in at Hornby Point and visit what remains of the cabin in which John Hornby and his 2 companions perished in the winter of 1927. Many days include short hikes on the eskers that act as highways in the tundra. Longer hikes include a 4 km walk to Canada's most southerly pingo and a hike up to Lookout Point. From Lookout Point we can survey the land as the Inuit and Dene have done for generations. Signs of the land's human history are everywhere. Tent rings, inukshuks, arrowheads, ulus, quartzite scrapers and other signs of human occupation are found throughout the landscape. The shaggy muskoxen are another common sight as we paddle the river and hike the adjacent countryside. They are often found in groups of 20 or more. Their numbers have recovered from near extirpation to more than 2000 since the establishment of the game sanctuary. The Thelon Game Sanctuary is also a nesting site for peregrine and gyr-falcons and rough-legged hawks. Our last few days will take us to Beverly Lake where we'll catch our float plane back to Baker Lake.
Day 12: From Beverly Lake we will fly back to Baker Lake Lodge and we should arrive approximately 3:00 in the afternoon. The hotel room at Baker Lake Lodge will treat you to all the amenities and is close to all services in Baker Lake. While in Baker Lake, it is essential to take in some local tours of the area. Wildlife and cultural tours are available. There are numerous Inuit artists in Baker Lake and the opportunity to meet with them and view their talents should not be missed. A souvenir from this region may include soap stone carvings of whales, polar bears, birds, as well as mythical creatures important in the Inuit culture. Other tours such as wildlife tours are available out of Baker lake and may be an important part of a trip to Nunavut that clients may not want to miss. Wilderness Spirit will collect the waterproof barrel at the lodge. We will have a farewell supper at the lodge, reminiscing the times spent on the river.
Post-trip: Wilderness Spirit guests should make plans to leave Baker Lake on or after the 12th day of your stay in Nunavut. Due to weather problems and potential delays on the river it is safest to book your flights out of Baker Lake at this time to avoid missing flights due to unexpected delays. To avoid airline charges when changing flights it is a good idea to book your flights after the 12th day of the canoe trip. Of course your hotel room is paid for by Wilderness Spirit on the 12th day of your trip so there are no unexpected expenses.
In
North America call tollfree 1 866 287 1591 or 1 204
452 7049
or email info@WildernessSpirit.com
Wilderness Spirit,
696 McMillan Ave., Winnipeg,
Manitoba, Canada R3M 0V1