Arctic Journey Archives
for 2005
THE BAFFIN ISLAND TRAVERSE
THE GEOGRAPHY
RENDEZVOUS
DATE
RENDEZVOUS
CITY
NO. OF
DAYS
GROUP
SIZE
TRIP
COST
July 30, 2005
Ottawa, Canada
12
8
$3,400 + air


The Baffin Island Traverse is a difficult, challenging Arctic Circle trek in rough, isolated terrain that is subject to unpredictably adverse weather. Only adventurous, flexible and fit persons with backpacking experience should attempt the hike. To discuss the trek in more detail including your experience level, physical condition and general readiness and preparation for an outdoor challenge of this calibre, please call us toll-free at
1-866-CALIDEX, or
e-mail us at info@calidex.com

THE DAY-BY-DAY BRIEF

Day 1: Group members rendezvous in Ottawa, Canada and overnight.

Day 2: Fly to Iqaluit, capital town of Nunavut Province. Meet guide, review trek plan; overnight in Iqaluit.

Day 3: Fly to the Inuit community of Broughton Island (Qikiqtarjuaq, pronounced "Kih-KICK-ter-jack") on the east coast of Baffin Island. By boat, travel 3 hrs from Qikiqtarjuaq to the head of North Pangnirtung Fiord. Disembark, moving rapidly inland away from the coast to reduce the likelihood of polar bear encounters. Once inland, the probability of bear contact is low, but guide will carry pepper spray and/or a firearm.

Begin the backpacking traverse of Baffin Island on the east coast, traversing Auyuittuq National Park from the head of North Pangnirtung Fiord to the head of South Pangnirtung Fiord. Tent camping at night with meals prepared by guide/cook assisted by group members.

Day 4-11: Parallel the heavily-braided Owl River through June Valley on the ascent through Akshayuk Pass. Cross the Pass, edge Glacier and Summit Lakes, and track along the Weasel River on the descent to South Pangnirtung Fiord and the west coast of Baffin Island. Upon arrival at theOverlord Ranger Station at the head of South Pangnirtung Fiord, board pick-up boat for transport to Inuit village of Pangnirtung. Overnight in Pangnirtung.

Day 12: Return flight from Pangnirtung to Ottawa and points homeward.

SOME HIGHLIGHTS

  • Spectacular Arctic landforms such as flat-topped monolithic Mt. Asgard and Thor Peak, which has the greatest uninterrupted rock face in the world;

  • Wildly beautiful glaciers, braided rivers and jagged peak-studded landscapes;

  • Wildlife observation opportunities in pristine Arctic wilderness that include wolves, Arctic fox, gyrfalcons and—with proper circumspection—polar bears;

  • Encountering the Inuit in their remote native communities—learning about their subsistence strategies and possibly acquiring unusual objet d'art from Inuit artists such as soapstone and bone carvings;

  • Trekking an approximate 60-mile route in isolated wilderness that fewer than 200 persons do in a year;

  • Making a dozen or so challenging glacial river crossings and navigating numerous terminal moraines;

  • Crossing the Arctic Circle from north to south on foot;

  • Sensing the remoteness and isolation in one of the planet's truly wild places
THE GALLERY
THE TREK
Auyuittuq National Park, Baffin Island
Mt. Asgard, Auyuittuq National Park
Thor Peak, Auyuittuq National Park
Stream Crossing by Cable-Car
Akshayuk Pass, Auyuittuq National Park
Summit Lake, Auyuittuq National Park
YOUR INVITATION !
COME JOIN US ON ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREAT BACK-COUNTRY ADVENTURES. OUR MAXIMUM GROUP SIZE IS EIGHT PERSONS AND THE TREK IS RIGOROUS, SO WE'D APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS YOUR PREVIOUS BACKPACKING EXPERIENCE.

UPON RECEIPT OF PAYMENT YOU'LL GET A COMPLETE TRIP KIT WITH MAPS, A CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT LIST, TREK NOTES & ITINERARY, AND FLIGHT INFORMATION. WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR ENTRY INTO THE WORLD-WIDE COMMUNITY OF ADVENTUROUS CALIDEX TRAVELERS!

To visit other past Calidex adventures elsewhere in the world, please click on "Archives"

THE NARWHAL HARPOON HUNT EXTENSION

During August, Inuit hunters from Pond Inlet village at the northern end of Baffin Island rifle-hunt narwhal and other marine mammals in Lancaster Sound and Baffin Bay. The hunters pursue game in outboard-powered 28' skiffs, and camp on shore at night. Some of the most experienced Pond Inlet hunters have agreed to take a small Calidex group on a narwhal hunting expedition from August 11-17 subsequent to the Baffin Island Traverse. The hunters have also agreed to use hand-held harpoons in the pursuit of the narwhal, the traditional Inuit hunting method. The cultural encounter with the Inuit hunters and the adrenalizing adventure of the hunt days at sea will constitute an extraordinary once-in-a-lifetime experience for a maximum of five persons. If interested, call to discuss—cost per person varies according to group size.

Contact us at
CALIDEX • 20979 Saraview Court • Saratoga • California • 95070 • Tel: 408.867.3586 • Toll-Free: 866.CALIDEX • e-mail: info@calidex.com • web site: www.calidex.com

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