Uncharted ARCTIC CANYONS Expedition (E5) - 11 Day Solo Wilderness Camping & Packrafting

An 11 day, solo, Arctic Packrafting and Hiking Expedition in Tuktut Nogait National Park, over 200 km north of the Arctic Circle, to paddle the dormant white water Hornaday Canyons from Uyarsivik Lake to the Arctic Ocean. This is the least visited National Park in North America, one of the most remote and isolated. In 2023, a single visitor permit was issued, and I was lucky enough to be the recipient. I worked and researched for over 2 years to put this trip together. I would traverse, chart, and paddle the Hornaday River through the Canyons, publish a map with the details needed for others to follow and visit this beautiful section of river. This section of river was first attempted in 1977 by Larry Osgood and team. They were successful in paddling a good portion of the canyons, portaging out of the canyons when needed. In July of 1999, the Beaudry Team, comprised of professional kayakers, became the first and only full descent of the Hornaday Canyons. No one has attempted it since.
For the Hornaday Canyon Map, Gear List, River History and relevant info for planning your trip to Tuktut Nogait and paddling the canyons: suluk46.com/ar...
Episode 5 is the last episode in the series. It covers the last 3 days of the expedition, where I exit the final portion of the canyon and spend a few days paddling the calmer water to the Arctic OCean. It is over these last days where the wildlife becomes very abundant. We see Caribou, Grizzly Bear, and a Wolf on our last day. I spend a night in the D.F.O. camp before hiking 20 km back to Paulatuk and officially finish the trip.
I would like to personally thank the people of Paulatuk for their extremely warm hospitality towards me. I was welcomed with open arms and cannot even begin to express how lovely everyone was. The Inuvialuit are a kind and caring community and I hope to go back and visit my friends again in the future.
FOR THOSE LOOKING TO PADDLE THE CANYONS:
Parks Canada will LIKELY not endorse your trip, since rescue capacity is very limited in Tuktut Nogait National Park due to it’s remote location, and an uncomplicated rescue could take up to 4 days. The park has no high angle rescue capacity in the North, so extraction from high walled canyons would require up to a week for a certified rescue team to arrive. Should you decide to continue with your trip plan, Parks Canada MAY advise you to obtain private rescue insurance, come fully prepared for self-rescue and emergencies, such as cold water submersion, hypothermia, and bear encounters. Be sure to carry equipment for a cold weather climate and extreme winds, first aid, and emergency beacon or satellite radio.
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