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Normal people in North America head south for the winter: Florida, Aruba, St. Croix. They prefer to flee the cold and dark of the northern latitudes. It's a natural instinct - birds, some butterflies, and older New Yorkers do it too. Other folks are of a twisted breed; instead of following the crowd, they take the opposite route. I thought I was of the former
He and I were planning to join up with a Land Rover convoy headed to Moab, Utah for some slickrock fourwheeling, when Mickey received an e-mail from Michel Findlay, who lives near Toronto: | |
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TO OFF-ROADERS AND SERIOUS EXPEDITIONISTS I have a couple of others interested in considering a proposal and concept for a second trip to James Bay and beyond, only this time up the east side of James Bay (i.e.the province of Québec). The trip is tentatively scheduled for the mid-to-late part of February 2001, and up to two weeks should be allowed (partial trips might be able to be accommodated as there are some clearly defined terminating point possibilities). As trip objectives, we would be targeting the following activities, among others: - WASKAGANISH: drive to this destination on James Bay over winter 'ice' road (only accessible land connection- not available at other times of year). this Northern Cree community hosts a significant 'cross-the-bay' cross country ski event each year. -RADISSON: a close to Hudson Bay that we can get. This is the most northerly outpost of the Cree population. Inuit populations from here on. -MISTISSINI: this area is abundant with wildlife, and is accessed via the Chibougamau Road. Administered by the local band council. - NORTHERN QUÉBEC CARIBOU HERDS: this will involve some serious off-roading in difficult winter conditions.
A map of the proposed route (left) will be available to those expressing interest. This is a major EXPEDITION involving some 2000 kilometres (about 1300 miles ). Vehicles in top notch working order with good tow points front and rear are required (other recommended specs available with expression of interest). Our trip to Moosonee two years ago provided an excellent experience and insight into what we would need and should do for our next trip to the far north (we will be just south of the Arctic Circle). That previous trip, up the WEST side of James Bay, can be recounted by reviewing it on the bordertoborder.com web site under Arctic Expedition ( see also daily notes). This is not a Border-to-Border sponsored or affiliated trip, but is simply an expedition planned by several experienced off-roaders to enjoy Canada's wonderful wilderness that is relatively nearby. It is expected that members from any number of clubs might participate, and is not limited to Land Rover products particularly. Because this is a wilderness adventure, serious attention needs to be paid to gear and conditioning the vehicle. Also, all vehicles need to be equipped with a CB (portables need an outside antenna extension). All recommendations regarding gear and supplies will be forwarded to interested parties. Accommodation is always the limiting factor on this kind of trip; then obviously the size of the expedition will be limited accordingly. An inventory is currently being done to determine accommodation capacities at our various destinations. Accommodation will be quite basic in some of these smaller communities. Gasoline availability is also an issue. Each participating vehicle will be required to carry some externally-stored gas. It is possible that we might attract a significant consumer-products sponsor, particularly if we tie this in with a wildlife-related project. More in the future on this! To indicate your potential interest in this project without giving a firm commitment, just E-mail me back with your information and vehicle description, and expedition and/or off-road experience. M.F. | |
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Inuit? Wildlife? Arctic Circle? Gasoline availability is an issue? Well, that hardly sounds like Hawaii, but certainly intriguing. Mickey signed up, and I agreed to it. Over e-mail, we got to know better some of our group: Michel, Cindy, Ted and Mary. As this trip was six weeks away, we knew we were short on gear and had to make our online purchases quick in order to allow time for arrival or replacement, if necessary. We looked at the weather for the area for this time of year and also asked Michel, Ted and Mary directly as to what we might expect. "Cold," we found out. Bloody cold.
With that information to go on, we proceeded filling out real and virtual shopping carts with gear: pants, shirts, underwear, socks, fleece, Polypro, Capilene, down, GoreTex, chemical warmers, gloves, mittens, hats, face masks - if it was designed to keep a body warm, we bought several. Sleeping out in very cold conditions requires a bag that can handle it. I found some on sale and informed Mickey - we got them. Hardly a store in the area or online outfitter throughout the country wasn't checked to find the very best gear we could get. Our friends and co-workers thought we were nuts. They put dibs on whatever we left behind - electronics, toys, bank accounts - expecting us not to return. We laughed and said "of course we'll make it." We were not only gear-happy but began to take it for granted that our stuff would keep us alive, no matter what happened. That's a foolish assumption to make...
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| Last updated: April 3, 2001 © tjd |
