From April to September 2024, the AKOR team completed a monumental expedition across Canada’s three territories, from the Alaska/Yukon border to the east coast of Baffin Island, Nunavut.
Never before attempted in this formula, this daring 6,900 km Canadian crossing lasted 140 days and took place entirely north of the 60th parallel. A refreshingly creative journey by bike, canoe, sailboat and on foot, through some of the most unspoiled landscapes on Earth.
This expedition was awarded Expedition of the Year by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society
On April 21, 2024, we first set out to cycle across the Yukon, from the Alaskan border to the Northwest Territories. This first stage took us 2 weeks. Through the Nahanni mountain range, we pedaled on gravel roads, getting deeper and deeper into the heart of a wild and majestic territory.
Then we paddled the entire Northwest Territories and mainland Nunavut by canoe, all the way to Baker Lake, near Hudson Bay. This 2800 km leg took us 3 months. When we launched our canoes, the rivers had barely thawed, making for a very intense experience and forcing us to meticulously calculate all the risks. We then paddled upstream along part of the Mackenzie River, across Great Slave Lake (the 9th largest lake in the world), across the tundra and down the mythical Thelon River to Baker Lake, in the geographic center of Canada.
While we were canoeing, a sailboat left Quebec City to join us at Baker Lake at the end of August. It was a second, parallel expedition that joined us to cross to Baffin Island. The sailboat journey totalled 10,000 km, and was operated by 3 separate crews: the first to take the boat up to Baker Lake, the second to cross Hudson Bay with us, and the third to bring the boat back to Quebec City. This section of the trip involved high-caliber logistics and in-depth knowledge of the challenges of navigating Arctic waters.
Baker Lake is where the land and sea crews met. The Anorak, a 45-foot aluminum-hulled sailboat, was the ideal vessel for crossing Hudson Bay and Hudson Strait to Pangnirtung on Baffin Island. This leg took us 3 weeks.
Finally, once we reached Baffin, we continued on foot to cross one of the island’s peninsulas through one of the grandest valleys on Earth. This final stage took us 8 days, after which we reached the east coast of Baffin, in the village of Qikiqtarjuaq. On September 7, we completed our crossing of Canada’s three northern territories, after 140 days of hard work and 6,900 km.
Interested in hearing about our journey?
Some articles about this expedition
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