Arctic Canada: Wild Wolves & the Great Summer Caribou Migration

  Canada

Dates: Two departures: July 11-18, 2009 July 18-25, 2009

Description: The 'Great Summer Caribou Migration' trip begins with a 200 km floatplane trip charter flight from Baker Lake Nunavut to the remote Arctic tundra, where we position our clients at our comfortable and catered wildlife tent camp to await this incredible wildlife phenomenon. This is the only wildlife departure where participants may see both wolves and caribou on the same trip. A week prior to the beginning of the trip - and then continued on through the trip itself - we commence with intense aerial recon to locate the heaviest concentrate of caribou cows & calves of the 300,000(+/-) strong Beverly & Ahiak caribou herds during the period that they migrate south after flooding off the calving grounds. This usually occurs within a two-week period in mid-July every year, and we are the only company that offers encounters with this massive caribou migration with any consistent degree of success.

Clients are situated at the comfort of a catered wildlife tent camp set up specically fo the purpose, and will have an excellent chance to see and photograph white tundra wolves & their pups, musk-oxen, and to explore by boat a to walk distant eskers of the surrounding remote Arctic barrenlands.

Highlights: Using satellite and GPS technology, aerial reconnisiance, and traditional knowledge following nearly four decades of guiding wilderness trips to these remote areas; we attempt to locate and position our clients into workable proximity of active tundra wolf dens, and migrating caribou 'bunches' of 5,000 to 50,000 animals!

Once the caribou are located we quickly decide on the best site, either at a major natural water crossing or a high vantage point; and if the situation is favorable for it, we might also set up a temporary camp near the crossing site. We then move in with the appropriate equipment and staff to photograph the caribou in the best way possible that the circumstance allows.

Depending on the situation, this might include zodiac boats and motors & ground tents - or other circumstance may warrant the use of canoes, or just simply aircraft drop-off and hiking.

During the 'Wild Wolves & Great Summer Caribou Migration' trip, we maintain aircraft support on-site to move the camp if need be, and to also stalk musk-oxen, moose, raptor nests, and possibly barrens grizzly - as opportunities present themselves to us.

Cost in US$: $5,750.00 USD Single // $10,350.00 USD Double

Participants Travel to Canada Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 3-5

Application Process Involves:

• In-Person Interview when Feasible
• Letters of Reference
• Phone Interview
• Resume
• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Great Canadian Wilderness Adventures's Mission Statement: Our mission as wildlife guides and interpretive trip leaders is to take interested and concerned clients safely into the most remote Arctic wilderness areas of the North American continent to see wildlife and rare birds in their true natural habitat. These wilderness areas include the remote Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary and Queen Maud Gulf Migratory Bird Sanctuary, both located on the mainland Arctic of Nunavut, Canada. Examples of wildlife species include the Great Summer Caribou Migration, tundra wolves and their pups during the den cycle; musk-oxen herds, wolverine, Arctic & cross fox during the den cycle; barrenland grizzly, black bear, and moose. Examples of bird species include peregrine & gyrfalcon; rough-legged hawk; Arctic terns & jaegers; all three sub-species of loon; plus a variety of waterfowl and shorebirds during the nesting, molting and migratory staging period. We practice strict field ethics regarding the non-harrassment of wildife or birds, and we teach these methods on the field to our clients during our special tours. This is our 38th year of operating and guiding wildlife expeditions in Canada's Arctic, and we offer the best of references by request.

Year Founded: 1992