NORTHERN UNGAVA CANOE EXPEDITION
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LOCATION - Nunavik, Quebec - Canada
Route - Umiuaaq to Kangirsuk
Distance - 750 miles
Duration - 40 days
Date - June to August 2006
Group - Brad Bassi, Eric Nemitz
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SPONSORS OF THE EXPEDITION
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LEARN ABOUT OUR ROUTE STAGE BY STAGE
route descriptions, photos, links to journal entries
To learn about a stage simply click a link above the picture.
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MEET THE TEAM -
Brad Bassi Eric Nemitz
Click the link to read the proposal that
resulted in WL Gore Tex awarding us the
Shipman Tilman Grant.
Meticulous planning is essential when
packing food for a two month long self
supported expedition. Click the link above
to see our tasty menus and a complete food
inventory.
CLICK THE HEADINGS BELOW TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
THE SPECIFICS OF THE NORTHERN UNGAVA CANOE
EXPEDITION
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On our expedition we saw a great deal of
wildlife. This section highlights our photos of
these animals and describes some of the
more interesting species.
The Leaf River Caribous Herd is the
largest group of migrating animals in
North America. Click the link above to
learn more about these creatures and
to see photos of them from our trip.
The tundra is full of spectacular flowers
and many other types of vegetation. This
page highlights some of the most
common and striking plants that we saw.
Click here to see our trophy room. This
page features the best fishing pictures
from our trip and provides information
about the most common fish species in
Ungava.
Our two man team’s objective was to explore the Ungava Peninsula of northern
Quebec by canoe. Our route started on Hudson Bay, involved traveling up and
down several watersheds, and ended in the village of Kangirsuk on Ungava
Bay. This route had never been attempted in its entirety since the terrain and
distance pushes the limits of regular canoe trips. The expedition covered over
700 miles and lasted for 40 days.
Although difficult, there was logic to the route we designed. Our team moved
unencumbered by massive amounts of gear and did not have to deal with large
group dynamics. The route we covered allowed us to see more of northern
Ungava in one summer than anyone has ever been able to do in the past. This
expedition was both challenging and immensely rewarding. This page will take
you through each stage of the trip and explain many of the things that we
encountered.
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CLICKING ANY BLUE LINK ON THIS SITE WILL BRING YOU TO
A NEW PAGE WITH MORE INFORMATION ON THAT SUBJECT.
The Northern Ungava Canoe Expedition was a remarkable journey that brought us to one
of the least traveled parts of the world. On this trip we witnessed caribou migrations, fished
for trout in waters that have never seen a lure, hunkered down to wait out snow storms in
June, and reveled in warm and sunny days on Lake Minto.
Ungava is one of the world's largest remaining wilderness areas that is intact and relatively
uninfluenced by the hand of mankind. The problem is that this land hangs precariously in
the balance. Hydroelectric and mining interests are constantly investigating this pristine
environment in hopes of discovered a way to make a profit. It is my sincere hope that some
of the wild places in the north are left untouched.
Being in a place as remote and powerful as Ungava is a humbling experience. For nearly
two months we traveled without seeing any other humans. Daily we saw things that most
people will never experience in their entire lives. I returned from Ungava feeling a deeper
connection to the land and my surroundings. After the trip I spent a great deal of time
researching northern Quebec and it is my hope that you leave this page with a greater
understanding of what a wild and amazing place this is.
