MCA Far North Symposium 2024
Speakers and time schedule to be finalized.
Tundra, Trees, and Friendship: A Journey on the Horton River
Kerry Bogenreif and Karen Casper
The story of two friends and their adventure on the Horton River, NWT. Paddling from the Whaleman River, this canoe route covered 180 miles north, including the canyons and smoking hills, ending at the Arctic Ocean. Also took a bush plane to Inuvik.
400 miles on the Hayes River to York Factory on Hudson Bay
Bear Paulsen, with wife Claire and toddler son Dashawa.
Both Claire and I started wilderness camping as young children thanks to our parents. We independently fell in love with long trips to wild places. Since we started dating, we have spent our summer vacations together on lengthy canoe expeditions. When Dashwa arrived, we wanted him to grow up feeling at home in the wilderness, just as we do. This trip features the historic route of the voyageurs on the Hayes River finishing at York Factory, the Hudson’s Bay Company’s mecca in the fur-trade era.
The Spine of the Arctic: A solo canoe expedition through Alaska’s Brooks Range Geoffrey McRae Smith
Six hundred fifty miles in fifty-one days. Travel through the Gates of the Arctic National Park and the Noatak National Preserve. Starting above the Arctic Circle, Smith traversed multiple rivers running across the Continental Divide, moving through passes and various rivers culminating at Kotzebue, still paddling above the Arctic Circle.
Thomsen River, Aulavik National Park, Canada
Brian Johnston and Jim Gallagher
In July 2023, Jim and Brian ventured north to paddle the Thomsen River on Banks Island in the Canadian Arctic. The Thomsen is the most northerly navigable river in North America. Arriving at the height of the spring flower bloom, they traveled the river at a leisurely pace, exploring unique geological features and the haunting “death assemblages” of thousands of bones and skulls left by 19th century Inuit hunters. They saw many muskoxen and had a close encounter with white wolves. After 25 far north expeditions, the Thomsen River rose to the top of Jim and Brian’s favorite river list.
Woodland Caribou Provincial Park & the Bloodvein River or
220 Miles with a 21-month-old in 20 Days
Neva Maxwell & Hudson
In the Summer of 2023, we began from the road at Wallace Lake, Manitoba to paddle across Woodland Caribou Provincial Park, down the Bloodvein River. By connecting small lakes with bushwhacked portages, to access the large lakes of the upper Bloodvein River to Lake Winnipeg. This presentation will include the highlight reel of paddling with a toddler and details on a unique route with tips for other paddlers and families.
The Route Less Traveled 2024
Zack Fritz, Taylor Rau
The route- 4,400 km (2,700—miles), 4 months, 1 state, 3 provinces, 2 countries, 16 rivers, 2 Canadian Heritage Rivers. Zach is the recent Director of the Les Voyageurs-Expeditions North youth canoe program. While only in his mid20s, Zach is a very experienced canoeist, beginning at age 4. He has already paddled to the Arctic Ocean and Hudson Bay. Zak and Taylor have done extensive planning for over a year. They will embark on the Big Fork River, Minnesota and reach Gjoa Haven, an Inuit hamlet on King William Island. King William Island is the heart of the Northwest Passage, Arctic Ocean, -68° North. Zach’s program will feature the “how” of planning an expedition of this magnitude. Stayed tuned for the full journey at Far North 2025.