Backpacking Auyuittuq National Park, Nunavut
A blast of cold air hits me as I saunter off the plane in Pangnirtung – a remote, mostly Inuit community on Baffin Island in Nunavut. Instantly I am wondering just what the hell I’ve got myself into. It’s June 30th and I know it’s the Arctic but somehow I didn’t expect cold like this. I have already endured a flight to Ottawa, another to Iqaluit and then finally one to Pangnirtung – the starting point for my backpacking trip in Auyuittuq National Park.
This part of the world is not an easy – or an inexpensive place to visit. I’m here because I have willingly signed on to hump what feels like a 60 pound load to Akshayuk Pass in Auyuittuq National Park over the course of 11 days. It’s a place you’ve likely never heard of – and there’s a reason for that.
Backpacking Auyuittuq National Park is definitely not a trip for people who are after comfort. But if it’s adventure in a grand landscape then I hope you consider it. At the bottom of the post there are links to different parts of the trip.
Auyuittuq National Park in Nunavut
The park is a frozen expanse of snow, ice and rock – tucked away from most of humanity. Auyuittuq National Park boasts a polar ice cap the size of Prince Edward Island, glaciers galore, icy rivers, fjords, lichen covered rocks and Mack truck sized boulders casually strewn about by retreating glaciers.
The makeup of the group backpacking in Auyuittuq National Park
I’d flown in with my husband and five others. They included two woman physiotherapist friends from Australia – Georgie, always the life of the party and Michele – a woman with an awesome set of adventures behind her already.
The other men included Matthew, a strategist/anthropologist from Burlington, Ontario and a father and son team – Tom, a recent retiree from Maine and his son Noah, a financial type from Boston.
We are joined by two young Black Feather guides – Natalie who’s done this trip four times already and Daire from Ireland, a recent adventure guide graduate from Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops.
Camping in Pangnirtung
Since our plane is about seven hours late getting into Pangnirtung, we camp above the town behind windproof screens.
It takes a while to get our tents set up – not that we all don’t have a lot of experience doing this sort of thing – but these are four season tents with six poles (so we don’t blow away in a wind storm) so it takes a while to figure out where all the bits go.
Then it’s time for some wine – the last I’ll see for almost two weeks – cheese and conversation. I don’t last long before I seek the warmth of my sleeping bag – plus I’m feeling sleep deprived and we have to be up and at it early the next day.
The start of our trip backpacking in Auyuittuq National Park
The next morning we pack up our gear – and try to separate out any items we won’t need for the next 12 days. I say goodbye to my computer and phone – quite happily – as there will be no chance of any WiFi while we’re in the park.
We’re told to leave room for an additional 20 pounds or so of food – but quite frankly once my pack is on – without any food in it, I have serious concerns about my ability to carry any more weight.
Every visitor to Auyuittuq National Park must go through an orientation session – so that was our first stop of the morning. We learned what the biggest killer in the park is drowning when fording the glacier-fed streams.
And although our chances of seeing polar bears are slim we did watch a video about what one should do if you should see one. As a group I figured we’d be OK but alone I’d pray for a quick end. I might try stabbing it with my Swiss Army knife but really I’d expect to be dinner.
Next we were all given food – labeled by meal and day – and a one liter bottle of fuel. Somehow – and I don’t know how we managed to get everything into our packs. (Here’s the packing list if you’re interested – and I used everything except the one extra pair of heavy duty long underwear.)
We’re finally off to the dock to catch a one hour boat ride – to our start point at Mount Overlord. Departures – and pickups are always timed with the tides.
The boat ride was fantastic with one superlative mountain view after another. By noon we’re on land and ready to go – but first lunch – to fuel ourselves for what lies ahead.
Further reading on Nunavut
- Across the Arctic Circle on Foot on Baffin Island
- Baffin Island Backpacking in Auyuittuq National Park
- Visiting Iqaluit, Nunavut on an Airport Layover
- 10 Photo to Inspire a Visit to Pangnirtung, Nunavut
Click on the photo to bookmark to your Pinterest boards.
Hi,
Just wondering, how many km was the trip?
Thanks
@Jenny It was about 35 kms one way – not very far but with a heavy load it felt like triple that.
Wow. Looks incredible. Wondering if you ever felt isolated? Also, what was the food they supplied you with like?
@Jody I felt isolated but not in a bad way. The food started off alright but after week one we started running out of things like peanut butter and hot chocolate and I wasn’t too happy about that. Too much cheese is what I’d say.
Wow, that scenery is breathtaking! Definitely worth the risk of death by polar bear, I would say.
@Suzy Fortunately the risk of a polar bear encounter is really, really low but I sure would have enjoyed seeing one from a distance.
We are trekking the pass over the second part of August. Eagerly awaiting your future instalments!
@Steve I will probably have another post up next week. Pray for more good weather than bad, rivers that aren’t too deep and an absence of bugs.
From what I hear the bugs are gone and the water levels lower by late August. Fingers crossed for favorable weather.
I enjoyed your packing list, btw.
@Steve Good luck with your trip. Fortunately our bugs were few-one of the benefits of cold temperatures. And you’re right about the water levels. Good luck with the trip.
A truly beautiful place. The blues are so intense – I can feel the cold. I would love to see it, but not hike it. I shall do that vicariously 🙂
@Jan There are lots of easy hikes for those who want to just get a sense of the grandeur of the place.
Wow, this is one adventure, Leigh! I’m glad you have so many people on this leg of your trip. I’m sure it’ll make the experience richer. I’m excited to hear more!
Yes, I’d go and after seeing your photos and reading your posts, I’m very curious to experience it myself. I’d have to wait until next year when my ankle’s in better shape. I think everyone should do something like this at least once in their lives.
I was thinking when I saw the headline that I’ve been hearing about Baffin Island since I was a kid but this is the first time I think I’ve heard of anyone going there. Kudos, Leigh!
Pang is BEAUTIFUL! I had no idea – I’ve only seen drawings and photos taken of people, not of the landscape. Wow.
I would NEVER do the hike you are doing (I’m way to wimpy), but we’ve long talked of going here for the art – but I never realized it would also be so astoundingly beautiful.
Can’t wait to hear about your trip (and see pictures!). Stay clear of the polar bears and be careful in those streams!
@Cindy The setting for Pang is breathtaking. We are out – and did survive the stream crossings and there was not a polar bear to be seen. We also came home with two prints – and met the artist so we just have to get them framed now.
Looks like a beautiful start for an amazing adventure. Since you are writing it now, I can safely assume you did not need your Swiss army knife to fend off a polar bear.
@Ted You would be correct in that assumption. I was actually really hoping to see one and if we’d started at the far end of Akshayuk Pass – there would have been a much better chance to see one. On the route we did one was sighted in 2011.
The colors are just stunning. What a fun trip to be with a group of like-minded people in such a stunning setting. Looking forward to the next part!
@Jenna There are 97 types of lichens in the park and they sure add some colour to a somewhat austere landscape.
As I sit in the warmth and comfort of my home reading of your adventure, I keep mumbling, OMG, OMG. . . .you’ve certainly got this reader hanging on the edge of her seat waiting for the next chapter! Your photos – as always – are stunning!
@Jackie Thanks for your lovely comment. It was a hard trip and a cold one- but the cold kept the bugs at bay – so we only had mosquitoes in small doses on a couple of occasions. Stay tuned for more.