So for our trip next summer we have finally chosen a route (Dubawnt River straight north to Garry Lake, down the Armark), but with Air Tindi there is an 8,000 dollar difference between them picking us up with boats and them picking us up without. Being that it is a bird sanctuary, we don't think it would be too kosher to just ditch the boats, so has anyone tackled this before? We were thinking about trying to give the boats to someone in Cambridge Bay, plus a small fee, to come pick us up, but other than that had come up with nothing.

Would anyone have any advice? Experience? Ideas? Other communities closer?

Thank you,
Kyle

You can ship boats and gear from Cambridge Bay and many other northern communities south (Montreal) via sea cargo.

Here's a service map for Desgagnés Transarctik

http://www.groupedesgagnes.com/en/carte ... ?filiale=t

It runs about $350+ for a boat with gear, ships return to Montreal in late October or early November.

If you are able to ship your boats and gear this way you then have the option of scheduled flights for egress and return south. It may depend on far South you are flying and/or your group size.

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"What else could I do? I had no trade so I became a peddler" - Lazarus Greenberg 1915

I recommend PakBoats.
My only regret is that I didn`t buy mine years earlier.

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A literal mind is a little mind. If it's not worth doing to excess, it's not worth doing at all. Good enough isn't.  None are so blind as those who choose not to see. (AJ)

Wow, $8000 is a big motivator.
What is your party size, what plane is Air Tindi using for the pickup (with and without canoes)?

You could inquire about a plane pick up from Cambridge Bay but I have to second Alan's suggestions: look into pakcanoes.

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Brian
http://www.JohnstonPursuits.ca

 

Wow, trip planning is in full effect, sorry that I haven't been on.
@Paddle, we will be out for 2 months, so I'm not sure if pakboats would be able to handle the beating that these boats are sure to go through. We have been in contact with the flight service in Cambridge Bay since posting this, and I think that's the route that we will be going with; flying up there and then leaving them with someone in Cambridge Bay (although Fred, the gentleman from the flight service, said that there are already plenty of canoes in the community). Then we will take commercial flights all the way to Winnipeg and be picked up by a friend from there.

Thanks for the help guys!

Good luck with the planning!

Where are you starting on the Dubawnt?

Pakcanoes can handle a two month trip.

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Brian
http://www.JohnstonPursuits.ca

 

pak boats may handle the Armark in lower water later in the year. We beat up a royalex in high water

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These waves didn't look that big when I scouted it!

Paddle Power - We are starting from Black Lake, here is a map of our route:
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=21 ... ,39.331055
Long, arduous, totally worth it The other thing is that we would have to purchase these pakboats out of pocket, and as recent college grads (out of the U.S., land of expensive education, no less), we don't have so much "money" as we do "debt". We are getting a bit of funding, but it's really starting to add up, mainly transportation. I can't find prices on the PakCanoe website, do you know how much a PakCanoe 170 is? We are currently able to get the Discovery 169's lightly used for $800 per boat. In response to your earlier post we are going with a 6-man expedition. Tindi was going to do a twin otter, but then we would also have to be picked up in Yellowknife, at this point it makes sense to charter into Cambridge Bay financially.

Recped - We will look into shipping them south, great idea, thank you!

Doug - We are thinking of taking Discovery 169's. Tough, enormous (2 months of gear/food is a TON of stuff), and great in winds. Not that any experience is "great" in winds.

Thanks again, everyone!

Also, here is our Expedition's Facebook page, feel free to look around, like, comment, whatever. We will keep updating as details come in!
www.facebook.com/3provincecanoe

May the wind be at your backs!

A pakcanoe will be more than twice the $800 Disco.
Cambridge Bay is the logical choice.
The Chipman Portage is a classic route. I hope you enjoy it.

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Brian
http://www.JohnstonPursuits.ca

 

PaddlePower - Thanks for the help. It sounds like the Disco is the way to go. And CB.

Have you taken the Chipman Portage? If so, what was your route? Do you have a log we could look over?

I have not yet done it, it's on my list.
Do you the canoe sask route docu?
http://canoesaskatchewan.rkc.ca/route26.htm
I have always thought those files are pretty good.

Also, people regularly still use the route, not many, but enough. If you want first hand account, you should be able to find someone online by searching. Even post a new message at myccr.

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Brian
http://www.JohnstonPursuits.ca

 

Doug Said "pak boats may handle the Armark in lower water later in the year. We beat up a royalex in high water"
Really english is my first language!
What I meant to say was pak may handle the Armark in lower water but you'll have to be careful, we really beat up a royalex boat in high water when we did it. The key details for the portage from the back drainage to the Armark are in my trip report the north arm of Gary lake is really pretty. Let me me know if you need more info

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These waves didn't look that big when I scouted it!