Auyuittuq Classic Traverse - Baffin Island
Hiking Pangnirtung Pass at the Arctic Circle
Canada’s northern landscape has long inspired writers, artists and explorers, and a select few have come north to experience this grandeur first hand. Established in 1972, Canada’s Auyuittuq National Park ‘the land that never melts’ is an example of such a northern magnificent landscape. Located on Cumberland Peninsula, Baffin Island the vast ice and snow of the Penny Highlands mantle 6,000 square kilometers of this peninsula which is drained by outlet glaciers on all sides with some up to twenty-five kilometers long and extending gradually to the sea while others drop dramatically from heights of 1500 meters to nearly sea level in only a few kilometers. The towering sheer faces of Mounts Asgard, Thor, Overlord impress the visitor hiking along the Canadian Shield country with a comparable rich flora in the protected valley bottoms where caribou and hare graze and tundra-nesting birds can be found.
Our Auyuittuq Classic Traverse two week backpacking expedition is for the experienced hiker who enjoys the challenge of walking over uneven terrain and joining the group for river crossings. The trek starts in Qikiqtarjuaq (Broughton Island) where we will travel by boat to the start of our adventure. This classic traverse will take us through several remote passes to Pangnirtung.
The drama in this magnificent Arctic landscape, accented by the rich colors exposed in the terrain, will leave you awestruck and inspired to photograph, and our time on Baffin Island will be one of discovery and great beauty as we join the ranks of a select few who have traveled through this special area.
Highlights
-
Expedition visits three northern settlements: Iqaluit, Qikiqtarjuaq and Pangnirtung
-
Expedition travels in full view of the majestic glaciers and peaks of the Penny Ice cap
-
Char fishing in Koluktoo Bay
-
Dramatic arctic light for photography
-
Extraordinary silence and solitude.
Trip Details
-
14-day trip begins in Qikiqtarjuaq and finishes in Pangnirtung,Nunavut.
-
Trip includes transfers from Qikiqtarjuaq and to Pangnirtung
-
Two guides, meals, tents, satellite phone and safety gear are included.
Itinerary-in-Brief
More information about this trip is available in our in-depth Trip Information Package. Please contact our office to receive these detailed materials.
Day 1: The group flies north from to Qikiqtarjuaq from Ottawa via Iqaluit on First Air. Upon arrival in Qikiqtarjuaq, you will be transferred to your local accommodation. We will meet for trip orientation and dinner. Overnight Qikiqtarjuaq.
Day 2: Weather and ice conditions permitting, we will be transferred by boat to the trail head (L/D included)
Days 3-12: We will spend the next 11 days traversing the park. The guides will decide which route the group will take to the Pangnirtung trailhead with their decision dedicated by the weather and the group condition. Our expedition is over uneven terrain, crosses rivers, and requires everyone carry a substantial backpack. The scenery on this trip changes daily, with almost each day becoming more beautiful then the last. Throughout the course of the trip your guides will provide informal commentary on the flora, geology, birdlife, and geographical features of the High Arctic. (B/L/D included)
Day 13: The group will be picked up and transferred back to Pangnirtung where we will overnight in a local hotel. (B/L included)
Day 14: The morning will be free to explore the hamlet of Pangnirtung before transferring to the airport in time to connect with the First Air flight to Iqaluit and Ottawa.