06/01/2026 - Pak Boats
Prep has officially started!
On Monday, it was great to have most of the crew together to begin preparation for the trip! We started with a review of knots before we worked on the Pak Boats, which is a different type of canoe than used on a first-year trip. Pak Boats pack down into a bag about the size of a large suitcase. They are much lighter than Royalex canoes, but are assembled with aluminum tubing. This is necessary to transport them back from Kugluktuk. We put all six boats together to make sure no parts were missing, broken, or needed to be repaired.
Assembling and repairing the Pak Boats took a little bit longer than anticipated, but it was exciting to be working with our equipment and watch this trip come to life.
06/02/2026 - Beef Jerky Day
Beef Jerky Day is the first of two days during preparation when all of the crews are together in the same spot. This day consists of cutting lots and lots of beef jerky strips. The jerky is then marinated for a day or two and placed into the dehydrators to be used as our main protein source every day for lunch.
In classic voyageur tradition, our crew used this day as an opportunity to ask the girls of the Far North Crew on a crew date. We will be having a potluck-style breakfast with their crew on Monday, just one day before sending them off on their trip.
06/03/2026 - Maps, Tents and Tarp
On Wednesday, we started our meeting by talking about our goals and what we are looking forward to on this trip. Brainstorming before mapping out our route and getting on the trail is helpful to see where everyone’s mind is at, so we know what to prioritize during the trip. While we were inside, we also went over different river features and what to think about when shooting whitewater to help prepare for paddling the Sauk River and the St. Louis River.
Next, we got outside and refreshed our memories on setting up a tarp before practicing setting up tents. The tents we will use this summer are different than last year. We are bringing four Hilleberg tents, which are easier to set up (which is always a plus), but more importantly, a lot warmer for the cold nights that could happen this summer.
Last, we ended the meeting by setting up all the maps and planning out our days for the trip.
06/04/2026 - Sauk River
Thursday, we were back on the water!
Last week, we met with the crew in groups to brush up on paddling skills. Paddling the Sauk River was a great way to put some of those skills to use. The water levels were a little low, but it was still great practice for some of the technical sections on the Coppermine.