JOLLY TO COURAGEOUS TO AYLMER – CANOE EXPEDITION
This is a stunning trip through lesser-known parts of the tundra, where you will canoe down small rivers connecting massive lakes, beside eskers, rolling hills, and glacial erratics. Very few people have travelled this route – and that means hard work. There are up to 10 portages on this two-week trip, depending on water levels. The reward is the scenery, the remoteness, and the satisfaction of doing what few people have done. You will see many species of birds, and will likely see larger wildlife including grizzly bears, muskox, moose, fox and wolf. Depending on the season, you may even see caribou.
You do not need to be an advanced paddler. You do need to be looking for a challenge and be willing to carry heavy loads over uneven ground. If you are looking for a relaxing (but still adventurous) trip with more paddling and less portaging, the trip from Aylmer Lake to Artillery Lake might be the one for you.
With our camps at both Jolly Lake and Courageous Lake, you can choose the trip length that work best for you. Starting from Jolly Lake takes you through the last pockets of trees into the open tundra, while starting from Courageous Lake keeps you well above the treeline.
Jolly Lake Trip
17 day trip – 13 days of paddling plus 2 designated rest days and 2 flex days
Courageous Lake Trip
14 day trip – 11 days of paddling plus 1 designated rest day and 2 flex days
Storms in the arctic are not uncommon and weather is unpredictable. It is possible that we will have days where the lakes will be too rough to paddle safely. There is a chance that we will not reach Aylmer Lake Lodge and will be picked up by floatplane if our time runs out before we make it there. This is just part of the excitement of arctic trips!
$________.___ USD plus 5% tax per person.
Based from out of Yellowknife, NWT float plane base. Minimum 4 people
Canoe Activities Each Day
Following prescribed route
Aylmer Lake Lodge will supply the following:
- canoes, PFDs, paddles, throwbags, dry barrels, dry bags.
- Note: if you have your own pfd, paddle, or dry bags feel free to bring them
- shelter and kitchen gear other than your thermos and water bottle.
- breakfast, lunch, and supper on the canoe trip.
- safety equipment such as InReach and first-aid kits.
Accommodations
Tent Camp
Food
3 meals per day at the lodge, on the trail or in camp
Equipment
16′ Lund or Crestliner Boats, equipped with swivel seats, motors & fuel.
Lifejackets
GPS
EQUIPMENT
- sleeping bag – Rated to -5 or -10°C.
- insulated sleeping pad
- sunglasses with strap – also bring a strap for prescription glasses if you wear them.
- extra prescription glasses or contacts – if needed.
- sun screen
- lip balm/sun screen
- bug spray
- tough garbage bags – 4 (these are for putting wet clothes in your barrel so you don’t get dry clothes wet).
- toiletries – bring the minimum (tooth brush and tooth paste) – no need for perfume or even deodorants.
- full roll of toilet paper in a zip-lock bag with a small bottle of hand sanitizer.
- water bottle – min. 1 litre. Bring two if you like.
- leakproof insulated bottle (recommended if you want warm drinks in the canoe)
- carabiners to clip water bottles into the boat
- small travel towel
- personal snacks
- headlamp – bring extra batteries (early season trips likely won’t need this, late season will)
OPTIONAL
- journal and pen or pencil
- camera and waterproof case
- tripod
- binoculars
- fishing rod and small tackle box
Clothing
(NO COTTON other than t-shirts, shorts, and underwear)
Important in the North:
- Bug shirt (bugshirt.com elite edition recommended)
- Bug hood or headnet (optional)
Wicking/Base Layers:
- long sleeved tops – 2
- long johns – 2
Insulation/Mid Layers (Fleece or Wool):
- long sleeved tops – 2
- pants – 1
- jacket – puffy or warm fleece for cold evenings in camp
Wind and Rain/Outer Layers:
- Rain jacket with hood – 1
- Rain pants – 1
- Dry pants – 1 (optional, but recommended)
- Wind jacket -1 (must be breathable)
- Quick drying hiking pants – 2 (must be breathable)
Head Gear:
- Toque – 2
- Buff or neck warmer – 1 (no cotton buffs – these are common)
- Sun and rain hat – 1 (can be a simple baseball cap)
Hand Gear:
- River gloves – 2 pair (either neoprene gloves, a wool glove inside a rubber glove, or waterproof insulated gloves)
- Gloves to protect hands from mosquitos – these could be one of your paddling gloves that are not too warm, or they could be a pair of work gloves
- Warm gloves or mitts for camp – 1 pair
Footwear:
- Wool socks – 6 pair (one dry pair for at sleeping / around camp, and enough to get through a lot of wet days before we have a warm day to dry them)
- River shoes – 1 pair (these are the shoes you will wear in the canoe every day. Can be a pair of runners with neoprene socks, or can be neoprene rubber boots such as a pair of Muck or Bogg boots, or neoprene booties to go over dry pants. Sandals are not recommended unless they are very sturdy.)
- Hiking boots – 1 pair – waterproof is good, the ground is often wet and very uneven.
- Camp shoes – 1 pair (these you will never wear on the river. Keep them dry. This can be a pair of runners or rubber boots).
Other:
- t-shirts – 2 (these can be cotton, but ideally wool or synthetic)
- shorts – 1 pair (quick drying)
- underwear – as needed
- swimwear (optional)
- small towel (optional)
ITINERARY
IF YOU START AT JOLLY LAKE:
DAY 1
6km – This is a short, easy day to get used to loading and paddling the canoes. We start at the camp on the east end of Jolly Lake and canoe into the unnamed river that leads to Courageous Lake. After one shallow section where we may have to line the canoes, we camp on a beautiful esker with sandy sections and quite a few spruce trees around.
DAY 2
9km – We start off canoeing a narrow river running beside the esker. This section contains two likely portages and a few places where we will line the canoes. We’re not going far, so we’ll have time to enjoy the scenery along the way. Depending on the season, we may be able to snack on abundant cloudberries by one of the portages.
DAY 3
9km – We start off canoeing a narrow river running beside the esker. This section contains two likely portages and a few places where we will line the canoes. We’re not going far, so we’ll have time to enjoy the scenery along the way. Depending on the season, we may be able to snack on abundant cloudberries by one of the portages.
DAY 4
0km – Rest / hiking day. The camp is on a different part of the same esker that we explored at lunch on the previous day. There are many opportunities for hiking and exploring, with beautiful views out over the lake.
DAY 5
30km – Today is a long paddling day after our rest yesterday. Our goal is to get across Courageous Lake and into the Snake River to a picturesque camping spot.
IF YOU START AT COURAGEOUS LAKE:
DAY 4 (1)
16km – A reasonable day of lake paddling to get used to loading, canoeing, and setting up camp. We will likely camp on an island in Courageous Lake.
DAY 5 (2)
14km – We enter the Snake River and camp on a beautiful esker sticking out into the Snake river.
Starting AT Both Jolly & Courageous, BOTH OF The TRIPS END THE SAME FROM HERE
DAY 6 (3)
17km – We paddle most of the Snake River, through islands and eskers, with some rapids and rocks. We may have a portage, depending on water levels.
DAY 7 (4)
14km – We enter the Snake River and camp on a beautiful esker sticking out into the Snake river.
DAY 8 (5)
20km – This is a lake paddling day, weather permitting. We head north on MacKay and cross over to the east side, past many islands.
DAY 9 (6)
15km – We say goodbye to MacKay Lake and enter the Lockhart River. The current will push us along, but there will be at least one portage and likely a lot of lining canoes.
DAY 10 (7)
18km – The last day of real river paddling. There are lots of rapids near the end to line and portage. We camp near a small set of falls (or large rapids) beside an esker.
DAY 11 (8)
0km – A perfect rest or hiking day if we’re not behind schedule – hike along the esker, fish below the falls, relax on a sandy beach, or visit and play games in camp.
DAY 12 (9)
16km – We paddle across the first of Outram Lakes, portaging or lining our last set of rapids, and camping on another esker.
DAY 13 (10)
24km – Another relatively long paddling day, out into Aylmer Lake, passing some steep hills and camping near the mouth of the Thonokied River.
DAY 14 (11)
30km – Our last long paddling day with a big crossing on Aylmer Lake if the weather permits. We end up on a rocky point with a beautiful beach.
DAY 15 (12)
15km – A reasonably short day now that we’re seasoned paddlers. We canoe into Aylmer Lake Lodge and enjoy not having to set up tents, appreciating luxuries like electricity and internet!
FINAL INFORMATION