One last guided journey on the Barrenlands
In 2019, Jackpine Paddle took over operations in the central barrenlands from legendary canoe guide Alex Hall.
Alex spent forty-six years paddling under big tundra skies, sharing the central barrens with more than two thousand clients. He saw more than a million barren-ground caribou, more than a hundred grizzlies, thousands of muskox, and more than one thousand Arctic wolves—his favourite species.
On March 2, 2019, after an eleven-month battle with cancer, Alex passed away peacefully at home in Fort Smith, NWT.
Dan Wong, owner of Jackpine Paddle, now takes nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts into the Barrenlands every summer. Here, Dan tells the story of the significance behind a wolf sighting the summer after Alex passed away:
In his award-winning book Discovering Eden, Alex wrote:
“The Barren Lands have become my religion, my church; they’re sacred ground. I worship them. My soul is there. That is why my ashes will go there one day, so my body and spirit will remain part of the Barren Lands forever.”
Prior to his passing, Alex and I spent many hours going over a career’s worth of detailed map and route information, in preparation for the upcoming season. Alex pointed out the locations of dozens of wolf dens he had marked.
Throughout that summer, my fellow Jackpine Paddle guides, our guests and I searched in vain for Alex’s wolf dens. Getting into August, we had yet to find a single one.
On August 12, 2019, we were hiking off the Horton River during a guided canoe trip with five guests and we decided to crest one final ridge before calling it a day and heading back to camp. Unknown to us, an active Arctic wolf den lay on the opposite side of the hill.
As we reached the summit, the adult wolves darted away from the den, yipping and howling. We froze. At this moment, two Arctic wolf puppies came bounding back to the den—headed straight for us!
Roughly 20 metres from us, the wolf puppies came to a skidding stop in the sand esker. We must have been the first humans they’d ever seen! After a second of shock (on all sides), the puppies bounded off towards the safety of an alternative den site.
As if to complete this Arctic safari, one of the guests then shouted “Look!” and pointed to a nearby open stand of white spruce trees. There, across a carpet of lichen, a lone male muskoxen sauntered along.
The excitement was infectious, as we all agreed we had made the right decision to crest that one final ridge. We had found our first wolf den that day.
As it turned out, this was the same day Alex’s ashes returned to the barrens, more than 600 kilometres away. Alex’s sons Graham and Evan, stepdaughter Esmee, stepson Dominic, and widow Robyn Hall stepped out of a Turbo Otter floatplane sponsored by Northwestern Airlease, and spread his ashes on top of a magnificent esker overlooking the Elk River, a major tributary of the Thelon River.
Remote canoe expeditions in the Northwest Territories can be full of magic and unforgettable experiences. August 12, 2019 is a day we will never forget.
Dan Wong
Owner of Jackpine
Check out the great experiences that Jackpine Paddle has to offer here
Related Stories
Intriguing tales from Canada's Northwest Territories
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
With over 30 years of living in Yellowknife, we offer a variety of tourism experiences for our guests. We are......
Red Cliff Adventures has a traditional camp that is located in Lutsel K’e, on the shores of the East Arm,......
Commercial air charter service providing air support for hikers on Canol Road, sightseeing in the beautiful Mackenzie Mountains, and fly-in fishing......
Best Northern Road Trip! Now you can drive all the way to the Arctic ocean linking Canada from coast to......
Destination NWT Limited is a tourism operator located in Yellowknife, Canada. DNWT specializes in outdoors adventures, aurora photography, and cultural experiences: Best rated Snowmobile Tour, winter gears included, exciting trail riding Aurora Tour in a Luxurious lakeside Lodge Unique Aurora tour while Ice Fishing indoors Full panoramic moonroof vehicle for Aurora Viewing DNWT’s tours allow […]...
DISCOVER A MOMENT THAT LASTS A LIFETIME. Aylmer Lake Lodge is located in Rocknest Bay, which is on the Barren......
We are the Łı́ı́dlı̨́ı̨́ Kų́ę́ got’ine. People of the community of Łı́ı́dlı̨́ı̨́ Kų́ę́, “the place where rivers come together”, in......
Tundra North Travel is an Inuit company based in Inuvik, Northwest Territories that was established with the dream of being......
For over 30 years, Canoe North Adventures has made it our mission to create spectacular memories for life, and to show......
What began as a “part time fishing lodge” has now become a “full time Aurora Wilderness Lodge” open year round......
For a Great Northern Experience! Yellowknife Outdoor Adventures offers a variety of day trips ranging from 2 to 10 hours......
Comfortable lodge a 20 minute by floatplane ride from Yellowknife. Guided fishing for Lake Trout (to 34 lb), Arctic Grayling (to......
Book an adventure with us at Trail Blazer Tours for an unforgettable experience! Your adventure with us will create lasting......
100% Indigenous owned! We are the world’s first Aurora Hunting tour company, we know Aurora. Learn about Aurora, why Yellowknife is the......
We are an Inuvialuit owned and operated family business, run by locals Enoch and Amanda Pokiak, based in Inuvik in the Western......
If are looking for a spectacular weekend retreat nestled in the serenity of the Mackenzie Mountains at Ten Stone Mountain Lodge. North-Wright......
Join us for an unforgettable experience on the mighty Mackenzie River. Day trips are available for a full or half......
Remote private wilderness paradise on Little Doctor Lake, 100 km west of Fort Simpson. Accommodates 20 in cabins. Fishing, swimming,......
Come experience world-class Aurora Borealis viewing in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. We are the only guides in the Northwest Territories......
For over 50 years, Black Feather has had the opportunity to operate canoe, hiking and sea kayaking expeditions throughout the......
Tukto Lodge has been exceeding anglers’ expectations for more than fifty years. As the only fishing and eco-tourism lodge in......
Northern and Remote Wilderness Adventures Ltd. (NARWAL) is a small, friendly, majority Aboriginal owned and operated family business. Our reputation......
Unplug from the commonplace with our Northwest Territories canoe and kayak expeditions. We specialize in true wilderness adventures to the......
Yellow Dog Lodge is a comfortable lodge with 3 private cabins for our guests. The lodge is a short (15 minute) floatplane ride from Yellowknife. Located on Duncan and Graham Lakes, the lodge is your hub for adventure. Choose from an additional 5 lakes for guided day trip excursions. Each lake is unique and offers unspoiled first class fishing. We are the only lodge that operates guided trips on each of these remote lakes located in the NWT taiga wilderness. Packaged trips feature superb sport fishing and safe outdoor adventure. The lakes and streams offer the finest Lake Trout, Northern Pike, Walleye and Arctic Grayling in the region. As an added bonus, our guests will enjoy the midnight sun and may even catch the northern lights later in the fall or early spring....
Gana River Outfitters is a family owned and operated outfitting business offering remote wilderness hunts in the beautiful Mackenzie Mountains......
Arctic Tours Canada is a Yellowknife based tour operating company that offer Aurora Hunting and Viewing tours, Yellowknife sightseeing tours,......
Outfitting to all of us is a way of life, one that we cherish because we love to hunt, love the......
Peterson’s Point Lake Lodge provides you access to known waters teeming with monster lake trout. Their current record is a......
Aurora Village – A Class of Its Own Aurora Village is a unique Aurora-viewing facility situated 25 minutes from downtown......
Book this entire cabin in the remote wilderness of the stunningly breath-taking, Mackenzie Mountains. This cabin is hands down the......
Create your own story. We offer a variety of services to make your Sahtu adventure a reality! We offer everything from......
Pehdzeh Ki First Nation is located in the community of Wrigley, Northwest Territories, Canada. We are a Designated Authority in......
Welcoming and friendly with a rustic charm and all modern conveniences, Grey Goose Lodge immediately catches your eye as you......
For 35 years, Sambaa K’e has offered world-class fishing on Trout Lake just north of the Northwest Territories-British Columbia border.......
Fishing and Barrenlands wildlife photography, including migrating caribou, at the Obstruction Rapids in the central Barrenlands north of Yellowknife....
To truly experience the Northwest Territories, take your camping gear for a highway driving adventure! Long ribbons of road without......
Remote naturalist’s lodge snuggled in the Mackenzie Mountains, in the largest mountain wilderness in North America. Located along the Canol......
Beaufort Sea Adventures is a family-owned and Indigenous-operated business, proudly offering Arctic experiences in Tuktoyaktuk. Our family lives and breathes the North, giving us a unique insight into the hidden gems that make Tuktoyaktuk truly special. We offer guests an authentic cultural immersion, sharing our Inuvialuit heritage, stories, and deep connection to the land and […]...
Arctic Red River Outfitters is a family run business in the Northern Mackenzie Mountains in the Northwest Territories of Canada.......
An Arctic Barrenlands trophy fishing adventure for the serious sportsman. Located on Lynx Lake (420 km east of Yellowknife) Lynx......
Call us about our exciting year-round packages and experience the best of the Dehcho region and Denendeh....
Aurora viewing tours, city tours, and hikes at Cameron Falls. We book all your activities and accommodation....
Explore the wild splendor of the northern boreal plains, where whooping cranes call and bison roam free. Visitor reception centres......
Providing culturally based tours of Tuktoyaktuk with an opportunity to dip your toes in the Arctic Ocean! Ask us about......
We offer: Nature and wildlife viewing Snowmobile tours Fishing tours Boat tours Polar bear and muskox hunts. Contact us for......
We run a small all-inclusive lodge that can handle ten people at a time. From this lodge we organize hunting......
Family owned and operated tour company specializing in Arctic expedition cruising....