© Lonnie Brock

Paddle DreamingThe magical relationship between the paddler, boat and the waters they navigate is both powerful and unexplainable – it just is. Ecoventures is proud to have been sponsoring unique and wild river expeditions in the far north since 1976, on some of the most incredible waterways of the world…

Join us in the Arctic and sub Arctic of the NWT / Nunavut to explore the awesome eskers of the snowdrift, or paddle amidst the caribou and musk ox of the Thelon River… or kayak the remote wilderness lakes of the upper Thelon!

Great Canadian Ecoventures expeditions, depending on the trip, are accessed through Yellowknife NWT and occasionally via Baker Lake, Cambridge Bay and Gjoa Haven, Nunavut. Yellowknife can easily be reached with one-day air connections from anywhere in North America. Contact us or your travel agent for specific details.

We are the gateway to the Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary

In Memory of Galen & Barbara RowellDuring a special moment in September, 2000 – Barbara Rowell and I sat watching, while staying out of the way of Galen, as he spent hours shooting macro around a beautiful esker pond on the upper Thelon River (one of his favorite places). During those hours, Barbara talked of her past, of flying airplanes, about their new house, and about the future. Her excitement towards life was catching! During the flight back to camp that day in our Cessna 206 floatplane, we scouted a new esker below that Galen wanted to explore on his next, and forth trip with us to the Thelon. Little did I know then, that would be the last time I would see either of them, both having lost their lives in a tragic air accident outside their hometown in California this past August.

During Galen’s several trips to the north, he included photography taken on the Thelon in two books and in Outdoor Photographer magazine. He wrote letters to the Canadian Government in support of the continued protection of the Thelon and brought a lot of credibility to our little photography camp. They went from being important clients to true friends. Although their untimely death is surely a tragedy, Galen & Barbara’s work will always remain immortalized. Nature at its best, as shot through the eyes of the world’s greatest nature photography couples. We at Ecoventures will sorely miss them both…

Tundra Tom

© Scott Schrader

Photo by Oystein Kohn

Great Canadian WildernessP.O. Box 64, Lutsel K’e, NT • X0E 1A0 Canada

Phone: 1-800-667-WILD (9453)Overseas Phone: 867-370-3500 or 780-628-4650

Fax: 866-416-5548tundra@thelon.com • www.thelon.com

We are a fully bonded company with best of references available by request.

© Galen RowellMountain Light

There’s magic in the Arctic aircaribou stirring everywhere

wild wolves howling across barren landsfire flames flicker on soft esker sands

Aurora dance bright across the cool autumn nightdarkened trees shimmer with shadows of light

west breeze whispers more weather fair;oh, there’s magic in the Arctic night air…

Photo Copyright Stephen G. Maka

© Eric Peterson

Great Canadian Ecoventures’ promise to you…“The North has always been, and probably always will be – a meeting place for unlikely characters…”Throughout circumpolar history, many a famous alliance – both holy and less savory – have been established around remote campfires, in musky trappers cabins, on the steps of trading posts and the dark corners of pubs. People who meet in the isolated climes share a common bind by the very act of just being in such a place, and often will become fast friends for life. Knowing this, we at Ecoventures nurture each and every guest with the confidence that we will become good friends... for always.

As veteran wildlife guides and bush pilots, we have spent many years designing and leading unprecedented adventures to the most remote, little known regions in Northern Canada. Using the very best of modern technology and combining it with two generations of Arctic experience allow us to present distant travels in safety, with style, and with charm. To accomplish this end, we have the privilege of working with some of the best guides available – for Ecoventures knows that we can only be as good as the leaders who represent us in

the field. Although we are educators in our respective fields, we never lose focus of the fact that we too are students of the mysteries of nature. While exploring together with you, we will learn and share new discoveries side by side. Knowing that, ultimately, the good word of our clients is everything, we are only satisfied when we have succeeded in helping make your adventure with us the very best on which you have ever been…

So strap on your camera pack & boots, grab your favorite paddle, turn the pages – and let us share our discoveries with you at some of the most secret, wild places remaining on earth…” (Tundra) Tom Faess

Here’s what some of our clients have to say…Art Wolfe“I valued my time spent in the Thelon country as a visit to one of the most impressive scenic locations in all of North America.”

Galen Rowell“I was amazed to be able to get photos that I never would have imagined were possible on the open tundra.”

Dr. L. David Mech“The Thelon area is great country. Our group saw wolves, musk-oxen, and caribou on a daily basis. It was a wonderful trip.”

The very best of camps and equipment!Ecoventures offers first-rate mobile tent base-camps, watercraft and equipment suitable to Arctic conditions. These remote camps offer the safety of satellite telephones. Aircraft are often kept on-site for emergency support and – combined with GPS technology – for keeping tabs on wildlife positions!

Dance with the WildlifeThrough the eye of the camera or the eye of the beholder, Ecoventures offers truly unique boat and aircraft supported wildlife basecamps at some of the most remote locations on mainland Canada.

We pride ourselves in that we only view animals in their natural habitat in the true wild, without the use of any artificial means such as baiting, captivity collars or implanted radio devices.

You can ‘Dance with Caribou’ in the Arctic autumn, see the great summer southbound caribou migration, or stalk herds of musk-oxen on the remote tundra.

Remarkable Wilderness & Wildlife Expeditions for the Camera, Paddle, Heart and Soul Remarkable Wilderness & Wildlife Expeditions for the Camera, Paddle, Heart and Soul

© Michael H. Francis © Terry Elliott

© Michael H. Francis

© Galen RowellMountain Light

© Lonnie Brock

© Terry Elliott

© Terry Elliott

© Christian Heeb

© Art Wolfe

© Michelle Wallace

© Bill Silliker, Jr.

Swirling northern lights on cool autumn nights, ptarmigan cackling, moose wading, grizzly wandering, peregrine & gyrfalcon nesting, the list of incredible wild encounters goes on and on…

…and because we know that there is as much of a universe to explore underfoot as there is on outbound treks, our programs are designed for all paces, interests and ages. We offer the hard wild – with the soft touch.

The ‘Dreamcatcher’ ExpeditionsA bridge between two worldsDuring our years of trekking through the wilderness, we have had the privilege to discover many forgotten sites of our Canadian Native and early explorer heritage. Allow us to introduce you – with great respect – to some of the mysterious ‘ghosts of history’ that haunt our northern lands…

…or trek a traditional portage route and with us, explore old cabins and settlement ruins to learn about the rather brief and bizarre history of the barrenland trappers. Visit traditional tundra hunt-ing grounds of the Chipewyan Dene’ or explore secret caves in the remote mountains of Nahanni…

We can show you the stones and bones of ancient Dene’ tent rings, chipping stations, and abandoned villages in the Northwest Territories; or visit the lonely sentinels of Inuit ‘inukshuck’ in the remote Nunavut mainland…

You can choose to meet and travel with the native Elders of this land and learn their traditional lifestyles. Either as part of our regular basecamp and canoe programs, or with the new Dreamcatch Expeditions, we offer you little-known and often unwritten segments of history like it’s never been presented before…

Dance with the WildlifeYou can visit with tundra wolves and their pups during the den cycle, and observe cross-fox and their kits for hours on end.

Remarkable Wilderness & Wildlife Expeditions for the Camera, Paddle, Heart and Soul Remarkable Wilderness & Wildlife Expeditions for the Camera, Paddle, Heart and Soul© David Welling

© Terry Elliott

© Lonnie Brock

Photo Copyright Stephen G. Maka

© Michael H. Francis

© Terry Elliott

© Art Wolfe

© Lonnie Brock

© MichaelFrancis