|
Every autumn, a large number of polar bears gather on the shores of Hudson Bay waiting for the ice to form, impatiently milling about like passengers at an airport waiting for their flight. Many of them end up in the Cape Churchill area, about 25 kilometres from the northern town of Churchill. As soon as the ice forms, the bears leave the frozen tundra and move out onto the ice to hunt seals in open leads and at the floe edges. But until they go back to their solitary ways, it is possible for groups of people, travelling in specially designed all-terrain vehicles, to get safely within a few metres of these mammoth white creatures.
Our annual polar bear tour will be based in Churchill, Manitoba, the Polar Bear Capital of the World, where we have planned an exciting mix of activities. We have reserved a Tundra Buggy® for two full days, so we can observe and photograph these great bears in safety and comfort as they interact with one another. We will visit the town of Churchill and, depending on weather conditions, explore the boreal forest to the south and east of the town. Here, we hope to see red and Arctic fox, boreal chickadees, gray jays, and willow and rock ptarmigan.
We will be lodging at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, where we'll have our meals and evening presentations. If the evening skies are clear, we'll also be on the lookout for the fantastic Aurora Borealis, which is commonly seen at this time of year.
Join Justin Peter for Quest's annual trip to "the edge of the Arctic" and experience the sights and sounds of an emerging sub-Arctic winter and its wildlife. |
|
| FACTS: |
| • | 5-day trip |
| • | Maximum 18 participants |
| • | Start and finish in Churchill, Manitoba |
| • | Dormitory style accommodation at the Churchill Northern Study Centre |
|
| HIGHLIGHTS: |
| • | Viewing and photographing the polar bears from the comfort and safety of our Tundra Buggies |
| • | Looking for Arctic fox, snowy owls, gyrfalcons, common eiders and willow ptarmigan |
| • | Dog-sledding on the tundra |
|
| ACTIVITY LEVEL: |
| • | Easy to Moderate. While this is not a particularly strenuous trip, and none of our hikes are particularly long or fast, you should bear in mind that walking on rough paths or on the tundra is sometimes more difficult than on hard ground or pavement. Good winter snow boots are recommended and perhaps a trekking pole for extra balance will maximize your enjoyment of this trip. Remember to also bring indoor footwear. You will also need to climb a few steps to get up into the Tundra Buggy®. |
|
| ACCOMMODATIONS: |
| Churchill Northern Studies Centre |
|
|
|
| ITINERARY IN BRIEF: |
| Day 1: |
|
Flights to Churchill |
| Day 2: |
|
Tundra Buggy®, Polar Bears |
| Day 3: |
|
Boreal Forest, Tundra Dog Sledding |
| Day 4: |
|
Tundra Buggy®, Polar Bears |
| Day 5: |
|
Depart Churchill |
|
|
|
|
 Justin works as senior naturalist at Ontario's world-renowned Algonquin Park, where he coordinates the park's interpretive program and acts as lead howler for the celebrated Public Wolf Howl events. A keen and intense observer of nature since childhood, he is always ready to point out and interpret interesting natural phenomena wherever he goes. He has travelled to India, Europe, North America, the Yucatan in Mexico and the Caribbean. Justin is particularly interested in bird behaviour. He speaks three languages fluently and dabbles in several more. He has led bird walks at Point Pelee NP during spring migration.
416-633-5666 / 1-800-387-1483
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
