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A 66-Day Journey
Down the Mackenzie River,
Along the Arctic Coast,
and Down the Thelon River
Copyright © 1997 - 2024 Ray Jardine
Map (Open with google Earth or CalTopo)
Introduction
The previous year Jenny and I had paddled our home-built sea-kayak "Siku Kayak" all the way across the top of Alaska and a ways into Canada. Our goal for that trip was to reach the next Inuit hamlet called Tuktoyaktuk. However, we were stopped by pack ice, eleven miles short of Herschel Island. We had been paddling all summer, and by then the season was late. Winter was just around the corner. With no open leads ahead, we turned around - and in ever thickening ice we barely managed to paddle 100 miles back to Kaktovik. And from its airport flew home.
Our turnaround point had been on the Arctic Coast at a place the Inuit call Nunaluk (NOON-a-luck).
This year's plan was to continue our Arctic Coastal journey from where we left off, and paddle a new and improved home-built sea-kayak. So we spent several long winter months in our home in Oregon, building the new kayak, sewing new clothing, and preparing for the next summer's endeavors.
And with the new kayak finished, we named her "Nunaluk."
