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"The Changing Page" |
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Stories, Trip Updates, and Newsflashes! |
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A message from Tundra Tom: January & February 2008:
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Greetings from the Far North! For those wondering about the rumours that I am retiring, click here for a recent update! Many changes are going on in the Far North these days - from global warming effects on the esker kettles, diminishing water levels, to wildlife migratory routes and ranges being impacted such as polar bear habitat and diminishing caribou herds on the tundra. Even though answers as to the reasons as to why this is happening is still being studied (with results often being kept from the public), the ongoing discovery of diamonds & uranimum are still opening even more wilderness to new mining developments. Environmental studies on wildife impact that are now required by the northern Governments are usually nothing much more than a big paperwork shuffle, that allows only the biggest corporations - usually foreign conglomerates - to be the only players who can afford to complete the process. However, amidst all this doom & gloom, there is a spark of light at the end of the tunnel for the remote upper Thelon and the East Arm of Great Slave Lake regions - read more about these issues below; and also learn more about our upcoming expeditions and projects to the remote northern Arctic & sub-Arctic regions of Northern Canada!
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Maybe there is hope for us after all - the Environmental Review Board recommends protective status for the Upper Thelon Basin! As the on-going development of diamonds & uranium spread across the Canadian Northern mainland, so does encroachment upon some of our very last critical North American wilderness areas. The Thelon basin is indeed such a critical place. Acknowledged in importance by some of the world's leading nature photographers and travelers, the upper Thelon is a magical area of aboriginal history & powers, untouched wildlife and raw nature. Following a lifetime of guiding & flying photographers to this remote region, in January 2007,'Tundra Tom' gave a demonstration about the critical biological importance of this unique wilderness region at a special meeting held in Lutsel K'e, NWT by the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board (MVEIRB) to discuss an application about diamond drilling for uranium on the ipper helon basin... and we WON (for the time being)!! Click here or on photo to read the CBC News article about the MVEIRB conclusions and results of that meeting, or download the MVEIRB final report in PDF. |
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 George
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International Crane Foundation Heads Back North! In August 2006, George Archibald and 12 members of the International Crane Foundation of Baraboo, Wisconsin returned back North for another unique special wildlife tour. This unique two-week expedition - designed specifically for the ICF to visit Wood Buffalo National Park and the Whooping Crane nesting area of which they help to protect; spent another week with us and the wildlife of the Thelon. the trip included visits to the Northern Communities of Fort Smith, Lutsel K'e and Yellowknife. George has already booked space for another trip back to the Thelon country in 2009! Click here to read more of what George wrote about his special 2006 trip! |
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Dancing with Wolves! We are very proud to announce that our 2007 'Dance with Wolves' trips again produced 100% success with sightings of either adult wolves and/or pups for all participants.This year we had two adults with one pup denning directly behind the main wildlife camp in early July, who then moved further out to 'bird' esker - a few miles away in mid-July. We also discovered a second active den on the lake at Daoust's esker - with three adults and five wooly pups! Click on photo to learn more about our unique 2009 'Dance with Wolves' trips to the Canadian North! |
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Our new state-of-the-art upper Thelon naturalist eco-Lodge is open for business! With the new building shell having gone up in August 2004 with high-speed satellite internet installed, and the floor laid out in 2005, we opened our new lodge on the upper Thelon in August 2006. The lodge hosts a commercial kitchen; a dining room capable of seating 15 people comfortably; and a large open living / seating room area. For photographers, there is also a digital download station with a computer hooked up to high-speed satellite internet; a battery charging station with multiple outlets; and a rich library of historical and natural history material relevant to the area. Next season we hope to take it the next step that will include installing a combination solar & wind power system; a washroom with propane-fired toilet; and a confectionary store. We will eventually be set up for presentations & slide shows with a overhead LCD projector & sound system for PowerPoint. It is an ideal facility and location for organizations looking for a place to hold mid-summer retreats or small-group meetings in the true wilderness. |
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Welcome Back, Mr. Elliott! After a three-year absense, we were excited to have one of our main trip leaders return again to work with us in the upper Thelon in 2007. For a nine year period Terry Elliott worked as our main field manager and naturalist interpreteur in the remote Thelon country of the NWT & Nunavut. Recently, Terry & another of our past upper Thelon guides: Andrew MacPherson tried to purchase the Great Canadian company from Tundra Tom. Unfortunately, apparently their financial backers got 'cold feet' on the 11th hour, mostly after realizing just how difficult the Government of the Northwest Territories is to deal with, and how much interference they can choose to run aganst private eco-operators. Too bad - hopefully it will still come together for them... Stay tuned for any new developments as to just how an honest & ethical business attempt in eco-tourism is now being conducted by these two fellow guides - and trusted friends - to whom we pretty well taught 'from the heart' virtually everything we know about the Thelon country, the wildlife and the barrenlands... It could turn out to be quite the story indeed! |
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New East Arm National Park in the NWT a BIG step closer to reality! The East Arm National Park has been on the table for over 32 years, and came a very real step closer to reality this October. It was a monumental day in Lutsel K'e when on October 13, when Federal Environment Minister Rona Ambrose and Lutsel K'e Chief Adeline Jonasson signed a 'Memorandum of Understanding' for the establishment of the Park. Treaty 8 has officially agreed to begin a feasibility study process with the Federal Government for its official creation. Once completed, the new proposed park will become the largest in Canada. Click photo to learn more from the News Parks North Website! |
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'The Final Chapter' Several years ago, Danish author & movie celebrity Publicist Annett Wolf lay on what might well have been her deathbed following critical surgery at a hospital in Copenhagen. While lying there drifting in and out of consciousness, suddenly a vivid apparition came to her - that of a wild wolf - an urgent vision that brought her back to the world of the living. Since then, it has been her personal dream and primary pursuit in life to write a book and film a movie about her own life in relation to the plight of wild wolves. Thus, the script for of 'The Final Chapter' was sparked. Annett joined us on the Thelon tundra for six weeks in 2004 to begin this unique and heartfelt project which is now well on the way: her tabletop book of the same title was recently released in Denmark. The film project is next, and we are excited that we will be starting this special project with Annett in the coming summer of 2008 - our eighth wildlife film contract. Annett wrote the following about her trip with Great Canadian: "Tom was right. I returned to civilization forever changed; I will never forget the magnificent Arctic wilderness or the extraordinary people of the Northwest Territories. Tracking the ever-elusive magical white wolf days on end was a cathartic experience. During the six weeks at the Camp at Whitefish Lake, I met some remarkable people from all walks of life. They pushed me to the limit, and inspired me to overcome my self-doubts, thus opening my eyes to the wonders of the awesome 'Barrenlands'. They taught me to see, hear, smell and listen again. A final thanks goes to the Alfa-male [wolf] whose presence made my dream come true." Annette Wolf |
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Summer Caribou Migration Photo Gallery - Christopher Crowley US wildlife photographer Chris Crowley joined us for two weeks of our 'Dance with Wolves' and 'Great Summer Caribou Migration' trips. During last day of the trip, we put Chris and companions at a major water crossing of the southbound migration of the Bathurst Caribou herd. Click here or on photo to see some more of Chris's photography and commentary of his trip! |
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Just what the heck is an esker, anyway? Winding across the Canadian northern boreal forests and tundra, eskers are excellent landmarks - are lofty highways for migrating caribou, and offer perfect den conditions for wild wolves & fox as well as roost for birds-of-prey.
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An esker on the Thelon tundra - NWT |
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Lonnie Brock & the Nature Workshops After his forth trip with us to the 'Dance with Caribou' photo camp in 2006, photographer Lonnie Brock wrote a great on-line article about his trips in the prestigious photographers' website 'Nature Photos On-line': The story is titled: 'A visit to Tundra Tom's'. Click here to read the on-line article!. Lonnie also wrote a nomination letter to support Great Canadian Wilderness as a runner-up for the World Wildlife Fund's 'Ecotourism Award': Click here to read the nomination letters.
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Well, Becky Grambo already has quite a history with Tom & Great Canadian, which began when she was twice a media guest of photo trips to the upper Thelon region arranged through Tom in 2004 & 2005, each time for a two-week period. Her husband Glen Grambo had also started as a client and later as a photo trip leader on four seperate expeditions to the upper Thelon area also through Tom - and had subsequently developed a wonderful photo stock of wildlife and Arctic landscapes while working with Great Canadian. For a brief period in 2005, Becky was acting Executive Director of Great Canadian Wilderness, which included responsibilty for the development of a long-term business plan for the corporation. |
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'Caribou & Wolves - 'The Endless Dance' In 2003 & 2004, Great Canadian Wilderness was proud to facilitate cinematographer Jeff Turner and crew of River Road Films to several wild wolf den sites, and to the Great Summer Caribou migration. Jeff got some awesome footage - with several grizzlies coming in to a remote water crossing to feed in several caribou that were stuck in the boulders of a creek crossing. During the spring of 2004, Jeff also got some quality wolf pup footage on the upper Thelon. This has resulted in an excellent wildlife documentary that was aired in the UK on BBC2 "The Natural World", and on Discovery Channels' Animal Planet in 2005. Jeff had this to say about his trips with us: "I have filmed wolves, caribou and grizzly bears in many areas of the Canadian Arctic over the past 15 years and I have to say that the area around Whitefish Lake is without a doubt the most beautiful piece of Arctic tundra I have ever experienced. It is a world class wilderness with some of the planets most spectacular scenery and wildlife that is hard if not impossible to see anywhere else. I know of no other place where you can go and watch wild wolves around their den. Wolves are one of the most difficult animals to get close to in the wild and Tom and his crew have been doing it here for years. That says a lot about their sensitivity and success as wildlife guides. Tom and his crew at Great Canadian Wilderness are ideally placed to give access to this wonderful landscape. There is no-one with more experience and knowledge of the area and they have setup a comfortable, warm and homey camp with good food and facilities in the middle of this wilderness. They live lightly on the land here trying always to keep the imprint of man to a minimum in this pristine place. I admire and appreciate the work they do and wish them much success in the future." Jeff
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During the Dance with Caribou trips, we were proud to host client Andy Kammer and his brothers Aaron & Alex. Also known as 'Adventure Andy' - Kammer used to work as a field guide himself. Andy and his tour company now offer wildlife trips to the depths of Africa, and other destinations worldwide. Click on photo to check out Andy's photo gallery about his trip! |
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Canadian wildlife photographer Dennis Fast A few seasons back, professional photographer Dennis Fast joined our autumn 'Dance with Caribou' trip. Dennis writes: I have traveled to many places in Canada and other parts of the world, but few have stirred me so deeply as the tundra and the wildlife at Whitefish Lake. In my mind I am back there already." Click on photo to visit Dennis fast's photo gallery from his trip to the Thelon! |
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We are proud to announce that in 2002, 'Tundra Tom' and Great Canadian Wilderness were nominated by past client & fellow Yukon Northerner Dr. Dave Simonson for the World Wildlife Fund International Arctic Programme Arctic Award for Linking Tourism and Conservation. Dave's initial nomination was then backed up by other client nomination letters from author Alan Weisman and photographer Lonnie Brock. Click logo at left to read these special nomination letters: |
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Photo Gallery: Photographer Steve Barger In 1999 & 2000, client photographer Steve Barger attended both our 'Dance with Wolves' program, and the Dance with Caribou trip in the autumn. Steve is one of the only photographers to get a shot of the legendary East Arm 'Kermode' Bear (a white black bear)! Steve became seriously involved in nature photography in 1990, when he and his wife, Suzanne, took their first nature photography workshop in the Eastern Sierra region of California. Since then, they have traveled to many areas in North America, to southern Africa, and to Arctic Europe. |
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Canadian Northern Lights Award for Excellence in Travel Journalism: Client & Canadian author Catherine Senecal won the prestigious ' Canadian Travel Commission's Northern Lights Award for Excellence in Travel Journalism' for best Internet Reporting. Well, Cathy's winning story was written about her trip with Great Canadian Wilderness on the 'Great Summer Caribou Migration'! Click on photo to read Catherine's on-line article, or click here to learn more about the Great Summer Caribou Migration Expedition slated for 2005. Cathy had this to say about her trip: "I loved the camp and being out on the barrens-I even love saying, "when I was out on the barren lands" to people. It makes me sound so adventurous! The truth is your trip, camp and tour make this stunning land and its animals accessible to people willing to let their minds and spirits compel them to a place perhaps more wild and epiphanic than they could have predicted.” Click photo to read Catherine's award-winning article! |
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Buried on the barrenlands of the upper Thelon River.... The Faess family - beginning with Grandfather Carl, Father Henry & Mother Marcella, and followed to this day by Tundra Tom - have together cumulatively spent the past 67 years guiding, exploring & flying the Canadian Far North... To learn more of the Faess Family history, click here or on photo! |
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Conde Nast Traveler's 'Diamonds in the Wild' article still online! The controversial article titled 'Diamonds in the Wild', excerpted from the December 2001 issue of Conde Nast Traveler magazine in on-line in our website. This feature article was result from Ecoventures hosting author / journalist Alan Weisman, accompanied by Pulitzer-prize winning photographer Jay Dickman for a 'Dance with Caribou' trip to the Thelon region on the NWT & Nunavut, on contract with Conde Naste Traveler magazine in year 2000. 'Must reading' for those thinking of coming to the Thelon - check out! - click here, or on photo at left to read the article! |
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Great Canadian Wilderness | ||
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Come
warm yourself by our fire. |
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Great Canadian Wilderness | |
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Phone: 1-800-667-9453 (Canada & USA) Overseas Phone: +807-727-3758 North American toll-free Fax: 866-416-5548 Email: tundra@thelon.com Request More Information |
Imagine our surprise when
we saw a copy of Canadian Author's Farley Mowat's new book: 'High Latitudes' - and realized that the cover photo was
taken by the late Galen Rowell near our Great Canadian wildlife camp on
the remote upper Thelon River in the NWT mainland
Arctic! Mowats' new book depicts life and changes in the North
through the eyes of the northerners that live here and own his personal
experiences. Some of his previous - and sometimes controversial
works include 'Never Cry Wolf', 'People of the Deer' and the
'Desperate People'. 
