PREPARING FOR ARCTIC HAVEN

August 16, 2018 | Arctic Haven

PREPARING FOR ARCTIC HAVEN

Visiting Arctic Haven this fall? Please take a moment to read these travel tips.

Autumn is around the corner and in a couple of weeks you will be boarding a plane to Yellowknife and venturing into the Barrenlands of the Arctic! It’s truly incredible how many different landscapes and ecosystems we have on this Earth. The tundra is one so foreign to the majority of us, it can be a bit difficult to wrap your head around how to prepare yourself.

Here we hope to be able to provide you with some insight and ideas to consider while preparing and packing for your experience at Arctic Haven Wilderness Lodge.

First, when it comes to certain daily activities - such as paddling - we provide each guest with high quality protective equipment such as personal flotation devices, dry suits and paddles. We recommend bringing a day pack that has a waterproof cover and a waterproof bag or protection for your camera. You may also wish to bring some optional gear depending on your interest level in certain activities. Each day - depending on expected weather conditions and interests of guests - we will present a choice of experiences that we wish to offer you. You can choose the experience that resonates most with you. Activities may include hiking, photography safaris (especially during the caribou migration!), boating, kayaking, fishing and helicopter assisted adventures. As a result of your interest in the activities, you may wish to bring along more personal gear such as extra camera batteries, extra memory cards, binoculars, fishing waders and boots, fishing rod or flies/lures, and a waterproof camera or GoPro camera (with float). We welcome you to share with us your expectations and interests for your time at Arctic Haven. We are committed to exceeding your expectations making your experience as unforgettable as possible!

Next, let’s discuss the clothing you should pack. When considering the layering system that works for you, it’s important to consider a few things:

1) The temperature ranges from -2°C (28°F) to +15°C (68°F) during the months of August and September.

2) The weather can vary including wind and rain. Snow usually does not return until October.

3) There is little to no shelter out on the tundra.

We all have unique experiences when it comes to cold weather. Some of us are furnaces, while others are chilly pretty much all of the time. The key is knowing yourself and how you react to the cold. Do you find enduring cold weather a challenge? When looking at merino base layers and insulating down or synthetic mid-layers, choose a heavier fabric or higher loft or fill power. In contrast, if you are a person who gets warm or hot quickly while moving, consider lighter, wicking fabrics. Ultimately, having three or more layers is the key, because you can take off layers gradually as you get warmer, regulating your temperature.

It is imperative that you bring with you waterproof outer layers, as rain doesn’t discourage us from getting outside! Some of the larger boats that we use to cross Ennadai Lake are covered, but even when boating, we will spend time on the land hiking to beautiful panoramic lookouts or to get closer to the migrating caribou. Along with waterproof outer layers, we recommend comfortable rubber boots. All of our staff wear and love the neoprene/rubber Muck Boots - www.muckbootcompany.com. You should also bring hiking boots/shoes as you may find them less cumbersome for longer hikes where we are not expecting to encounter much water.

Other important items you should bring include:

• Sunscreen
• Lip sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Hat
• Waterproof jacket
• Waterproof pants
• Comfortable/casual clothes for meals and relaxing around the lodge
• Base layers (we recommend merino wool), top and bottom
• Mid layers (fleece or wool)
• Insulating layers (down/synthetic down jacket or vest)
• Waterproof gloves (or mitts)
• Toque (warm hat)
• Neckwarmer/Buff
• Bathing suit (for the sauna!)
• Hiking pants
• Warm socks and socks for hiking
• Muck boots
• Hiking boots
• Comfortable shoes for around the lodge
• Chest waders & wading boots (if you’re planning on fly fishing)
• Personal items (such as your favourite camera, fly fishing gear!) and toiletries

For further assistance in preparing for Arctic Haven, we invite you to check out the Autumn Discovery Experience page of our website, where a gear list can help you with your trip preparation.

COMMUNICATING WITH ARCTIC HAVEN

Guest E-Mail: Mail@WeberArctic.com

This service is not equipped to accept images or attachments. Please specify the guest’s full name in the subject line to assure prompt delivery. This email service should not be considered for private and confidential communications.

Telephone Service: Satellite telephone service for Guests is available for emergency use only. For guests who need to stay in constant contact with their work/family commitments, we recommend bringing a satellite telephone.

Internet Service:

Satellite-based internet service is available. The performance of this service is considerably slower than typical residential internet services. Guests can send and receive emails however, downloading/uploading content with heavy webpages or images do not properly function. Please do keep in mind that it often does not work in cloudy/rainy weather conditions. Guests should bring their own devices if they wish to use it. In some cases, Skype or similar services can be used to make voice calls.

ARRIVAL INFORMATION - 2018

The first day of your adventure: (August 25th, 31st, 6th, 12th) – Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada

On arrival in Yellowknife, please collect your luggage and walk outside. You are welcome to catch an airport shuttle or take a taxi to Air Tindi’s charter office, located at 101 Berry Street. There is a private plane that awaits you! At 2PM on your first day, the flight will depart for Arctic Haven. We recommend arriving at Air Tindi’s charter office (located only about 1km from the main airport) at 1PM. The flight is approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes in length to Arctic Haven.

DEPARTURE INFORMATION - 2018

The final day of your adventure (August 31st, 6th, 12th, 19th): A return flight from Arctic Haven will bring you back to Yellowknife in the early evening (to Air Tindi’s charter office). From there, you will be able to catch a taxi back into Yellowknife. In order to ensure that you do not miss south bound connections, we strongly recommend that you overnight in Yellowknife and leave the following day.

Weather delays: weather delays happen while travelling in the Arctic. Any additional expenditures that arise from a weather delay are born by the traveller. Travel insurance can mitigate this. It is standard practice to travel in the Arctic with travel insurance that covers medical air ambulance, trip interruption and trip cancellation. We strongly recommend that you equip yourselves with all three forms of travel insurance prior to visiting Arctic Haven.