Hudson Bay

Beluga and calf

Dates

2 - 9 August, 2012

Overview

Each summer thousands of beluga whales mass in the broad estuary of the Churchill River, where it flows into Hudson Bay, in northern Manitoba, to feed, moult, mate and have their young, in the brackish water.  This gathering is an extraordinary spectacle, with so many whales often visible at one time that they can be confused for white-caps on the surface of the bay.  Churchill and Hudson Bay are often associated with winter and the large numbers of polar bears that can be seen there, but the region's summers, though brief, are equally interesting.

Belugas following observation boat

This trip is designed to offer a full experience of the Churchill area during the summertime, with a principal focus on the annual massing of the beluga whales.  On three separate days, you will be able to experience the whales in three different ways; in a purpose-built aluminium boat equipped with a hydrophone, for listening to the animals, in sea-kayaks and in Zodiac inflatable boats.  For anyone not wishing to kayak, it will be possible for them to ride in Zodiacs on that day as well.  The outing in the aluminium boat will include a guided tour of Fort Prince of Wales, on the western side of the Churchill River estuary, a star-shaped fortress in European style, built by the British over a 40-year period from 1731 to defend their trading interests on Hudson Bay.  The fort is a National Historic Site, managed by Parks Canada.  The kayaks and Zodiacs provide an intimate association with the belugas, and an opportunity to be as close as it is possible to be to a wild marine mammal in its natural habitat.  The kayaks offer a uniquely personal interaction with the benign whales, while the Zodiacs allow for coverage of a much larger area.  All kayaking equipment, including insulated wetsuits, will be provided.

Vibrant colours of the summer tundra

The trip also includes two days out on the tundra and in the taiga, studying the profuse wildflowers and birdlife that is characteristic of the Hudson Bay Lowlands in summer.  These outings will be led by a local naturalist, and will also focus on the broader ecology of the region.  During the summer, after the sea-ice has melted, polar bears return to the land around Hudson Bay, and while they cannot be seen in the same way that they can in the fall, they are nonetheless present.  While the principal focus of the trips is the belugas, we will also constantly be on the lookout for bears, and will strive to afford opportunities to see and photograph them, if possible.  We will have the greatest likelihood of seeing bears during the significant amounts of time set aside in the itinerary for exploring the area outside Churchill.

A pod of belugas

In addition to the activity and ecological components of the trip, others will offer insight into the history and past and present culture of the Churchill region.  These will include a presentation at the Parks Canada office, and visiting the famous and unique Eskimo Museum, with its extensive collection of Pre-Dorset, Dorset, Thule and modern Inuit art.  Accommodation will be at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, 23 kilometres east of the town, and site of the former Churchill Rocket Range.  There will be five evening lectures and discussions, offered by the group leaders and two local guest speakers, covering belugas, polar bears, history of the Hudson's Bay Company, and dog-mushing and an indigenous perspective on life in Churchill.  There will also be a lecture on the scientific work being done through the Study Centre, and films will be on offer during two evenings that have been left free.  Meals will normally be at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, although lunch will sometimes be in town, at the famous Gypsy's Cafe, or in the field on bird and wildflower tour days.

Kayaks provide an incredible up-close experience

This trip will have a full schedule and be generally active.  Guests should be able to walk up to five miles, off trail, on tundra and possibly in inclement weather, carrying a daypack.  While tundra can be a good surface to walk on, it can be uneven and tussocky, and, depending on the weather, wet and boggy.  The intention will be to remain in the field, where applicable, for as much of the day as possible.  When hiking, guests should be prepared to remain in the field, within reason, for the duration of the activity unless a majority wish to return home.  Due to the potential danger posed by polar bears, no one will be permitted to separate from the group when out-of-doors, other than in town.

Unrivalled opportunities for photographers

Rain jackets and pants made of Gore-Tex or similar breathable, waterproof material, a heavy and mid-weight fleece and either lightweight fleece or polypropylene first-layer clothing.  The bugs can be very bad at Hudson Bay in summer, so, at minimum, hats with built-in bug nets, and light gloves are recommended.  To ensure best protection, bug net jackets with integrated hats or bug net suits are recommended.  Guests will also need leather or other waterproof hiking boots and gaiters or Neos-type overboots.  Muck boots are a suitable alternative.  A 30 to 40 litre day pack is recommended, for carrying waterproofs, an extra layer of clothing, spare socks, water, sun cream, sundry survival items and a camera, which will total 10-15 pounds.  Binoculars, as well as cameras, are recommended.

Rupert Pilkington

Rupert Pilkington - Group Leader:  As Director of Ursus International, Rupert is a wildlife conservation and management specialist with specific expertise in bears and bear safety, that began when working at Denali National Park, Alaska, eighteen years ago.  For the past twelve years, Rupert has been leading adventure and wilderness trips in the Canadian Arctic and sub-Arctic, British Columbia, Alaska, Greenland, Iceland, Svalbard and the Russian Far East.

Meriwether Gill

Meriwether Gill - Assistant Group Leader:  Meriwether is deeply passionate about travel and the marine environment, and has extensive experience in the adventure cruise industry, where she has worked from the Sea of Cortes to the Mediterranean, the Bering Sea to the Baltic, and the Antarctic to Alaska, in the capacities of Exploration Leader, Cruise Director and naturalist.  She is a whale and dolphin specialist by training, with a background in research on humpback whales, various species of dolphin, and orca, which she conducted for the Pacific Whale Foundation, in Maui, Hawaii, the Dolphin Research Center, in Grassy Key, Florida, and the Center for Whale Research, in Friday Harbor, Washington.  Meriwether's patience, infectious good humour and passion for what she does endears her to all who travel with her.