In bygone days, the Voyageurs ventured by birch bark
canoe and back-breaking portage across Canada’s vast
northland in search of furs and trade with the First
Nations peoples. When a Voyageur returned from his first
foray beyond the Arctic divide, he was awarded a black
feather, or plume noire to proudly wear in his hat. The
traditions of wilderness travel foster an appreciation
of nature, respect for our environment and develop
co-operation and teamwork.
Black Feather
honours this wilderness heritage and marries it with the
latest developments in skills, equipment and logistical
planning to provide you with outstanding wilderness
holidays. Our experienced guides, expedition quality
equipment and delicious menus ensure that your
expedition is outstanding.
Why choose Black Feather for your wilderness adventure?
Experience - In over 30 years of providing
adventure travel holidays, we have paddled and hiked
thousands of kilometres with countless satisfied
customers. We’ve learned how to make your trip very
special. Over 70% of our clientele are return
participants!
Destinations - We travel to the most outstanding
wilderness destinations. We’ve explored the entire north
and have chosen over 30 of the very best places to go -
destinations of national and even global significance.
Expect stunning scenery, rare wildlife, unusual land
forms and exceptional routes through runnable rapids,
remote alpine passes and icefjords. You’ll encounter
native cultures and travel in the footsteps of ancient
peoples and the early explorers. A Black Feather trip is
a most unique and unusual escape from everyday life.
Variety
- We offer the widest range of northern adventures -
instructional weekends to get you started and wilderness
trips from 3 to 22 days. Some are easy to get to; some
are literally at the ends of the earth. There are
choices for every ability - from your first experience
to a major expedition for veterans. We explore a wide
range of exceptional wilderness destinations - on foot
and in canoes and kayaks. There are trips for
individuals, couples and small groups, trips for women
only, adventures for families and custom programs for
groups. We keep researching and exploring - adding new
adventures every summer. We have just the right trip for
you - and another adventure for next year.
New
Friends - One of the special rewards of a Black
Feather trip is the friendships, comradiere and stories
that develop along the way. These uncommon holidays
attract a group of like-minded people who have done
interesting things. People sharing challenges,
adventures and discoveries on an isolated journey
quickly forge strong bonds and friendships. A small
group dependent on each other and their own resources
can develop a special camaraderie and spirit. Black
Feather adventurers from around the world often build
lifelong friendships on their trip.
Our
Approach - Our philosophy of co-operation and
sharing means that the trip becomes a true learning
experience. We encourage you to take part fully in all
trip activities ... from map reading to paddling to
cooking. We want you to contribute to the day to day
planning and decisions. This inclusiveness increases
your confidence and helps ensure the trip meets your
needs and goals. Your full involvement in all the
aspects of your trip will lead to a great sense of
accomplishment.
Great
Guides - Black Feather’s guides are second to
none. Handpicked, highly experienced and scrupulously
trained, they bring a wealth of skill and knowledge to
each trip. They are fun and have a passion for the
wilderness.
Office Support -
We’ll back you up. Adventures at the edge of
civilization can seem challenging to prepare for. Our
friendly and knowledgeable office staff will make sure
that your holiday unfolds without a hitch. When you
contact us you are dealing with the people who run your
trip - not a reseller or a travel agency. Real advice
and assistance with flight plans, trip insurance,
clothing and equipment planning and all those last
minute details is readily available. Feel free to call
the office and speak with Wendy, Katja or Fred with any
questions you may have.
Contacts & Knowledge -
Our strong contacts throughout the north and solid
reputation for safety and reliability ensure the support
of communities, northern airlines and the best local
tourism partners. Black Feather holds numerous licenses
in Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon as
well as Nahanni, Auyuittuq and Qittinirpaaq National
Parks. Through the northern airlines we are able to
offer special discount rates for flights to your trip
rendezvous.
We’ve learned the hundreds of little
things that make these trips possible - which end of the
lake is deep enough for a float plane, where is the best
place to stay in Pond Inlet, how do you get your travel
clothes back to Pangnirtung. We‘ve developed
partnerships with the most reliable local people -Nick,
who picks us up by boat at the end of the Mountain
River, Joavee who takes us by sea to Overlord and Pall
in Reykjavik who forwards our gear to Greenland.
Our Guides
Wendy Grater, owner and director of
Black Feather, has been guiding for over 25 years. She’s
pioneered sea kayaking routes in Greenland, hiked remote
Arctic wilderness and paddled almost every river Black
Feather has run. Easygoing, yet committed to excellence,
Wendy’s energy and enthusiasm for sharing her love of
the wild is contagious.
The team of Black Feather guides is
exceptional. Over 30 qualified guides work each season.
Most return for many years - some have been guiding for
Black Feather for over 20 years! We are now reaching our
second generation of guides - the sons and daughters of
original Black Feather founders and guides have now
matured into guides themselves.
 Who
are your guides? Most are Canadians with a strong
background of canoe tripping and wilderness travel
acquired through summer camps, school or family. Some
came to Black Feather with extensive personal resumes
and some started as Black Feather clients. They work a
long apprenticeship under the tutelage of our more
experienced guides, advancing to longer, more remote
trips and greater responsibility as their abilities are
proven. They are ‘certified’ by recognized accreditation
bodies (Red Cross, Canadian Recreational Canoeing
Association, etc.). They take part in annual, formal
in-depth training programs. Knowledgeable about the
wilderness ecosystem and environments, they enjoy
sharing the mysteries of the natural world. You’ll find
they are confident, light hearted and welcoming. They
are great cooks ... and enjoy a good laugh around the
campfire. Their wealth of experience allows sound and
firm judgment in matters of safety.
Equipment & Outfitting
 We
use the highest quality equipment available. Over the
years, we have designed, refined and produced much of
the gear that is now accepted as the standard in the
canoe tripping industry. Items such as the ‘Barrel Pack’
and ‘Black Feather Spray deck’ were born by
experimentation on northern rivers. Working with top
outdoor equipment manufacturers, Black Feather makes
sure that each piece of gear is suitable for the
environment where it will be used. Our equipment systems
help keep you remarkably comfortable, safe and happy in
some very challenging situations.
Of course, satellite phones and
other communication devices are carried on our
wilderness trips and ensure that emergency help is
within reach.
Menus
Our food is delicious and
nutritious. Meals are cooked over a backpacking stove,
wood fire, charcoal -heated dutch oven or camping stove
from a combination of fresh, dried and freeze-dried
products. With dutch ovens we can bake breads, muffins,
desserts, and even make such delicious entrees as baked
lasagna! Breakfasts consist of fruit, hot or cold cereal
and a main course such as blueberry pancakes or
breakfast burritos. At lunch you will enjoy a selection
of breads (rye bread, bagels, tortillas) with cheese,
dried salami, tuna salad ... and of course, good old
peanut butter and jam, followed up by granola bars or
dried fruit. Dinner consists of hors d’oeuvers, a main
course then dessert. Main courses may be a pasta-based
dish such as Pesto-Pine Nut Fuselli, or a rice based
meal such as Oriental Stir-Fry. On cooler days, a hearty
mug of steaming soup is always available, as well as
tea, coffee, hot chocolate and cold drinks.
If you have a serious food allergy
or dietary restriction you must contact our office. We
may need your help to make sure that your meals are
safe, sufficient and delicious.
Skill Levels
Each trip is assigned a Skill Level
from 1 to 3 to assist you in identifying those trips
suited to your ability.
Briefly they are:
Level 1 - no experience required
Level 2 - some experience and basic skills are expected
Level 3 - some more advanced skills and abilities
required - not for novices
For more information:
- Detailed Description of the Skill
Levels below.
- A detailed information package is
available for each trip, with pictures and a
description of the location, weather, itinerary and
includes a section on who would enjoy that
specific trip.
- A general information package called Your
First Step that answers many FAQ including
an outline of the Skill levels is also available.
- Contact our office. We’re happy
to discuss what to expect on any trip. We can
usually provide an e-mail or phone number for a
previous participant on the trip
that interests you.
 Skill
Levels - Detailed Description
How We Assess a Trip:
Many independent factors are
assessed before we assign a ‘Skill Level’.
We consider the degree of technical skill required for
the trip, how physically demanding the itinerary is,
elevation change, the elements of risk involved, the
range of weather, the isolation, the length of the
expedition and many other factors. You can get a good
idea if a trip is right for you from the trip
information package and by contacting our office.
Your Self Evaluation:
Your skill development, physical ability and
condition, experience, attitude and ability to adapt to
new situations are the main components of your personal
evaluation. Most of our participants tend to
underestimate their abilities. Try to compare your
self-assessment to what seems to be required in the
description of the trip in the detailed information
package. If you feel unsure just give our office a call.
We want you to have a great time too.
Skill Levels
Level 1
- These trips do not require any previous experience in
the activity. Related experience (camping, swimming,
etc.) will be helpful. This is an opportunity for the
beginner to learn the foundation skills of canoeing,
kayaking and wilderness living. Your guides and
instructors are expert at helping you succeed in these
new activities. The pace will be fairly relaxed. The
location, challenges and program are geared to ensure
the trip is enjoyable and safe for the novice. Some
Level 1 programs require a commitment to a multi-day
wilderness trip or to learning new skills. Some first
experiences can be a bit stressful (your first
whitewater canoeing run or paddling a sea kayak in waves
etc.) but a Level 1 trip is appropriate for beginners.
More experienced outdoors people often choose these
trips because they enjoy the route or want to introduce
a friend to the activity.
Level 2
- We expect that you have some background in the
outdoors and some basic skills. You should be
comfortable around the water for paddling trips. You can
get a sense of the specific paddling skills required
from the trip description. For hiking trips you should
be fit and capable of carrying a minimum of 20-30 kg
(45-60 lb.), 10 to 12 kilometers a day on rough terrain.
These trips are designed to build on your skills and to
expand your experience. You should expect to learn new
things and try some new and challenging activities with
help from the guides. Some Level 2 trips require a
degree of physical challenge and a willingness to cope
with unexpected adventures. The success of the trip will
depend in part on the positive attitude and mutual
support that the participants demonstrate. Level 2
includes some very extensive trips.
Level
3
- These extended trips offer the opportunity for you
to participate in a major expedition with the support
of very experienced leaders. The pace and the environment
may be very challenging. You should be fit and active.
The trip may be in an area of extreme isolation.
Specific skills may be required. A positive attitude,
a willingness to support other group members and
willingness to adapt to the unexpected are important
to your success and enjoyment. The specific skills needed,
the elements of risk involved, the isolation, the
physical and emotional demands of the route and location
would make this trip most inappropriate for the novice.
However, extensive experience and advanced skills while
welcomed are not required. Level 3 trips are designed
for people with intermediate skills and some previous
experience in the activity. Although there is a broad
age range many of our participants on Level 3 trips
will be over 50 years old.
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