THE COLDEST JOURNEY IN THE WORLD
UMMINGMAUT NUNANGAT
NEVER-BEFORE ATTEMPTED
In March 2024 our team will attempt an expedition that hasn’t been done in modern times. The team will set out to traverse Ellesmere Island, from Aujuittuq (Grise Fiord) to Alert, following a mostly direct, overland route, crossing mountain ranges and valley floors during the coldest time of year.
REVIVAL
Our team is composed of Inuit and Qallunaat (non-Inuit) explorers reviving the lost skill of dog sledding to achieve our common goal. It’s a story of reinvention, discovery and reconciliation.
RCGS EXPEDITION OF THE YEAR
We've been selected as the Expedition of the Year by the Royal Canadian Geographic Society and are partnered with CanGeo Films to create a feature-length documentary of our journey.
TWO OBJECTIVES:
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To increase understanding and support for northern biodiversity, among both the scientific community and the public.
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To amplify Inuit knowledge, history, and culture.
SCIENCE
We will be working directly with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) as we traverse Ellesmere Island, making observations, taking measurements, and collecting samples in places at times of year that have never been done before.
EDUCATION
We are partnered with the Royal Canadian Geographic Society, CanGeo Education and i2P and will be connecting with 25,000+ classrooms during the expedition and afterwards with resource material and lesson plans. Our mission is to share the Canadian north, geographically and culturally, with educators from around the world.
OUR TEAM
The coming together of a diverse team with different life experiences, travelling together both traditionally and in a modern way. It’s a story of reinvention, discovery and reconciliation.
Ray Zahab
Explorer-in-Residence at RCGS
Ray is a Canadian explorer, an ultra distance runner and the founder of the educational nonprofit impossible2Possible. He has run over 17,000 kilometres across the world’s deserts and has also completed unsupported expeditions in some of the coldest places on the planet. His adventures have been documented in feature-length films and for a variety of TV programs.
Kevin Vallely
RCGS Fellow, Explorer's Club
Kevin is an explorer, writer, architect and a happily-married father of two. Among Kevin’s many expeditions, he has skied the length of Alaska’s 1180 mile Iditarod Trail in winter, retraced the infamous Sandakan Death March through the jungles of Borneo for the first time since WWII and rowed a boat across the stormy waters of the Northwest Passage to bring awareness to climate change.
Devon Manik
Traditional hunter, Musher
Devon Manik is Inuk from Qausuittuq (Resolute Bay), Nunavut. Carried by his qimmiit and his ancestors, Devon is keeping the tradition of hunting with sled dogs alive in the age of social networks. He is one of the few qimuksiqtiit contracted to hunt for communities, to help fight food insecurity and maintain food soveriegnty — helping him to make a living off hunting with his qimuksiq.
Jovan Simic
Owner/Executive Director - Koolrunnings
Jovan Simic is Serbian who has been living in Iqaluit for almost a decade. He is the founder and CEO of Kool Runnings. Through his business Jovan has started many successful initiatives that benefit young Inuit, including helping youth to reconnect to qimmiit and qimuksiqniq. Jovan is self taught, but has also been guided and taught by elders all across Inuit Nunangat about qimuksiqniq
Terry Noah
Arctic Outfitter and hunter
Terry Noah, is Inuk from Aujuittuq (Grise Fiord), Nunavut. He is a successful and resourceful entrepreneur, hunter, guide, wildlife photographer, adventurer, writer, and research guide. He is passionate about addressing food security and food sovereignty within his small community of Aujuittuq, Nunavut.
THE ROUTE
FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
The expedition will be filmed throughout, and will be made into a feature length documentary with the help of RCGS and Can Geo Films. An elite cold weather camera team will capture every moment of this epic journey, using the latest technology to reveal the unknown world of Ellesmere Island in stunning imagery.
Footage from the team's exploratory journey on Ellesmere in March 2022. Filmed and created by Caroline Coté.
EDUCATION
We are connected directly with the RCGS and through Canadian Geographic Education and i2P we will be connecting with over 25,000+ educators live during the expedition and afterwards with resource material and lesson plans. Our mission is to share the Canadian north, geographically and culturally, with educators from around the world.
Impossible2Possible is a 501 (c)(3) public charity, IRS Tax ID 80-0222800.