Frequently
Asked Questions

Taking a Wilderness First Aid course online offers the flexibility to learn life-saving skills at your own pace while preparing you for emergencies in remote outdoor settings. You’ll gain essential knowledge on how to treat injuries, manage medical situations, and make critical decisions when professional help isn’t immediately available. Online courses often combine engaging video lessons, interactive content, and real-world scenarios, making the learning process accessible and practical. By completing this training, you’ll feel more confident and prepared to keep yourself and others safe during outdoor adventures.

• Wilderness First Aid Course Online
• Treating a person that is unconscious
• CPR Couse online

When kayaking or canoeing, sun safety is essential to protect yourself from harmful UV rays and heat exposure. Wear a wide-brimmed hat, polarized sunglasses, and lightweight, UPF-rated clothing to shield your skin and eyes. Apply waterproof sunscreen with at least SPF 30, and reapply every two hours — more often if you’re getting wet. Stay hydrated by bringing plenty of water, and take breaks in shaded areas when possible. Being mindful of sun safety ensures you can enjoy your time on the water comfortably and without risk of sunburn or heat exhaustion.

• Sun and Water Safety

If you are planning on sending your vehicle down the river ahead of you make sure you contact the Marine Transportation Services and check the sailing schedule.   To book or confirm the schedule please call 1-844-574-2023 and let them know you wish to check a sailing schedule to send your vehicle to Inuvik or Tuktoyaktuk.  There is a road system between Tuktoyaktuk and Inuvik so can send your vehicle to Tuk.  

I can't tell you what your food would cost but I can tell you that shipping food in was expensive and a big waste of money. We shipped food to Norman Wells and it actually was bumped and delayed our trip by a day waiting for it. You could check out Northern Stores  and call different stores and get an idea of prices for food items that you are interested in. There are some pretty decent sized food stores in Hay River, Fort Simpson, Tulita, Norman Wells, Inuvik and Tuk. All the other towns, with the exception of Jean Marie River will have at least of eggs, bread etc. If I was to redo the trip I would buy eggs, bread, milk, pasta, meats, fruit etc along the way and only bring things I might not find like organic coffee, special chocolate bars, currys, spices etc. It will be more expensive than buying in Edmonton, but I don't think so much that its worth the trouble, or expense of shipping everything.  There is a liquour store in Hay River, Fort Simpson, Norman wells and Inuvik. View our recommended recipes!

The north can be a tremendous experience with incredible beauty, but it can also be very harsh and life threatening if something goes wrong .  A group of canoeist didn't tie up their canoes in the east arm of Great Slave Lake.  A big storm blew that night and 4 out of the 6 boats were washed out in to the lake with all the gear in them.  The paddlers had to use the two remaining canoes to paddle to get help.  They were fortunate that after a day's paddle they ran into myself and my family camping in the area.  We were able to radio relay info to the RCMP so that an aircraft could retrieve them.  Their boats were not found till the next year. Another client emptied out his kayak to clean it when a shear wind hit him and blew his PFD, kayak, sleeping bag etc into the water.  He called us on the Sat phone to let us know what had happened.  We started to put together a retrieval plan.  A few hours later he called to say he had found the kayak and was going to continue his trip.  If he had not had his phone and not found the boat he would have been pretty stranded. Communication is so important.  A Satellite phone can be rented for $250 per month or purchased for around $2100.00.  Another option is a SPOT Messenger. The SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger provides a vital line of communication with friends and family when you want it, and emergency assistance when you need it. Using 100% satellite technology, SPOT works virtually anywhere in the world, even where cell phones don’t – all with the push of a button.  the cost for the unit is $169.00 and then networking charges of approximately $150. per year depending on what features you activate.   We offer a !0% discount to Canoe North Clients if they wish to purchase a SPOT.  

If you are not into communication then stop at the local RCMP and let them know where you are going the route, the equipment you have and when you plan to arrive at your destination. When you arrive contact the RCMP and let them know that you have arrived and what your next destination will be. There is nothing that frustrates searchers more is performing a "bastard search" . Which means that they start the search, star finding relatives etc to get more information and find out the bastard is at home watching TV and didn't notify the authorities that they had reached their destination or had terminated the trip early. Canoe North reserves the right to not rent equipment to someone who we feel has not got an adequate backup plan in case something goes wrong.  

It is important to practice NO TRACE CAMPING, so that those coming behind you will have the same experience as you.

• Build fires below the high water lines.  That way the fire ring will disappear with the next breakup.
• After you break camp walk around and find all the small pieeces of rope, gum wrappers etc. 
• If you build a structure like a lean to or you used wooden poles to set up your tent take it down when you are ready to leave.  
• Try not to cut down live trees. 
• If you burn your cans in the fire, smash them down with an axe and take them with you to the next settlement to dispose of. Don't leave cans and tinfoil in the firepit. 
• When going to the washroom take a  garden trowel with you and dig a small hole, bury your waste and bring the toiletpaper papepr back to burn in the fire.

To learn more about No Trace Camping click here