62 ° 48 ′ 41 ″ North, 92 ° 06 ′ 57 ″ West
The quest for adventure becomes more and more urgent for those who must suppress their desire to explore the world. I recently had the opportunity to fly away for a brief assignment to photograph the roads of the Canadian Arctic. Let me tell you, it was therapeutic to contemplate these great wild and desert expanses.
One of the objectives of my photographic mission was to capture the special character of these roads, which are among the most isolated routes in Canada. This larger-than-life territory presents a hostile environment for the local inhabitants, visitors and workers who tread the tundra during the long winter months. My expedition to the area around Kangiqtiniq (Rankin Inlet) was at the height of winter and the weather delivered the extremes I had anticipated – winds of 80 km/h with the threat of blowing snow that could turn into blizzards as I explored the barren tundra.
With a windchill factor of around -53°C, I took advantage of the vast desert expanses to push the limits of my drone, and my skills as a pilot… During a particularly chaotic flight, the little aircraft came back completely covered with frost! This was, to my mind, so revealing of the harsh geographical characteristics of the place, constantly challenging my ability to manoeuvre the craft. Nunavut is the only place in Canada that does not have road access. There are less than 850km of road spanning the area of 2,093,190 square kilometres.
Shortly before the last rays of sun ended my adventure, I discovered the site of an airplane crash dating from 1986. It was a strong testament to the hostile conditions that pilots face in these isolated locations. It was during a moment of contemplation in memory of the deceased crew of the aircraft that I was surprised by a visit from some caribou. The experience was a short trip that will remain a strong memory for years to come, and reinforce my desire to discover the farthest reaches of the world.
About the Author
Mathieu Dupuis is the author of 10 best-selling books and collaborator on 20 publications. In 2017, he became the first Quebecer to sign a photographer and author contract with National Geographic.
