Yellowknife woman embarks on solo adventure across the NWT wilderness

A single Yellowknife resident is making a solo trek across Tlicho lands as both a challenge for herself, and as an opportunity to learn about her neighbouring communities.

Beginning her trip two weeks ago, Clementine Bouche has been traveling between communities with little more than basic supplies, and a single dog to pull her sled. She first set out from Yellowknife and traveled for a week to reach Behchoko, where she stayed for a few days before setting out on an eight day trek to Gameti. She has since left Gameti, and is now taking on the challenge of what she expects to be a month-long trip to Deline.

Clementine explained that she is doing this as a personal endeavor, to challenge herself and to push her limits, but that she is also taking this as a unique opportunity to learn more about the NWT. As she makes stops in each community, she meets with local community members to learn more about their way of life. During her stops, she is also working with a filmmaker and interviewing locals in each area, with plans to put together a movie of her experience once she completes her journey.

She’s not going into this adventure unprepared, either! She explains that she has experience from previous (albeit shorter) expeditions, and has received training from a Nunavut group called NorthWinds.

“They teach you how to camp in minus forty-five weather, how to ski, what gear you need to take, what food you need to take. That was a really good introduction to the trip where I could be alone, pulling my sled in the cold north. After that, I practiced what I learned by going out for a few days to a week at a time at most, and most of the time on my own.”

On top of her training and previous experience, Clementine also has a pair of mentors keeping an eye on things.

“One has the role of advising me and answering all my questions, and the other one has a role that’s closer to being a logistical support and emergency contact. Thanks to those two people, I feel prepared. There’s always a bit of apprehension, because it’s scary to be alone in lands I haven’t been to, especially when this next section is such a big chunk. I’m going from being able to stop every week to now having an entire month on my own, so I’m prepared and a little scared at the same time.”