Together to the Tundra

Alicia Saunders

11/05/2016

Mr. Laughton

PAD30

Together to the Tundra

By: Dan Clark

Rate: ***

You would not usually expect a family of four accompanied by a couple of seniors to embark upon a 1000km canoe expedition to the Tundra but that is exactly what happens in Together to the Tundra. Together to the Tundra is a twenty-one minute short film made by Dan Clark, documenting his family’s journey. His film illustrates himself, his wife, Alice Clark, their two children: seven-year old Koby, and five-year old Ava Mei, and family friends Bruce Bembridge and Marilyn Toulouse.

The film begins with them starting their expedition in Yellowknife. Next, they travel along Great Slave Lake, and then through Thaydene Nene National Park on the Pike’s Portage route. Their lengthy expedition includes portages, upstream travel, exposed lakes, and white water rivers. They were inspired by Canadian explorer, and Boy Scouts founder, Ernest Thompson Seton, and paddled part of the route he used. Clark believes that Seton’s stories create a connection to the past.

They were intrigued by the mysteriousness of the Tundra, and admired that it is immersed in simplicity and the immediacy of the wilderness. The overall goal of their trip was to explore the distant Tundra lakes. Their trip there was fairly easygoing however the group was forced to paddle through tough conditions (white water) specifically on their return trip back to Yellowknife.

Their return trip proved to be unexpectedly difficult; trying to travel over low water levels caused them to run out of time. In addition, the high winds, cold temperatures and constant rain forced them to give up; the group took a float plane the rest of the way.

The film ends with Dan stating that although the Tundra is fragile and obscure, and appears untouched, changing weather, low water levels, and scare wildlife are symptoms of big changes sweeping the north.

Finally, this film is extremely relevant to what we are currently studying in Outdoor Education. As we have just begun learning how to canoe, and have been preparing for the upcoming camping trip. This film applies to both; the group had to know how to maneuver their canoes over exposed lakes, through white water rivers, upstream, and portages, we will have to understand how to do most of these things as well. This film also illustrated how a group of people is capable of bonding on a camping trip when they’re away from the distractions of technology which is likely something we will soon discover on the camping trip. As for the rating, I gave Together to the Tundra 3/5 stars; I was expecting a How-To documentary or at least something with a story, however this was more like watching home videos from somebody’s family vacation at times. However I do think that the lessons we can take away from Together to the Tundra are some that will be helpful to the class on the upcoming canoe trip.

Clark, Dan. "Together to the Tundra." Vimeo. Royal Canadian Geographical Society, 16 Feb. 2016. Web. 11 May 2016. <https://vimeo.com/155524938>.