Norwegians Bengt Rotmo and Randulf Valle are about to begin a 700+km sled journey from near Yellowknife in Canada’s Northwest Territories to Kugluktuk on the west coast of Nunavut.
They were considering two potential routes, but after assessing their options on the ground, they decided to follow the western option. This route passes through the small First Nations community of Wekweètì, then follows the Coppermine River to the coast.
Rotmo and Valle’s route takes the left-hand red dotted line. Their 2003 route across the Northwest Passage appears in blue. Photo: Randulf Valle
Footsteps of Franklin
British explorer John Franklin used the Coppermine River during one of his early expeditions in search of the Northwest Passage between 1819 and 1822.
In a fitting narrative twist, Rotmo and Valle are returning to this part of the North 22 years after their 2003 expedition, where they skied 2,500km across the Northwest Passage in 100 days. Since then, Rotmo has become an experienced IPGA polar guide, leading expeditions at both Poles, in Greenland, the Canadian Arctic, and Patagonia. Valle, meanwhile, has continued to undertake various adventures while building a career as an outdoor writer and publisher.
Bengt Rotmo (top) and Randulf Valle (bottom) in 2003. Photo: Bengt Rotmo and Randulf Valle
The Norwegian duo have food for 35 days and estimate their route is between 700 and 800km. Temperatures in Yellowknife are currently a mild -11°C but should drop as they travel further north. Their varied route will take them across tundra, frozen lakes, and rivers.
