Unpacked, Five Questions: Finding Flow on Canada's Oldest River

Welcome to Unpacked: Five Questions. In honor of our latest issue of ⁠Afar magazine⁠, which focuses on epic trips—the kind of adventures that change your world—we're hearing from the writers and photographers who chronicled and captured those trips.

In the second episode of the series, host and Afar executive editor Katherine La Grave sits down with journalist Chloe Berge. Chloe spent 13 days paddling 80 miles down Canada's Firth River—one of the country's oldest and most northern rivers—before reaching the Arctic Ocean. This epic journey through Ivvavik National Park combines adventure, science, and deep cultural history in one of the most remote regions on Earth.

Chloe shares her experience navigating Class IV rapids, disconnecting completely from the digital world, and standing in ancient Inuit hunting grounds that have been used for thousands of years. She reveals why this unique expedition—which hosts only about 100 visitors annually—serves as the sole opportunity for Parks Canada scientists to collect critical environmental data in this pristine wilderness.

On this episode you'll learn:

• Why Canadian River Expeditions' partnership with Parks Canada makes this the only annual scientific data collection opportunity in the region
• How two weeks completely off-grid changes your relationship with time and the natural world
• What makes the Engigstciak mountain one of the most important archaeological sites in Arctic Canada
• Why the region's unglaciated history during the last ice age created such unique geological formations
• How paddling expectations versus reality shaped the physical demands of the journey

Don't miss these moments:

• [04:00] Chloe's previous Arctic experiences and what drew her to this inland expedition
• [06:00] Standing at Engigstciak—an ancient hunting lookout used for thousands of years
• [08:00] Finding the rhythm of the river and how time becomes less linear in the wilderness
• [10:00] The immediate sense of remoteness when dropped by bush plane 200 miles from civilization
• [13:00] The geological wonders that didn't make the story—from glittering quartz pillars to sandstone archways
• [15:00] Surprising truths about the paddling requirements and physical demands
• [19:00] The profound mental clarity that comes from two weeks without digital connection

Resources

• Read Chloe's complete Afar feature about paddling the Firth River to the Arctic Ocean
• Learn more about Canadian River Expeditions and their science-focused Arctic trips
• Explore Ivvavik National Park and its rich Inuit cultural heritage
• Follow Chloe Berge for more stories at the intersection of travel, environment, and culture

Stay Connected

• Sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. 

• Explore our other podcasts, View From Afar, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and ⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

Unpacked by Afar is part of ⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

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