As the snow was falling in Canora on January 31, shoppers at Gateway Co-op were in for an unusual sight. Jean-Pierre Tremblay, a 40-year-old carpenter who lives near Montreal, stopped in on his bicycle to stock up on supplies as he continued his bike adventure which started in Montreal on November 19, with the goal of reaching the Arctic Ocean.
He crossed in to Ontario at Kirkland Lake, and followed Highway No. 11 to Thunder Bay.
“Once I got into Manitoba I got off the Trans Canada and took mostly back roads, including Highway No. 44 to Selkirk and then through The Narrows at the Interlake and on to Dauphin,” said Tremblay.
He was in the Kamsack area for night on January 30 before heading into Canora. The next phase of the journey will be to Saskatoon, Edmonton, and then Fort St. John and Fort Nelson in B.C., before heading to the Yukon, and eventually reaching his final destination of Tuktoyaktuk on the Artic Ocean in the Northwest Territories.
He said his main reason for the trip is for a personal challenge and “for the adventure.” He adds that he “really loves Canadian winter. I’ve always wanted to see the Yukon and the Northwest Territories. I wish to honour all the explorers and the adventurers that went up there in the first place. I admire these people and I want to do something that’s similar and hard.”
With him on his bike and tow-behind cart he has a warm sleeping bag, a wood stove and a canvas tent, which have kept him fed and warm so far. He estimates he’s carrying about 200 pounds with him on his journey.
“I’ve done lots of winter camping in the past which gives me a solid experience to be able to do this, and I also love cycling.”
The cold obviously doesn’t phase Tremblay, and he has experienced some typical prairie cold so far on his odyssey.
“The coldest night to this point was minus 35 C with a minus 44 wind chill in Manitoba near The Narrows.”
Previously he’s been on cycling trips on the Prairies and in B.C., but not in the dead of winter.
“I’m taking my time, enjoying Canada and enjoying the scenery. That’s what it’s all about.”
Barring any major unforeseen problems, he expects to reach his destination on the shores of the Arctic Ocean toward the end of April.
“There’s only one road in Canada that passes the Arctic Circle and that makes it to the Arctic Ocean,” Tremblay said, “and it brings you to that little town of Tuktoyaktuk, and that’s where I’m going.
“Some people might find it crazy to camp in the winter, but I’ve got this little titanium wood stove which actually makes this trip pretty comfortable. I’ve got a nice prospector tent, so every night I set up this little camp. I chop down a couple of dead trees and I have a little fire going every night in the evening so I can dry out my stuff, cook and just be warm. So yeah, it’s maybe not as intense as it sounds to camp all the time. I like to camp on crown lands, on the forestry roads that don’t get plowed out.”
Even if he runs into some unforeseen challenges which delay getting to his destination, Tremblay doesn’t seem too worried. He said his main focus is on enjoying the journey, no matter how long it takes.
Since winter will likely be over when he reaches the Arctic Ocean, Tremblay expects to be hitchhiking back home to Quebec, but depending on how things go, he may do some biking as well.
