Speaker Series | Outdoor Vancouver

VIMFF Fall Speaker Series #3

Karl Woll | December 11, 2008 7:48 am

This Friday, Dec 12, the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival is screening JOHN DUNN’S WILD CANADA: CROSSING BC’S CORDILLERA + A HIGH ARCTIC ISLAND ADVENTURE in North Vancouver.

This special double bill features two of John Dunn’s favourite adventures: a 1000 km hiking and canoeing traverse of the untracked ranges of northern BC from Stewart to Fort Nelson, and a ski expedition to remote and beautiful Coburg Island in Canada’s high arctic.

John rates the Cordillera Crossing as the toughest of his career: the 54 days of struggle through the wildest part of British Columbia turned out to be a great weight loss program. John and colleague Bob Saunders both shed 30 lbs on this expedition. Starting in September was fine for fall colours and cool, bug-free travelling. But by the time John and Bob were thrashing through the snow-covered Kwadacha wilderness, the late start seemed to be not such a great idea. But the challenge was accepted none-the-less!

Coburg Island is a gorgeous glacier-draped hunk of Canadian shield that is anchored 30 km out in northern Baffin Bay. Getting there is half the journey: firstly around the wind-ravaged tip of Ellesmere Island, then across the seasonal ice bridge over Glacier Strait. Coburg is a National Wildlife Area: home to countless seabirds that put its location to good use. The island’s mountainous spine boasts a wealth of skiable summits, while the coast line has more than its share of tidewater glaciers. Plenty of inspiration for big panoramic images.

When: Friday, December 12, 7pm (doors and reception at 6 pm)
Where: Centennial Theatre, 2300 Lonsdale Avenue
Tickets: $15 in advance; $17 at the door