Canoeing The Continent

Canoeing the continent

This summer Calem embarks on his longest adventure yet: an attempt to canoe across the entire continent of North America from the Arctic to the Tropics.

Calem’s journey is set to begin late June on the shores of Chantrey Inlet on the Arctic Ocean. Calem will cross the Barrenlands of Nunavut by paddling, portaging and wading upstream via the Back, Meadowbank, Thelon, Kunwak, Knowleye and Kazan Rivers. He will face strong currents, numerous portages, ice-filled lakes, grizzly bears and hordes of mosquitoes through the most remote region of Canada’s mainland.

Following Nunavut, Calem’s route passes through the southeast corner of the Northwest Territories before entering his home province. While paddling across Northern Saskatchewan he aims to harvest a bull moose and preserve it’s meat and fat to sustain himself for the month’s ahead. Fur trade routes will take him south to the Saskatchewan River which flows into Manitoba. Calem will be in a race against winter as he crosses the great lakes: Cedar, Winnipegosis and Manitoba towards the Assiniboine and Red Rivers.

From Winnipeg, he will paddle up the Red River and cross the international border into the United States of America after 3500 kilometers of travel. A short portage over the Laurentian Divide will bring Calem to south flowing waters and eventually the mighty Mississippi River.

Calem won’t be able to relax just yet though as even the Mississippi freezes over in its Northern reaches as it flows through the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin. To escape winter’s grasp, it’s crucial that Calem is south of the ice belt by mid Decemeber at the latest.

Free from freezing, the route continues downriver through the states of Iowa, Illinios, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. When the Mississippi enters the ocean Calem will cut through the bayou towards the Intracoastal Waterway, a protected passage that leads to the southern border of the United States, which marks 8000 kilometers of distance covered.

Upon entering Mexico, the stakes increase as Calem takes to the open ocean, embracing a whole new suite of challenges. He plans to rely on careful judgement and patience to paddle around the Gulf of Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula to the Caribbean Sea and Central America.

The adventure will proceed along the east coasts of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama on the way to his planned finish in South America on the coast of Colombia, the tenth country.

The journey will require a minimum of 12 months of travel. If Calem can reach the end, he will have travelled 13,000 kilometres making it the longest solo canoe trip ever.

By attempting the most challenging adventure of his life, he hopes to inspire others to chase their dreams no matter how impossible they seem. Calem hopes his message can resonate with young people most of all. The system we live in thrives on discouraging us from reaching our true potential. In the wake of current events, and the madness of the modern world, it’s all too easy to feel hopeless and helpless but that’s exactly what they want. Despite the difficulties the world is facing, we can’t give up on our hopes and dreams – it’s the best way to stick it to the powers that be.

If you’d like to support Calem’s mission, please check out the shop page, share the adventure with family and friends, and/or contact Calem about speaking at your future event!