Trip grading

Level 0

EXPERIENCE

NONE
  • All levels welcome.
  • Participants are comfortable spending a few hours (two to four hours) outside (the vehicle is always accessible).

SKILLS

NONE
  • No specific skills required

FITNESS

BASIC
  • Appropriate activity for all.
  • Some activities require easy walking (ex: visit of the museum).
  • Some activities can be customized to suit specific needs (ex: reduced mobility).

COMFORT

SOFT ADVENTURE
  • Soft adventures
  • Accommodation, meals, or snacks not included.

Historical & Cultural Guided City Tour, Northern Light Observation, Visit of the dog yard (Excursions)

Level 1

EXPERIENCE

NONE
  • All levels welcome.
  • Participants are comfortable spending a half-day (4 hours) or a full-day (6 to 8 hours) outside.

SKILLS

NONE
  • No specific skills required.
  • Guides will teach participants the required skills (ex: driving snowmobiles, handling dogs, hiking, paddling, etc.).

FITNESS

LOW TO MODERATE
  • Low to Moderate
  • Participants should be able to walk on easy variable, uneven, or snowy terrain (distance depending on the activity).
  • Participants should be able to paddle (canoe or sea kayak) for the duration of the chosen activity.

COMFORT

SOFT ADVENTURE
  • Soft adventures
  • Accommodation (when included)
    • In hotel
    • Meals (when included)
    • Trail snacks and hot drinks provided during the half-day excursions. Lunch provided with full-day excursions.
    • Restaurants options available in Iqaluit, not included

Hiking, Sea kayaking, River canoeing, Dog sledding, Snowmobiling, Snowshoeing & backcountry skiing (Half-day & Full-day Excursions)

Level 2

EXPERIENCE

MODERATE
  • Moderate experience expected
  • Participants are comfortable spending days outside as well as one or two nights in the field.
  • Previous camping experience is not necessary.

SKILLS

BASIC
  • Basic skills are expected
  • Guides will teach participants the required skills (ex: driving snowmobiles, handling dogs, hiking, paddling, etc.).
  • Participants will be invited to share daily tasks (ex: setting camps, meal prep, etc.).

FITNESS

LOW TO MODERATE
  • Low to moderate
  • Participants should be able to walk on easy variable, uneven, or snowy terrain (distance depending on the activity).
  • Participants should be able to paddle (canoe or sea kayak) for the duration of the activity.
  • At times, participants might have to carry their personal gear (small backpack).

COMFORT

RUSTIC
  • Accommodation (when included)
    • In hotel
    • In rustic cabin or tent (high quality camping equipment is provided at no additional cost).
    • No electricity, running water or hot shower available in the field.
    • Restaurants options available in Iqaluit, not included
    • Trail snacks and hot drinks available during the day and evening.
    • Meals will be cooked in the field by your guide and will include a mix of fresh products (homemade-style meals) and freeze-dried pre-packaged meals.

Hiking, Sea kayaking, Dog sledding, Snowmobiling, Snowshoeing & backcountry skiing (Overnight Excursions)

Level 3

EXPERIENCE

MODERATE+
  • Previous experience is expected – not recommended for novices
  • Participants are comfortable spending multiple days and nights in the field.
  • Camping experience is necessary.

SKILLS

INTERMEDIATE
  • Intermediate to advanced skills and abilities are expected – not recommended for novices
  • Participants should have previous activity-specific skills.
  • Guides will teach participants required advanced skills.
  • Participants will be required to share daily tasks (ex: setting camps, meal prep, etc.).

FITNESS

MODERATE+
  • Moderate to advanced
  • Participants should be able to walk on variable, uneven, or snowy terrain up to eight hours a day, carrying a backpack with personal and group gear (up to 20 kg/45 lb).
  • Participants should be able to paddle (canoe or sea kayak) up to eight hours a day; participants may have to carry gear over land for short distances.
  • Participants should be able to drive a snowmobile “off trail” up to eight hours a day; participants may have to lift heavy weights (ex: stuck snowmobile).

COMFORT

EXPEDITION
  • Accommodation (when included)
    • In hotel, lodge (community hotel)
    • In rustic cabin or tent (high quality camping equipment is provided at no additional cost).
    • No electricity, running water or hot shower available in the field.
  • Meals (when included)
    • Trail snacks and hot drinks available during the day and evening.
    • Highly calorific meals will be cooked in the field by your guide and will include a mix of fresh and dry products and quality freeze-dried pre-packaged meals.

Auyuittuq Hiking Expedition, Soper River Canoe Expedition, Kimmirut Snowmobiling Expedition

Level 4

EXPERIENCE

MODERATE+
  • Previous experience is necessary – not for novices
  • Participants are comfortable spending multiple days and nights in the field.
  • Multiple night camping experience is necessary.
  • Winter camping experience is necessary (only for the Akshayuk Pass Ski Expedition)

SKILLS

INTERMEDIATE+
  • Intermediate to advanced skills and abilities are expected – not for novices –
  • Participants have previous activity-specific skills.
  • Guides will teach participants required advanced skills.
  • Participants will be required to participate in the daily tasks (ex: setting camps, meal prep, etc.)

FITNESS

ADVANCED
  • Advanced
  • Participants should be able to walk on variable, uneven, or snowy terrain up to ten hours a day, carrying a backpack with personal and group gear (up to 29 kg/65 lb).
  • Participants should be able to backcountry ski up to ten hours a day, pulling a loaded sled (up to 32 kg/70 lb).

COMFORT

EXPEDITION
  • Accommodation (when included)
    • In hotel, lodge (community hotel)
    • In tent (high quality camping equipment is provided at no additional cost).
    • No electricity, running water or hot shower available in the field.
  • Meals (when included)
    • Trail snacks and hot drinks available during the day and evening.
    • Highly calorific meals will be cooked in the field by your guide and will include a mix of fresh and dry products and quality freeze-dried pre-packaged meals.

Akshayuk Pass Hiking Expedition, Akshayuk Pass Ski Expedition

How to use the trip grading chart

Inukpak Outfitting has assigned a grade to all its services (trips), zero being the lowest rating, for activities suited for all, and four representing our longest, most demanding expeditions. These grades are in place for our guests to self-evaluate the level they are comfortable with. Different factors play a role into this grading:

  • Experience
    – Does a given trip require the participant to have any previous camping, or long expedition experience?
  • Skills
    – Does a given trip require the participant to have any specific technical skill set (paddling, skiing, hiking, etc.)? What level of help and participation in the daily task will be expected by your guide?
  • Fitness level
    – What level of fitness are participants expected to have?
  • Comfort level
    – Each of our trips does not offer the same level of comfort, ranging from hotel stay to full expedition-style camping. Aside from accommodation, the comfort level also takes in consideration meal options.

For More Information

For each Discovery package, as well as each Expedition package, a specific information document (in PDF format) called Descriptive / Day-by-day can be found on Inukpak Outfitting’s website. These documents provide answers to many FAQ’s, including an outline of the Experience, Skill, Fitness & Comfort levels for each specific trip we offer.

  • Self-evaluation: Try to compare elements of your self-assessment with the requirements listed in the Trip Grading above or within the Descriptive / Day-by-day document specific to each trip.
  • We are happy to discuss ideas about how to gain experience and skills, give you training options, and so on.
  • Still unsure? Contact our office. We will be happy to discuss what to expect on any trip.

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