Baffin Island Circuit

A journey by ski, foot, and packraft

In late May 2026, Caleb McDaniels and Henry Penfold will embark on a traverse around Baffin Island in the Canadian Arctic. Over five months, we intend to ski, hike, and packraft 2,300 miles along the island's coastline, paddling fjords, traversing mountains and tundra, and navigating sea ice to attempt a circuit of Baffin Island. Along the way, we will collect data to investigate vegetation expansion and the impacts of thawing permafrost on Baffin's rivers.

Route map
From the Field

Expedition updates

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The Route

Seven stages around the island

Departing Iqaluit and moving counterclockwise, the route is divided into seven stages between small communities where we resupply.

Stage 1 · 250 mi · ~2.5 weeks

Iqaluit to Pangnirtung

Skiing across the Hall Peninsula, pulling packrafts as pulks.

Stage 2 · 150 mi · ~1.5 weeks

Pangnirtung to Qikiqtarjuaq

An overland section on declining snowpack, likely transitioning from skiing to hiking as we move into summer.

Stage 3 · 350 mi · ~3.5 weeks

Qikiqtarjuaq to Clyde River

Sea ice in the fjords will be breaking up during this period. Where the ice is solid, we will ski or walk across it. Where it has melted, we will paddle. Where it is actively breaking up, we will move inland out of the fjords, adding distance but allowing for faster travel.

Stage 4 · 350 mi · ~3.5 weeks

Clyde River to Pond Inlet

Overland hiking and fjord paddling, with predominantly ice-free water based on historical ice patterns.

Stage 5 · 200 mi · ~2 weeks

Pond Inlet to Arctic Bay

Fjord and river paddling as well as hiking across the Borden Peninsula.

Stage 6 · 300 mi · ~3 weeks

Arctic Bay to Igloolik

Turning south — paddling Admiralty Inlet and hiking across the base of the Brodeur Peninsula.

Stage 7 · 700 mi · ~7 weeks

Igloolik to Iqaluit

In Igloolik, we pick up additional winter gear for temperatures down to 0°F. Four weeks paddling south, then transitioning to hiking as the sea begins to freeze in October. Attempting this final section depends heavily on Foxe Basin sea ice conditions.

Live Map
The Team

Caleb McDaniels

Caleb McDaniels

I grew up in Northern California, and graduated from Bowdoin College in 2025. Over the past few years, I've made several trips to Greenland, traveling by ski, foot, and packraft while doing fieldwork on rivers, sediments, and vegetation. After 3.5 months of solo travel in Greenland last summer, I am looking forward to having Henry along for this adventure.

Henry Penfold

Henry Penfold

I’m an ecology student at Bowdoin College (Class of 2026) from Deer Isle, Maine. Growing up on the coast, I spent much of my childhood exploring the islands of Penobscot Bay. I fell in love with packrafting and northern landscapes while traversing the southwest coast of Greenland with Caleb in 2024.

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