Blog
Some trips change you. Not just because of the sights you see, but because of the people, the moments, and the wild beauty that burrows itself into your heart. My journeys to the Northwest Territories and Churchill, Manitoba did exactly that.
Yellowknife was meant to be the beginning of something big, and it sure delivered. What I didn’t plan for was a car accident along the way. Life has a way of shaking us up, and that moment did just that. But what could have ended our adventure before it even began instead became a reminder of the strength, kindness, and resilience of the people who call Yellowknife home.
Strangers became helpers, helpers became friends. The warmth of the community carried us through, and I’ll never forget the faces, the laughter, and the quiet encouragement from those who stood by us when things felt uncertain.
If Yellowknife was the spark, Namushka Lodge was the fire. Nestled in the raw beauty of the North, this lodge is more than a place to stay—it’s an experience that settles deep into your soul.
Joe, Elise, Bryan, and Brad weren’t just hosts. They became family. Long days were filled with stories, northern light skies, and the kind of laughter that stitches memories together forever. Sitting by the water, breathing in crisp northern air, I realized this wasn’t just about a trip. It was about belonging.
From there, the call of Churchill tugged at me. And what better way to answer it than by train? Boarding in Winnipeg, the journey itself was an adventure, a slow and steady rhythm into a world where roads disappear and the wild takes over.
Churchill greeted us with more than I could have imagined. Beluga whales dancing in the bay, birds in numbers and varieties that felt endless, polar bears commanding respect with every step, and tundra flora clinging to life in places most would think impossible. Each moment was a lesson, a gift, a reminder of how alive the North truly is.
The ride back was quiet, reflective, and full of gratitude. That train carried me home, but a part of me is still up there, listening to the waves crash on Hudson Bay and watching for the flicker of aurora in the night sky.
The North isn’t just geography. It’s people, it’s wildlife, it’s resilience, and it’s connection. From the incredible community of Yellowknife, to the family I found at Namushka Lodge, to the raw untamed wonder of Churchill, these expeditions etched themselves into who I am.
And if you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to chase your dreams to the very edge of the map, I’ll tell you this: it feels like standing still in a moment so powerful, you never want to let go.