Nunavik--the Canadian Arctic!

When preparing for your Arctic holiday, you will probably need to visit an outdoor outfitter to find the proper gear. When you decide to visit Ungava Bay and the eco-camp there, here are some suggestions on what to bring.

Warm clothes! I know, I know, but you should bring the right warm clothes. For starters, you will need layers. Always think layers to stay warm versus one giant bulky coat. Even if you still need a giant coat. So I am a huge proponent of merino wool, and that is a great first layer, or base layer. Long underwear made from merino is breathable yet insulating. So get some big wooly socks, merino base layers (top and bottoms) and you are ready to move to the next layer.

Your mid-layer (or layers) are probably going to be a bit different on the top and bottom. For pants (yes, avoid dresses and skirts, ladies), you probably want water-resistant or waterproof pants. They can be ski pants or warm hiking pants, usually constructed of man-made materials to help with the weatherproofing. This will help keep you warm and dry. On the top, I’m still going to push for layers. You can wear a merino wool quarter-zip pullover, a polar fleece, or shirt on top of your base layer. And depending on the weather, you can add another layer like a sweater or jumper on top of that. Turtlenecks and gaiters or buffs for your neck are wonderful!

Then your coat. It does not need to be the biggest, heaviest coat out there. It is going to sit on top of your warm layers. Its biggest job is to protect you from wind and rain, so you want a coat that does just that—stops the wind from cutting through you and keeps the rain from soaking through to your mid-layer.

Lastly, we need to talk about hands, feet, and head. In the eco-camp, you can visit without waterproof boots. But you might like to have a pair so you can tramp around worry-free, as the waters rise and fall dramatically by the camp, leaving the area quite soggy. So consider a nice, insulated pair of waterproof boots. Otherwise, a good pair of hiking boots will suffice.

For your head, you need to keep those ears covered. A stocking cap and/or balaclava are great. I will again point out that merino wool would be awesome for these accessories. Don’t worry about rain on your head if the jacket you bring has a hood. On your hands, I’d pack two sets of gloves: one pair of thin glove liners (preferrable made of merino wool) and one pair of thick, waterproof gloves.

Now that you are properly clothed, I would add a few extras to consider bringing along: flashlight, camera, Ziploc bags (to store things in to keep them dry), polarized sunglasses, a day pack to carry on outings, and a bug hat or net for your head, along with some bug spray (just as a precaution if you get in an area with bugs). You can also have some comfortable clothes to wear around camp, a good book to read for any downtime, and of course, your epic sense of adventure!