Norwegian adventurer completes Great Bear crossing
Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services
Rae Lakes (Feb 12/01) - An escort by neighbourhood wolves and an eerie encounter with an old grave were among the adventures Lars Monsen experienced during one of the longest legs of his cross-Canada expedition.
"Travelling conditions were excellent," said Monsen.
The 37-year-old Norwegian adventurer completed the 400 kilometre trip from Deline to Gameti (Rae Lakes) last Tuesday after 12 days of mushing.
Half of the leg was a crossing of Great Bear Lake.
"It was very, very much the same -- everything is white to the left, it goes on forever. On your right are hills and low-lying trees."
Monsen began his three-year expedition across Canada April 1 on Kaktovik, an island off the North coast of Alaska, last April 1.
Well-known in his native country, he has hiked across Alaska, Norway, Alaska's Admiralty and Kodiak Islands, canoed extensively in Alaska and spent, by his count, a total of 2,600 nights camped out in the wilderness.
Confessing he was superstitious, Monsen said one of the highlights of the trip from Deline to Gameti came while he was on the chain of lakes that form the traditional route between Great Bear Lake and Great Slave Lake.
Just north of Beaverlodge Lake, far from any house, he saw a lone grave on the shore.
"I figured if I'm quick I'd get a photograph of it while I was going past," Monsen recalled. "Just as I was about to take a picture a moose stepped out in front of my dogs and they sped up. I had to take control of them so I couldn't get the photo.
"After that I didn't turn my dogs around. I figured whoever was in the grave didn't want a tourist taking a picture."
Monsen said he heard wolves every night on the trail, though he only saw them twice. They kept their distance, though he said one night he was awakened seven times by his dogs, protesting how closely their cousins were approaching.
Monsen said he had the good fortune of meeting Gameti chief Archie Wetrade in Deline. Monsen said Wetrade, who had snowmobiled to Deline, provided some valuable tips on the leg, particularly where to watch out for open water.
Monsen saw open water three times on the chain of lakes leading to Gameti.
Interviewed last Thursday, Monsen said he planned to begin the journey to Rae Saturday. He had hoped to be back on the trail a few days earlier, but had to wait because a fly-in order of dog food from Wal-Mart in Yellowknife was delayed.
