Baffin & Beyond: Stories From Hiking Canada’s High Arctic
- baileyyeats
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
At Playwest Mountain Experience, our guiding philosophy has always gone beyond summits and mileage. It’s about place, perspective, and the stories that shape how we move through wild landscapes. That’s why we’re proud to be part of the first-ever Wild Voices Speaker Night, presenting Baffin & Beyond, an evening dedicated to hiking, working, and living in Canada’s High Arctic.
This event isn’t just a talk. It’s a window into one of the most remote and powerful hiking destinations on Earth: Baffin Island.
A New Speaker Series for Wild Places
Wild Voices is a new community speaker series hosted at the Jayden Daniels Wild Imagery Gallery, created to amplify voices shaped by adventure, creativity, and conservation.
For its inaugural night, Wild Voices turns its focus north…far north.
Baffin & Beyond brings photo and video storytelling from the Arctic landscapes that continue to inspire and challenge explorers, scientists, and guides alike.
Hiking and Life on Baffin Island
The evening features stories from time spent hiking and traveling on Baffin Island, including extended work and expeditions in Auyuittuq National Park, one of Canada’s most iconic and demanding wilderness areas.
Unlike a polished highlight reel, this presentation offers an honest look at expedition life in the North, including:
What it takes to move safely through massive Arctic terrain
The realities of weather, logistics, and isolation
Long days hiking through glacial valleys and alpine passes
How Arctic landscapes reshape your sense of scale, risk, and perspective
These are the same realities that shape every Baffin Island hike, where preparation, patience, and respect for the land matter more than speed or summit photos.
The Speakers: Field Experience, Not Just Stories
The evening is led by two people with deep, hands-on experience in Arctic environments:
Leah Pengelly – Biologist and Resource Conservation Officer, sharing insight into working and living in remote northern ecosystems.
Chris Skinner – ACMG Canadian Hiking Guide and founder of Playwest Mountain Experiences, drawing on years of guiding and expedition experience in big, complex landscapes.
Together, they explore what makes hiking in the Arctic fundamentally different, from logistics and environmental responsibility to the mental shifts that come with extended time in truly wild places.
Why Baffin Island Still Feels Truly Wild
Few hiking destinations in Canada (and on the planet) offer what Baffin Island does:
Vast, roadless terrain
Towering granite walls and glacial valleys
Deep cultural and ecological significance
A scale that demands humility and adaptability
Hiking in Auyuittuq National Park isn’t just about conquering terrain, it’s about learning to exist within it. That’s the heart of Baffin & Beyond and the reason Baffin Island continues to call back those who have spent time there.
Food, Conversation, and Community
Because great stories deserve great food, the evening is catered by Randy MacSteven of Edible Acres Farm Cafe, featuring wine and Baffin-inspired bites.
The night wraps up with an open Q&A and plenty of time for conversation, connecting over shared curiosity about northern travel, hiking expeditions, and the landscapes that still challenge us to slow down and listen.
Looking Toward the North
At Playwest, our connection to Baffin Island goes far beyond a single talk. These experiences continue to shape how we think about guided hiking, expedition planning, and responsible travel in remote regions.
If you’ve ever been curious about a Baffin Island hike, Arctic expeditions, or what it truly means to travel in Canada’s High North, Baffin & Beyond is an invitation to start that conversation.
Let Playwest take you north this August on the Baffin Island Trek, a guided backpacking trip to the Canadian Arctic: www.playwest.ca/hikes/baffin-island
Sometimes the wildest journeys don’t begin on the trail—but in the stories that inspire us to go there.
