During stage 1 we will kayak 1,400 miles from Seattle, Washington to Skagway, Alaska. The Pacific Northwest is home to a wide range of aquatic and terrestrial animals. We will be studying whales and other marine mammals, kelp forests, salmon, and many other species.
The Pacific Northwest is home to a variety of large land mammals including Grizzly Bears, and Black Bears. Above and below the surface we are sure to find plenty of things to learn about. Many of these large mammals need large undeveloped spaces to thrive and the roadless sections of British Columbia and Alaska provide the perfect habitat.
From Skagway, Alaska we will hike over the Chilkoot Pass in the footsteps of thousands of gold seekers who struggled across the pass to reach the Klondike. Many of artifacts remain from those early days, and we will follow their path all the way to Dawson City along the mighty Yukon River.
From Bennet Lake on the eastern side of the Chilkoot Pass we will canoe through a chain of lakes that form the headwaters of the Yukon River past White Horse and down the swift flowing Yukon River to Dawson City. 
From Dawson we will hike 100 miles through the mountains to the headwaters of the Blackstone River. The Blackstone flows into the Peel River, which flows in the McKenzie River, which will lead us to the Arctic Ocean. The rivers flowing through these rugged mountains as some of the most pristine wild rivers in North America, with hundreds of miles of flowing waterways between towns or roads.
After over 2,600 miles of paddling and hiking we hope to reach the Arctic Ocean before freeze up. We will spend the month of October,2010 training our dogs, and learning about native life in the Arctic. In November we will head south along the McKenzie River by dog team, crossing 1,800 miles of frozen wilderness. There are many remote native communities along our way and we are sure to learn a lot from the people we encounter.
When the ice melts in the Spring of 2011 we will transition from dogsled to canoe and paddle 2,300 miles along the historic travel and trade route pioneered by Alexander McKenzie, Samuel Hearne, and other Canadian Explorers in the 1700's. We will finish this stage of our journey in the fall of 2011 by completing the 8 1/2 mile Grand Portage which will lead us to the rock shore of Lake Superior.
After spending the winter giving presentations and making final preparations we will begin 4,800 mile kayak journey from Grand Portage, Minnesota to Key West, Florida. The first 2,200 miles will take us through the Great Lakes and out the Saint Lawrence Seaway. 
During the final stage of our journey we will kayak the length of the Atlantic Coast from the Saint Lawrence Seaway to Key West, Florida. We will be following the seasonal whale migration from the Bay of Fundy in Maine to the warm clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way we will visit cities large and small, and study a variety of ecosystems and environmental topics. We also plan to take side trips into the cyprus swamps and Everglades National Park looking for Alligators, birds, and other critters.
Expedition Blog Shedd Team, Signing Off
Shedd Team, Signing Off
Wednesday, 17 November 2010 14:56
It is hard to believe that our 8 day journey has finally come to an end. It has been a fantastic experience for all of us and we are all taking home memories that will last a lifetime.
In 8 days we have traveled over 240 miles maneuvering through shallow sand bars and anticipated rapids. The weather and river conditions were outstanding and due to that we were able to extend our trip past Carmacks to Minto. We thought that we would take some time to share with you about what we have experienced beyond the podcasts, photos, and Notes from the Trail.
Kevin: I have really enjoyed myself over past 8 days canoeing the Yukon River. I have really learned a lot about the history through my own research and by stopping by artifacts along the way. Dave and Amy have been wonderful hosts and they have graciously offered tips and hints on how to implement an outdoor education curriculum at my school. I am taking home incredible images of mountains, rock slides, bears, beavers, and even a lynx. I hope you have enjoyed all the updates that we have created for you. Thanks for following us on our journey into the wild.
Konrad: This journey has opened my eyes wider than they already were toward myself and the environment. I feel that there is a major difference between being fascinated by nature firsthand and behind a glass window or pages of books. I have gained a new appreciation for wildlife and it only makes me want to pursue a scientific career in this area of study even more so than before. The memories I have of my time here are beyond words, but what I find even better is that there are six other individuals who got to share these memories with me.
Maureen: It feels like we've been out here for months, but sadly it has only been 8 days traveling on the Yukon River. It has truly been a dream experience for me: I have never been in the wilderness like this and I have never canoed or kayaked more than three times in the past. The support and knowledge from my fellow teammates has helped me not only developed my canoeing and kayaking skills, but also develop a desire to kayak in the future. I will never forget my trip down the Yukon River and hopefully I can one day come back to the clear waters that cross the Canadian North.
Kelsey: I had fun getting to know different skills like paddling a canoe properly, what to do if you run into a bear, and how to make a delicious meal with limited ingredients. I also enjoyed visiting/learning more about the Yukon River itself and all the history it holds along the way like abandoned First Nation Villages and the Klondike Gold Rush mines. Going home with a million mosquito bites, I am excited to tell my stories but at the same time I don't want to end this adventure.
Melissa: It's been a privilege to learn alongside the expedition team and experience so many firsts, such as practicing Leave No Trace camping, taking bear safety precautions, and seeing the wildlife and ecosystems of the boreal forest. The moment when we all saw our first black bear on the opposite bank is one I will treasure for a lifetime. Everyone was so quiet and still, watching the bear or taking photos and thinking. I was glad we had the opportunity to join Wilderness Classroom on this expedition to try and convey the value of wild spaces.
Thanks to Dave and Amy for being such amazing teachers and sharing this part of the North American Odyssey with us. We'll be thinking of you as you continue your journey to Dawson City and beyond. The Shedd expedition team is signing out.
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