Meet our 2009 Staff

*Please note that our committed trip leader assignments are decided upon in the months of April & May prior to each operating season.

The North has always been, and probably always will be, a meeting place for unlikely characters. Throughout circumpolar history, many a famous alliance - both holy and less savory - have been established around remote campfires, in musky trappers' cabins, on the steps of trading posts, and the dark corners of northern pubs.
People who meet as strangers in the isolated climes share the common bond of the immensity of the northern experience, and usually become fast friends for life.  Knowing this, we at Great Canadian nurture each and every guest with the confidence that we will become good friends ... for always.
'Tundra' Tom Faess Owner-Operator / bush pilot / lead guide / field logistics manager / ex-outhouse hole digger ... he washes dishes sometimes, too! Following in the legacy of his father, this will be Tom's 45th year working as a guide, operator and field manager throughout northern Canada.	Trip Leader Steve Lybeck Having been working and partners with the Faess family tourism enterprises in both the NWT and Ontario, Steve Lybeck is one of Tundra Tom's peers and life-long friends. A wonderful naturalist, Steve has guided for us in the Arctic on and off for over four decades, and we are blessed again to have him back!
As wilderness guides and bush pilots, we have spent many years designing and leading unprecedented adventures to some of the most remote, least explored regions remaining in Canada.  Using the very best of modern technology and combining it with two generations of experience and knowledge allows us to present distant travels in safety, style, and with charm. Trip Leader - Bob Gainer Hailing from Alberta, Canada - 'Dr. Bob' worked a lifetime as an veternarian throughout the North. Bob & his wife Jane first joined our 2004 season as clients, and then Bob has been co-leading trips every year since. An accomplished naturalist & biologist - Bob brings with him much experience with animal behavior and knowledge of plants - welcome back Dr. Bob! Field Manager - Steve Maclachlan Hailing from Saskatchewan, Canada, This will be Steve's tenth season working for Great Canadian. A local northerner, Steve is an aircraft engineer 'deluxe' who has worked from Antarctica to the High Arctic; and he is also a highly experienced remote camp manager. Welcome back again, Steve - don't know what we would do without you!!
To accomplish this end, we have the privilege to work with some of the best guides available - for we at Great Canadian know that we are only as good as the leaders whom represent us...
Trip Leader - Judith Niemi As a co-partnership between Great Canadian and Judith's own company 'Women in the Wilderness', This will be Judith's fifth trip down the Thelon River working with Great Canadian. She brings nearly four decades of worldly wilderness expedition experience from Iceland to the Amazon. Welcome back again Judith!	Field Assistant - Dave Scott Hailing from the NWT, Canada, Dave has worked as a camp manager in the northern exploration industry, and has much paddlling & exploring experience in the NWT. Dave has the 'magic touch' to keep the camps & equipment up and running in good order - welcome on board, Dave!
Assistant Leader - Matt Green An accomplished nature photographer, Matt is dedicated to the conservation of our wild places. It is through his images that he hopes to provide awareness of the importance of conservation and to educate people to be responsible stewards to our environment. Matt has had the honor of learning from Art Wolfe and Roy Toft. Welcome to the Great Canadian team Matt!	Although we are each educators in our respective fields, we never lose focus on the fact that we too are students of the mysteries of nature.  While exploring together with you, we will learn and each share new discoveries, and trade the passions of our life's' experiences...
So, in the flickering firelight and the quiet of the Arctic evening, Come and warm yourself by our fire.  Let us spin some tales of old.  Let us read to you a bit from the journals of the early explorers, and share with you the stories about their often strange fates & remarkable discoveries...
Come join us, and allow us share with you some of the amazing things we have learned about the special relationship between the peoples & wildlife of this remote and magical land....

To read more about our field ethics - click here!

Click here to download our current trip calendar in PDF

Barry Girard	George Nagel	Noelle Tufts	Steve Lybeck	Tundra Tom	Bob Gainer
Steve Barger	Art Wolfe	Andy Kammer	Martin Haefele	Dr. Ella Trussell	Brad Armstrong
Rita Marett	George Archibald	Chris Crowley	Andrew Macrae	Bill Mullins	Julie Yamaguchi
Glen Grambo	Courtney Milne	Adele Curtis	Eric Peterson	Alan Weisman	Galen Rowell
Scott Schrader	Annika Brodén	Christian Heeb	Bill Silliker Jr.	Lonnie Brock	Dave Mech
Lee Mann	Jay Dickman	Terry Elliott	Dennis Fast	Allicia Kelly	Steve Maka

Come warm yourself by our fire.
Great Canadian Wilderness Adventures
Phone: 1-800-667-9453 (Canada & USA) Overseas Phone: +807-662-4512 North American toll-free Fax: 866-416-5548 Email: tundra@thelon.com Request More Information