Josée Auclair
Encyclopedia
Josée Auclair is a Canadian explorer.
She lives with her husband Richard Weber
and their two sons, Tessum and Nansen in the Outaouais region of Quebec, Canada. Josée started cross-country skiing
at the age of ten and competing at fourteen. She was a member of Canada's National Cross Country Ski Team and represented Canada at international championships namely in Sweden and Germany. Between 1979 and 1982, she won four national titles at 5 km and 7.5 km competitions and, during her years at the University of Vermont
, she was a member of the relay team who kept winning the honours.
On five occasions between 1999 and 2004, Josée skied to the North Pole
as part of the "last degree expeditions" organised by Canadian Arctic Holidays, the Arctic
expeditions and adventure company she operates with her husband. She acted as the assistant-guide on four of these expeditions but in April 2001, it was in the shoes of the expedition leader that she guided the very first all-women team to ski to the North Pole from a Russian base. In 2006, Josée was back in the expedition leader role for a group of 9 people heading from the North Pole to Ward Hunt Island
at the northern tip of Ellesmere Island
, Nunavut
Canada. On April 27, the group had managed to reach latitude 88 50', however bad ice conditions endangered their safety and they had to be evacuated and brought back to the Borneo drifting station. In January 2007, Josée set foot in Antarctica for the very first time as a team of four women called upon her to be their expedition leader for a last degree expedition to the South Pole
. She is therefore the first Canadian woman to have guided expeditions at both poles.
Josée has traveled extensively in the Arctic since 1988 and has assisted her husband Richard and his partner Mikhail (Misha) Malakhov on several of their expeditions. She has actively participated in preparing and outfitting four major expeditions to the North Pole. Richard and Josée have over 20 years of experience and more than 45 Arctic expeditions to their credit (13+ of them to the North Pole). They are very well known across the Canadian Arctic
, particularly in Nunavut. They are leaders in tourism and specialists in North Pole and northern logistics.
The Weber-Auclair family also operates Arctic Watch, Canada's most northerly lodge located in Cunningham Inlet on Somerset Island in Nunavut.
She lives with her husband Richard Weber
Richard Weber
Richard Weber is a Canadian Arctic and polar adventurer. From 1978 to 2006, he organized and lead more than 45 Arctic expeditions. Richard is the only person to have completed six full North Pole expeditions...
and their two sons, Tessum and Nansen in the Outaouais region of Quebec, Canada. Josée started cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
at the age of ten and competing at fourteen. She was a member of Canada's National Cross Country Ski Team and represented Canada at international championships namely in Sweden and Germany. Between 1979 and 1982, she won four national titles at 5 km and 7.5 km competitions and, during her years at the University of Vermont
University of Vermont
The University of Vermont comprises seven undergraduate schools, an honors college, a graduate college, and a college of medicine. The Honors College does not offer its own degrees; students in the Honors College concurrently enroll in one of the university's seven undergraduate colleges or...
, she was a member of the relay team who kept winning the honours.
On five occasions between 1999 and 2004, Josée skied to the North Pole
North Pole
The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is, subject to the caveats explained below, defined as the point in the northern hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface...
as part of the "last degree expeditions" organised by Canadian Arctic Holidays, the Arctic
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
expeditions and adventure company she operates with her husband. She acted as the assistant-guide on four of these expeditions but in April 2001, it was in the shoes of the expedition leader that she guided the very first all-women team to ski to the North Pole from a Russian base. In 2006, Josée was back in the expedition leader role for a group of 9 people heading from the North Pole to Ward Hunt Island
Ward Hunt Island
Ward Hunt Island is a small, uninhabited island in the Arctic Ocean, off the north coast of Ellesmere Island. Its northern cape is one of the northernmost elements of land in Canada. Only a 17 km stretch of northern coast of Ellesmere Island around Cape Columbia is more northerly. The island...
at the northern tip of Ellesmere Island
Ellesmere Island
Ellesmere Island is part of the Qikiqtaaluk Region of the Canadian territory of Nunavut. Lying within the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, it is considered part of the Queen Elizabeth Islands, with Cape Columbia being the most northerly point of land in Canada...
, Nunavut
Nunavut
Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993...
Canada. On April 27, the group had managed to reach latitude 88 50', however bad ice conditions endangered their safety and they had to be evacuated and brought back to the Borneo drifting station. In January 2007, Josée set foot in Antarctica for the very first time as a team of four women called upon her to be their expedition leader for a last degree expedition to the South Pole
South Pole
The South Pole, also known as the Geographic South Pole or Terrestrial South Pole, is one of the two points where the Earth's axis of rotation intersects its surface. It is the southernmost point on the surface of the Earth and lies on the opposite side of the Earth from the North Pole...
. She is therefore the first Canadian woman to have guided expeditions at both poles.
Josée has traveled extensively in the Arctic since 1988 and has assisted her husband Richard and his partner Mikhail (Misha) Malakhov on several of their expeditions. She has actively participated in preparing and outfitting four major expeditions to the North Pole. Richard and Josée have over 20 years of experience and more than 45 Arctic expeditions to their credit (13+ of them to the North Pole). They are very well known across the Canadian Arctic
Northern Canada
Northern Canada, colloquially the North, is the vast northernmost region of Canada variously defined by geography and politics. Politically, the term refers to the three territories of Canada: Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut...
, particularly in Nunavut. They are leaders in tourism and specialists in North Pole and northern logistics.
The Weber-Auclair family also operates Arctic Watch, Canada's most northerly lodge located in Cunningham Inlet on Somerset Island in Nunavut.
Degrees
- Bachelor degree in botany from the University of Vermont
- Teaching certificate from the Université du QuébecUniversité du QuébecThe University of Quebec is a system of ten provincially-run public universities in Quebec, Canada. Its headquarters are in Quebec City. The university coordinates university programs for more than 87,000 students. It offers more than 300 programs...
North Pole expeditions
| Year | Description |
|---|---|
| 1999 | Commercial "last degree" North Pole expedition from Russia. Assistant guide with Richard Weber Richard Weber Richard Weber is a Canadian Arctic and polar adventurer. From 1978 to 2006, he organized and lead more than 45 Arctic expeditions. Richard is the only person to have completed six full North Pole expeditions... . |
| 2000 | Commercial "last degree" North Pole expedition from Russia. Assistant guide with Richard Weber Richard Weber Richard Weber is a Canadian Arctic and polar adventurer. From 1978 to 2006, he organized and lead more than 45 Arctic expeditions. Richard is the only person to have completed six full North Pole expeditions... . |
| 2001 | Commercial "last degree" North Pole expedition from Russia. Guided a team of 10 women to the Pole. Most women had no previous Arctic experience. |
| 2003 | Commercial "last degree" North Pole expedition from Svalbard Svalbard Svalbard is an archipelago in the Arctic, constituting the northernmost part of Norway. It is located north of mainland Europe, midway between mainland Norway and the North Pole. The group of islands range from 74° to 81° north latitude , and from 10° to 35° east longitude. Spitsbergen is the... . Assistant guide with Richard Weber Richard Weber Richard Weber is a Canadian Arctic and polar adventurer. From 1978 to 2006, he organized and lead more than 45 Arctic expeditions. Richard is the only person to have completed six full North Pole expeditions... . |
| 2004 | Commercial "last degree" North Pole expedition from Svalbard Svalbard Svalbard is an archipelago in the Arctic, constituting the northernmost part of Norway. It is located north of mainland Europe, midway between mainland Norway and the North Pole. The group of islands range from 74° to 81° north latitude , and from 10° to 35° east longitude. Spitsbergen is the... . Assistant guide with Richard Weber Richard Weber Richard Weber is a Canadian Arctic and polar adventurer. From 1978 to 2006, he organized and lead more than 45 Arctic expeditions. Richard is the only person to have completed six full North Pole expeditions... . |
| 2006 | Guided a group of 6 clients with an assistant guide, from the North Pole North Pole The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is, subject to the caveats explained below, defined as the point in the northern hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface... to 88º 50’. |
South Pole expedition
| Year | Description |
|---|---|
| 2007 | Expedition leader for a group of four women who skied from latitude 89 32’ S to 90 S from January 20 to January 25, 2007. |
Other Arctic expeditions
| Location | Year | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Baffin Island Baffin Island Baffin Island in the Canadian territory of Nunavut is the largest island in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, the largest island in Canada and the fifth largest island in the world. Its area is and its population is about 11,000... |
1987 | Dog sled Dog sled A dog sled is a sled pulled by one or more sled dogs used to travel over ice and through snow. Numerous types of sleds are used, depending on their function. They can be used for dog sled racing.-History:... and ski expedition from Broughton Island Qikiqtarjuaq, Nunavut -External links:* *... to Clyde River Clyde River, Nunavut Clyde River is an Inuit hamlet located on the shore of Baffin Island's Patricia Bay, off Clyde Inlet, an arm of Davis Strait in the Qikiqtaaluk Region, of Nunavut Canada. It lies in the Baffin Mountains which in turn form part of the Arctic Cordillera mountain range... - 400 km (248.5 mi) |
| 1988 | Pioneered a new route from Okoa Bay to Glacier Lake across the Penny Ice Cap Penny Ice Cap The Penny Ice Cap is a vast, ice cap in Auyuittuq National Park of Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada. It forms a high barrier on the Cumberland Peninsula, an area of deep fiords and glaciated valleys. It is a remnant of the last ice age. During the mid 1990s, Canadian researchers studied the... , Auyuittuq National Park Auyuittuq National Park Auyuittuq National Park is a national park located on Baffin Island's Cumberland Peninsula, Qikiqtaaluk Region in Nunavut, the largest political subdivision of Canada. It features the many terrains of Arctic wilderness, such as fjords, glaciers, and ice fields... - 150 km (93.2 mi) |
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| 1989 | Sea kayak Sea kayak A sea kayak or touring kayak is a kayak developed for the sport of paddling on open waters of lakes, bays, and the ocean. Sea kayaks are seaworthy small boats with a covered deck and the ability to incorporate a spraydeck... ing and film making in the Pond Inlet Pond Inlet, Nunavut Pond Inlet is a small, predominantly Inuit community in the Qikiqtaaluk Region of Nunavut, Canada and is located at the top of Baffin Island. As of the 2006 census the population was 1,315, an increase of 7.8% from the 2001 census making it the largest of the four hamlets above the 72nd parallel... region |
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| 1990 | Hiking south east of the community of Pond Inlet Pond Inlet, Nunavut Pond Inlet is a small, predominantly Inuit community in the Qikiqtaaluk Region of Nunavut, Canada and is located at the top of Baffin Island. As of the 2006 census the population was 1,315, an increase of 7.8% from the 2001 census making it the largest of the four hamlets above the 72nd parallel... |
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| 1996 | Camping, hiking in the region of Milne Inlet Milne Inlet Milne Inlet is a body of water in Nunavut's Qikiqtaaluk Region.It flows in a southerly direction from Navy Board Inlet at the confluence of Eclipse Sound. Ragged Island is located at the inlet's opening, while Stephens Island is located further within.... , north Baffin Island Baffin Island Baffin Island in the Canadian territory of Nunavut is the largest island in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, the largest island in Canada and the fifth largest island in the world. Its area is and its population is about 11,000... . Sea kayaking in the Gold Cove area. |
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| 1997 | Spent two months with an Inuit Inuit The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language... family at an outpost camp in Gold Cove. |
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| 1998 | Established a tourist camp in Jackman Sound for hiking, kayak Kayak A kayak is a small, relatively narrow, human-powered boat primarily designed to be manually propelled by means of a double blade paddle.The traditional kayak has a covered deck and one or more cockpits, each seating one paddler... ing, wildlife viewing and a kayak expedition around southern tip of Frobisher Bay Frobisher Bay Frobisher Bay is a relatively large inlet of the Labrador Sea in the Qikiqtaaluk Region of Nunavut, Canada. It is located in the southeastern corner of Baffin Island... |
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| Ellesmere Island Ellesmere Island Ellesmere Island is part of the Qikiqtaaluk Region of the Canadian territory of Nunavut. Lying within the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, it is considered part of the Queen Elizabeth Islands, with Cape Columbia being the most northerly point of land in Canada... |
1997 | Ski expedition from Lake Hazen Lake Hazen Lake Hazen is often called the northernmost lake of Canada, in the northern part of Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, but detailed maps show several smaller lakes up to more than farther north on Canada's northernmost island. Turnabout Lake is immediately northeast of the northern end of Hazen lake... to Ward Hunt Island Ward Hunt Island Ward Hunt Island is a small, uninhabited island in the Arctic Ocean, off the north coast of Ellesmere Island. Its northern cape is one of the northernmost elements of land in Canada. Only a 17 km stretch of northern coast of Ellesmere Island around Cape Columbia is more northerly. The island... -250 km (155.3 mi). Climbed Arrowhead Mountain Arrowhead Mountain Arrowhead Mountain is a mountain located on Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada and is located east northeast of Mount Oxford. The mountain was named due to the four ridges that rise to a peak.-References:... , 1860 m (6,102.4 ft) (first summited by Dr. JR Weber in 1956) |
| 1998 | Ski expedition from Ellesmere Island Ellesmere Island Ellesmere Island is part of the Qikiqtaaluk Region of the Canadian territory of Nunavut. Lying within the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, it is considered part of the Queen Elizabeth Islands, with Cape Columbia being the most northerly point of land in Canada... across the Kane Basin Kane Basin (waterway) Kane Basin is an Arctic waterway lying between Greenland and Canada's northernmost island, Ellesmere Island. It links Smith Sound to Kennedy Channel and forms part of Nares Strait. It is approximately 180 kilometres in length and 130 km at its widest.... to Siorapaluk Siorapaluk Siorapaluk is a settlement in the Qaanaaq area of the Qaasuitsup municipality, in northern Greenland and is one of the world's northernmost inhabited settlements. It has a population of 68 speaking the Inuktun language of the Polar Inuit as well as Standard West Greenlandic... , Greenland Greenland Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for... - 300 km (186.4 mi) |
Awards
| Year | Description |
|---|---|
| 1983 | Was awarded a "sportive distinction certificate" from the Université de Sherbrooke Université de Sherbrooke The Université de Sherbrooke is a large university with campuses located in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada and Longueuil, a suburb of Montreal approximately west of Sherbrooke. It is one of two universities, and the only French language university, in the Estrie region of Quebec.In 2007, the... for her participation in cross-country skiing at the Canada Games Canada Games The Canada Games is a high-level multi-sport event with a National Artists Program held every two years in Canada, alternating between the Canada Winter Games and the Canada Summer Games. Athletes are strictly amateur only, and represent their province or territory.The Games were first held in 1967... . |
| 1986 | Was awarded a varsity letter Varsity letter A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :... from the University of Vermont for her participation and excellence in cross-country skiing. |
| 1986 | Was awarded the All East Ski Team Award by the Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association for her outstanding performances in cross-country skiing. |
External links
- Arctic Watch and Canadian Arctic Holidays
- South Pole Expedition 2007
- Women Quest 2001