A Hearst outdoor guide has completed a 2,200 kilometre snowmobile trip to Churchill, Manitoba using an unusual route.
Mylene Coulombe-Gratton says the trek encircled the western half of James Bay Coast before hitting the winter ice road from Peawanuck to Gilliam, Manitoba. She adds the journey was part fascination with muskeg and completing a bucket list trip with her dad.
“Marc Gosselin and Pat Lecours decided to do the trek and my dad was supposed to do it with them,” she said. “He remembers being the meeting and being part of the planning but then the mill went on strike and my mom was pregnant with me, they just got married. This wasn’t really making sense.”
Coulombe-Gratton says there were problems, including having to replace her snowmobile early on. She adds watching her dad’s reaction when they arrived in Churchill was priceless.
“He came and gave me a big hug and like we made it, and for me seeing his excitement made me feel even more excited and we had done it,” she said. “It just that it didn’t even feel real that we’re in Churchill and we snowmobiled from home.”
Here is the complete audio interview with Mylene Coloumbe Gratton from Follow Her North:
