The Canadian AKOR expedition has reached their next supply cache, stored in the town of Baker Lake.

The thawing lakes and rivers allowed them to paddle for longer distances as they approached their milestone, though often they would have to canoe around the very edge of the lake to avoid chunks of ice that might further damage their canoes.

They will spend over a week at Baker Lake to make much-needed repairs, and also a major personnel change. Philippe Voghel-Robert has chosen to end his expedition early “for personal reasons” and has flown home.

Fortunately, the team have managed a quick replacement. Guillaume Moreau’s girlfriend, Catherine Chagnon has flown to Baker Lake as a replacement! She has paddling experience and is well-versed in Canada’s far north: she works as a northern ecosystems biologist.

The team will head out again in the next few days. Their next objective is Black Lake, 680 miles south.