Looking for an adventure? Check out Fort Chipewyan! Don’t know where that is? It’s time to find out.
Working in the tourism sector has given me the good fortune of experiencing some incredible adventures, and this trip was no exception.
On February 11th, I embarked on a journey to Fort Chipewyan—known as Fort Chip to the locals. From the moment I was assigned to the Fort McMurray region, I had my eye set on visiting Fort Chip. Why? Because I thought no one really went there. Turns out, people do—but mostly for work or family. I’d love to see more tourists experience this special place. Due to its remote location, much of the local language and culture has been preserved, and that’s exactly why I wanted to go.
Arriving at McMurray Aviation, I was surprised to see it wasn’t too busy. As I parked my rental, I immediately thought—oh no. It was minus 27 degrees with a biting wind chill, and my rental car had no visible plug-in. Not ideal.
Inside, I was greeted by a short man in a safety vest with a warm smile. When I asked if I was in the right place, he confirmed and asked about luggage. I giggled to myself. Just the week before, I had gone shopping with a friend and picked out a bright salmony-pink suitcase so I could easily spot it while traveling. Mission successful. Until now, because standing in a room full of industry men in dark clothing, I suddenly wished my suitcase wasn’t quite so pink.
Nonetheless, I checked in my bag, which was quickly weighed and tagged—along with my laptop and purse, which I found interesting. Then, I was ushered into the waiting area. I was glad I had followed the advice to arrive 90 minutes early, especially since I had originally gone to the Fort McMurray International Airport by mistake. Thankfully, it was an easy detour, and now that I was in the right place, I felt much better. Still, looking around, I couldn’t help but feel like I stuck out.
A staff member let us know that soon someone would register us for our flight, so I settled in at a small table, connected to the Wi-Fi, and checked my emails. I love how accessible the internet is almost everywhere now.
A few minutes later, a petite woman with dark hair and a bright smile entered the room. She started checking in passengers for two flights—one a private charter and the other, my flight.
That’s when I saw it. She was weighing people. Ugh, I was going to be weighed!
I instantly regretted my eggs benny from breakfast. Not that it would make a difference, but still. You’re not supposed to ask a woman’s weight, let alone weigh her in public! But it was necessary for the flight, so I hopped on the scale. To my relief, my weight wasn’t displayed for the entire room to see. The screen was small and turned away. Relief.
As I took my seat again and glanced outside at a small blue and white plane. I couldn’t help but wonder if that was the plane I’d soon be on. Time passed quickly as I finished emails and checked in with my team. Before I knew it, it was time to board.
I was about to experience my first flight on a small aircraft with just seven passenger seats. Up front, there were two seats—one for the pilot and the other, I assumed, for a co-pilot.
As we taxied toward the runway, my stomach felt a little nervous. But takeoff was much better than I expected. It was the smoothest takeoff I have ever experienced. Seriously-smooth like butter!
Once we were in the air, the ride remained incredibly steady. The views were amazing. Flying at a lower altitude meant I could clearly see the ice roads, dense forests, cutlines, power towers, and other landmarks below. As I looked below, I had a whole new set of questions.
As we soared through the air, I couldn’t help think about crashing. It didn’t have anything to do with the pilot or the plane, I just couldn’t help think of this little plane and the vast wilderness below. It didn’t look very forgiving. It made me think of all the books and stories I had read about such things. But my thoughts didn’t last long as there was simply too much beauty to take in. The 45-minute journey flew by—literally. Not a single bump. I laughed because if I hadn’t been so excited, I might have even caught a nap. What an experience. A huge shoutout to McMurray Aviation for an amazing flight!
I will be back!
