Boom NWT.

I’m such a badass that they inducted me into the Order of Arctic Adventurers. Despite the fact that the Arctic Circle is the 66th Parallel, not the 60th. And that the 60th parallel is only as far north as the southern tip of Norway. But otherwise, totally badass and not at all a touristy gimmick.

The first significant place in NWT is Hay River, where I couchsurfed with Alvin and Jennifer, seen here sitting in front of me in their Jeep as they drove me out to see a local waterfall.

This Jeep.

This waterfall.

Looking downriver. It’s the sort of spot that would have 3 million annual visitors if it was in Arizona, but it’s not, it’s in the North, so we almost had the place to ourselves.

Another waterfall further downriver, this one a slightly odd shape.

Later on, Jennifer took me to the land of the local First Nations, where a handgames tournament was taking place. The rules of this team game were fairly impenetrable but it was great to watch, with lots of banging drums, waving arms and arguing about refereeing decisions. The total prize fund for the day’s handgames was $50,000 so they weren’t messing around.

Then I said goodbye to my hosts and headed off towards Yellowknife.

En route, there were bison (more accurately called wood buffalo).

They’re big buggers.