Transfers & Shuttles

All trips start and end in Thunder Bay, ON. Ground transportation is provided between Thunder Bay Airport and "Uncle" Phil's home and from there to/from the Mattice Lake Outfitters air base near Armstrong. From the air base, participants are shuttled to/from the trip start/end points.

Thunder Bay Shuttles

For participants who fly to/from Thunder Bay, taxi shuttles are available between Thunder Bay Airport and "Uncle" Phil's home at a substantial discount regardless of the number of passengers per trip. Details of this arrangement are available to registered participants in the password-protected section (For Participants Only) of this website.

Armstrong Transfers

Road transfers between Thunder Bay and the air base are part of the arrangements made for every trip and are included in the trip cost. A participant who offers to use his/her vehicle to convey the other participants, their gear and the trip supplies between Thunder Bay and the air base in his/her own vehicle is nominated as the 'designated driver' and is compensated for this service. There is no charge for vehicle parking at the air base.

Armstrong Shuttles

From the air base, participants are shuttled to the trip starting point and back from where their trip ends. Most shuttles will occur on Saturday mornings and will involve insertion/extraction flights on a De Havilland Beaver or Otter float plane. Trip No. 1 involves a Friday evening rail/road insertion shuttle which, due to the late departure of the westbound VIA Rail passenger service ex Armstrong, involves an overnight stay at the drop-off location. The extraction shuttle for the final trip of the season may be by air, road and even water taxi depending on the route and the ultimate location of the final rendezvous point. Insertion/extraction shuttles as well as meals and accommodation associated with them are included in the trip cost.