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Biker Sets Off From Whitehorse to Tuktoyaktuk in Support of Conservation and Northern Food Security

Friday, 2 August 2019 11:59

Mitch Bowmile started his 1400-kilometre bicycle ride yesterday from Whitehorse to Tuktoyaktuk.

Adventurer and Torontonian Mitch Bowmile officially set off on a bike journey from Whitehorse yesterday to Tuktoyatuk to help raise awareness around northern food security and the need for increased protection of the Porcupine caribou herd.

Adventurer and Torontonian Mich Bowmile officially set off on a bike journey from Whitehorse yesterday to Tuktoyatuk to help raise awareness around northern food security and the need for increased protection of the Porcupine caribou herd.

Bowmile is aiming to raise $10,000 through both the Green Iglu and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) Yukon Chapter websites to help donate to the cause. He will be creating a video after the journey to help document and share his experiences.

Bowmile says both the initiatives he wants to raise funds for are connected.

"The (Porcupine) caribou herd population is very important to the Gwich'in population... By combating food security and supporting the caribou population, it helps to support the Gwich'in populations."

Bowmile says the Dempster Highway caught his eye after he was looking at what bike expeditions he wanted to complete to help support the cause.

"I wanted to do some sort of an expedition this summer and I wanted to do something that I hadn't done before. I decided that I wanted to do some bike touring and I started searching up some different bike touring routes. I came across the Dempster Highway and that was super interesting to me. I thought it was cool around how remote it was and how it connected so many communities along the way."

Bowmile says one of the recipients he aims to raise funds for during the 1400km solo bicycle ride directly helps northerners access cheap food.

"The Green Iglu is an organization that creates sustainable greenhouses. It helps northern communities that don't have access to a lot of fresh produce. They help the communities grow produce year-round so that the price of the produce can go down a lot. All the communities reach out to the organization that want that service."

You can follow Bowmile journey by going on to his "Arctic Circle Ride" website.

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