NorthWinds is owned and operated by Matty McNair who has made her home in Iqaluit, on south Baffin Island, since 1990, with her kids Sarah and Eric.

Matty contributed to polar history in 1997 when she led the first commercial polar expedition, guiding the first women’s expedition to the Geographic North Pole. She has since guided 3 expeditions to the South Pole, and a dog sledding expedition to the North Pole.

In 2004-5 Matty with her kids, Sarah and Eric and friends Conrad & Hilary Dickenson, completed, ”Kites On Ice” an un-supported, un-resupplied expedition from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole, 600 nautical miles, in 52 days, pulling pulks with a starting weight of 230 lbs. Sarah (age 18) and Eric (age 20) became the youngest to ski to the South Pole. Sarah & Matty were the first Canadian Women to ski to the South Pole, and Eric and Matty were the first Americans to ski un-resupplied. At the South Pole they picked up a re-supply and kited back in a record 17 days, doing a record 107 nautical miles in one day! To read more see: www.kitesonice.ca

In 2005 Matty guided the British “Ultimate North” expedition to the North Pole with two teams of her Canadian Inuit Dogs, making the journey in just under the time that Robert Peary did in 1909; thus providing further evidence that Peary could have made the North Pole in the time that he claimed. The website is: www.barcapultimatenorth.com

Outdoor adventures have been Matty’s passion for many years. She has climbed the highest mountains in South America, kayaked the Grand Canyon, worked for Outward Bound for 23 years and dog sledded 4000 km around Baffin Island. She has written two books on whitewater canoeing and On Thin Ice about her 1997 journey to the North Pole.

NorthWinds Offers: Safe, Quality Experiences at Fair Prices. The secret of our successes is in the unique style of travel: a blend of attention to detail, energy efficiency and keeping a positive spirit of adventure.

Our staff are all world class polar guides. We use the best equipment available, and when does not exist, we custom make it. Our trail food offers the most calories per weight while offering a variety of tasty food.