Baffin Island, Canada

On behalf of the Dutch Alpine Club I'm planning a backpacking trip to Baffin Island, Nunavut Canada.
It will be a non-commercial one month trip for members of the Dutch Alpine Club.
The key feature will be crossing Baffin Island Via Kingnait Pass. A though route that involves 13 days of serious backpacking in virgin arctic terrain. The starting point is a boat drop-off from Qikiqtarjuaq, the end point is Pangnirtung.
As far as I know it is a very unfamiliar route. Most people choose the route through Auyuittuq National Park, with the relative comfort of shelter cabins, cable bridges, and paths.
Is there anybody who can give me some advice about this intended route ???

Arnoud ten Haaft, Dutch Alpine Club tourleader

Has no one of you Britts ever been there ???

Well, certainly not me - but good luck. Sorry Jon to plug another site but you may be best off asking at ukclimbing.com, as they have a wider travelled - if less polite and more elitist - group of climbers over there. Let's face it, if Joan hasn't been there or doesn't know what hope for the rest of us eh? :-)

Not that route I am afraid.
travelled a bit in the high Arctic
Take a rifle, some thunderflashes and fer gods sake shoot straight!
Bears can be a problem!

Clive,
Indeed the bears worried me a bit. A part of the last shorter trekking is inside the Auyuittuq National Park. In the park weapons are not allowed. So I was considdering not to take a rifle on all three trekkings. The number of our group (around 10) should give us the most protection. Statistically larger groups are quite safe from bear attacts.

However we will bring bear spray, thunderflashes, and a tripwire around the camp.
During the trekking and around the camp, especially near the cost, we will have to watch for Polar Bears all the time.

Would you feel safe with these precautions ?

Yes sort of
I would consider putting all food apart from emergency rations away from the sleeping area. Or giving it a covering of snow to try and keep the scent down.
I have never rated bear spray.
I once had the misfortune to be out on the sea ice when a bear popped round a pressure ridge. It took one look at me and decided I was lunch.
I sadly had to shoot it at about 40 metres which is way way too close!

You can take all the precautions you like but Polar bears are scared of nothing. worst time is late summer/ autumn when they are trying to get back onto the ice to feed up ready for winter.
Good luck its a fabulous place!

I tend to favour the Antarctic now as I can easiliy outrun leopard seals!