John Dunn (born 1954) is a wilderness explorer, writer and photographer, originally from England, but now based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He has completed a number of pioneering expeditions throughout northern Canada and the Canadian Arctic. He writes for Canadian Geographic[1] and National Geographic magazines and conducts illustrated talks worldwide. He holds a degree in geology and worked for a time in the Australian outback before moving to explore the Canadian Arctic.[2]
Dunn has completed a number of expeditions during his career. Many of them have been pioneering, being the first recorded human-powered traverses of remote areas.
In 1990, Dunn led a four-man team on the first human-powered traverse of Canada's Ellesmere Island. The 96-day, 1250km (780miles) journey was conducted on skis with the team pulling sleds containing supplies and photography equipment.[3]
In 1994, Dunn and his team completed the first human-powered crossing of Baffin Island, the fifth largest island in the world. The 3030km (1,880miles) journey was completed in 192 days during the northern summer.
In 1997, Dunn completed a 2500km (1,600miles) journey from Tofino on Vancouver Island to Fort Nelson in northeastern British Columbia. This journey started with a solo kayak up the west coast of Vancouver Island, then became a canoe trip up the Inside Passage, and finished with a 54-day hike across the Canadian Cordillera where Dunn was accompanied by biologist Bob Saunders.[4] They carried an inflatable canoe to aid them on particular sections of the journey.[5] Each lost around 14kg (31lb) in the process. The article describing the journey received an Honourable Mention in the photojournalism category at the 22nd Annual National Magazine Awards.[6] [7]