BANTING LAKE TENT 

The Yellowknife Ski Club has a 16×14 canvas tent available for use by club members for free. The tent is about 10 km from the Vee Lake Landing. It has a plywood floor, wood stove and basic equipment for overnight backcountry experiences. A perfect winter adventure spot! Users must be a club member to book.

Northern lights over a forest with a lit-up tent.

TENT AMENITIES

The tent has a small porch, perfect for those sunny afternoons or for aurora watching. Inside is a 14×16 wooden floor, large wood stove and small picnic table. Behind the tent is a great outhouse. Inside the tent are a broom, swede saw (for cutting wood), 2 large pots for melting water, water pail, axe, 1 large sleeping platform for 2, and 2 fold-out cots. Cooking supplies include: 2 burner Coleman stove, a Coleman lantern, 2 pots, frying pan, 4 mugs, 4 plates, 4 bowls, forks, knives, spoons, sharp knives and some other odds and ends.

WHAT TO PACK

If you plan to head out, here are some suggested items you will need at a minimum (remember – this is backcountry camping and you MUST be self-sufficient!)

  • Sleeping bags

  • Thermarests

  • Cooking gear

  • Axe

  • Food

  • Candles

  • Lantern

  • Flashlight/headlamp

  • Matches and/or lighter

  • Fire starter (newspaper)

  • Toilet paper

  • Paper bag for your toilet paper (to pack out or safely burn before you leave)

  • Dish soap

  • Dish cloth, tea towel

  • Pressurized fuel for Coleman stove

  • Fuel (unless you plan to cook on the wood stove)

For water, you can either melt snow or bring an auger to make a hole in the lake and get water.

Person skiing on snowy trail with backpack, surrounded by pine trees and clear blue sky

HOW TO GET THERE

 It is essential that you are self-reliant in navigation and personal safety for all elements in the wilderness travel. Seasonal conditions vary and may change with little notice. There is no maintained trail to the tent frame. A personal communication device is recommended. Cell phone coverage is inconsistent on the route and at the tent frame. Parking is available at Vee Lake Parking lot, which is about 10km from the tent frame. Modes of transportation include: skiing, snowmobile, hiking, paddling. Do not travel without a map or navigation device. Use at your own risk.

RULES FOR USE

To ensure the wall tent is in good working order for the next group, please respect the following rules along with the standard backcountry etiquette that goes along with any outing:

  • When emptying dish water or other used water, dump it out behind and to the right of the tent. This way, people (kids) won’t fall or play in dirty snow.

  • Leave some kindling and wood for the next user.

  • Sweep out the tent when you leave.

  • Take all garbage – leave the place cleaner than you found it!

  • Empty out the water pails – this is critical as water left in the pail will crack the bottom.

  • Ensure door is closed.

  • Report any damage or things needing repair to the Club.

BOOK NOW

Users must be a club member to book. The tent can be booked for one or more nights from 1pm until noon on the last day. Non members can book the tent by donation, but the booking must be made within two weeks of travel.

See our calendar for available dates. To book the tent, call Doug Townson or Julie Ward at 867-444-8466, email banting.tent@gmail.com or fill out the booking form using the booking button below.