It was an early start this morning. Dave and I got up and headed to Tim Horton's to pick up breakfast for everyone. Timmy's came through for the most part! Only a few forgotten items. Apparently this Tim Horton's is the largest grossing per capita in the entire chain.
En route we desperately were trying to connect with AC to find out about the luggage. In the middle of the night they had called to let us know that it had NOT made it onto the 1am flight, so our hopes were a bit dashed. We had to find some clothing for mom! It is currently -8 in Arctic watch with the 53/km winds and snowing!
Once back, everyone was loaded into the shuttle to head to Summit Air Hangar.
I took the Summit Air vehicle with Dave, Robert, Brian, Kirk & Heather along with our lunches for the day and our luggage! It was a bit cramped...but we made it.
Upon arrival at Summit Air, we dropped off our luggage, dropped off our bags to leave behind in Yellowknife and then tried AC one more time about the bags.
I still couldn't get anything more out of AC, but I pleaded with the woman to please follow up on the bag and try to locate it for us and ensure that it makes it to Norman Wells by Tuesday. Mom then headed off to the local convenience store for a few necessities, and fortunately, Robert was able to borrow some clothing from his pilot friend last night, and we were able to borrow some clothes from the wife of one of the fellows at Summit Air. We owe these people a lot of gratitude. Mom would not have been able to participate in anything up north without these clothes. Huge credit to mom...she's taking everything in stride and being a good sport...fingers crossed the bag makes it to Norman Wells before the canoe portion of the trip.
With toothbrush and clothing in hand for Wendy, we load onto our plane....after a great group shot (the first of many) and take off.
Our first stop is Cambridge Bay on Victoria Island for refueling. We officially land into Nunavut at around 10:30am. My first gravel airstrip landing! Nunavut is above the tree line, so the land is barren of almost all vegetation. Just prior to landing we get our first glimpse of the Arctic Ocean...its really magical. The water is magnificent here, brilliant blue along the shore, and a deep blue beyond.
Cambridge Bay is a small community of about 3000 residents. The town is too far from the airport and we are on the ground for two short of a time to be able to see it. We get word that Arctic Watch has relatively good visibility, some areas with fog and some areas with clear visibility. The pilot gives us thumbs up that he's happy to give the landing a shot. If we can't make a landing, then we will head to Resolute Bay just above to land and wait out the weather. Another fingers crossed moment...I think we will have a lot of these on the trip!
Back up in the air we enjoy our bagged lunches prepared by The Explorer Hotel. Very yummy. They did a good job!
We start our decent into Arctic Watch...we can see the lodge and sleeping hats below as we pass by on our way to the air strip. There is a little fog, but the visibility looks pretty good. Apparently no one has gotten in for 5 days...and we learn later that on almost every flight in over the summer, they have had to fly to Resolute Bay until the following day due to weather.
Our pilot determine its now or never and takes us in for landing. The landing strip, albeit worked on very dutifully by the staff every spring, is a bumpy gravel strip. He makes the landing, and with the wind and the bumps, its a little tense and it throws my stomach into my throat. We nervously clap upon the first touch down...but decide to wait until we have safely slowed down. Personally I did not remove my hands from their deathgrip on the seat in front of me until we were truly safe and sound by my estimation.
Once we are at a stop, we see the Arctic Watch crew. They have two large unimogs in waiting for us. We grab our stuff...and thankfully have our warm clothing at close hand, as it is blistering cold outside. It is snowing a little and the wind is really tearing through us. We load into the back of the two unimogs and set off for the lodge! What a thrill, we get our first taste of our adventure.
Once at the lodge, we have some tea, coffee and lovely snack, and await for our introductions and debrief. The staff here are wonderful. Josee and Richard are great hosts and the rest of their staff and sons are equally so. We learn some quick rules and then get geared up for our afternoon hike.
We head off to three falls. I'm instantly thrilled about my muckboot purchase. They are fantastic! They paid for themselves in their first outing. As they have just had some snow, the ground which is normally hardpacked and clay like is now mushy. It feels great under your feet. There is iteresting plants and flowers growing, mushy black moss, and of course our first glimpse of an Arctic Tree. The land although barren looking from afar, is in actual fact speckled with all sorts of life. Its amazing to me that anything is able to prosper in this climate.
The falls we go to look at are beautiful, we are able to climb down right next to them, and there are lots of photo opportunities. We are so happy to be on our feet and smelling the fresh air and getting some exercise. The land is beautiful and and it is extremely quiet.
The lodge is quaint, with lots of beautiful rugs and fireplaces and cozy seating. There are books and photos and bones of whales and other animals. Off the main lodge is the dining hall, and the bathrooms which are fantastic. Running water...glorious showers and the bathrooms are especially toasty warm.
We get assigned into our little huts which are all identified by animals. Dave and I get the owl! They are great little huts with nice cosy beds with flannel sheets, and they have sinks and mirrors, a nice chair, places to hang your stuff and a little toilet area with private fabric walls.
For dinner, we were treated to a fabulous Prime Rib dinner. One of the guides here lives on a working ranch near Camrose, AB. His family sends up hormone free beef to Arctic Watch for their guests. We also have quinoa salad, green salad, mashed potatoes, brussel sprouts w/ cranberries, mushrooms with onions and gravy. It was spectacular. These folks know how to cook! For dessert we have a chocolate brownie type cake with raspberry coulis and fresh raspberries and blueberries. Devine! They have an espresso machine for an after dinner coffee. Truly, you couldn't eat better in the middle of Vancouver.
After dinner we head down to the Arctic Ocean which takes about 30 minutes to walk to. The lodge dog Deamon joins us which is fine by us...they also send us out with bear spray and a walkie talkie. Not sure what bear spray would do with a large Polar Bear, we all try to determine who will be the slowest and tastiest and first to go down in the event that we do run into one of these magnificent beasts.
Its now after 10pm, but the daylight is still in full force. Its impossible to tell what time of day it is...I don't really feel tired even though I know we need to get some sleep after our late night the night before.
We head to bed...its COLD! My nose is frozen! With a waterbottle stuffed at my abdomen and Dave dutifully spooning me from behind, I try to find comfort and sleep. NO chance! With the bright light, the snoring from Dave and the snoring from a nearby hut, I'm near going crazy. I try music, I try blankets over my head...finally I have to wake Dave to find me some toilet paper to stuff in my ears. With my toque pulled down over my head, and wads of tissue in my ears, sleep finally finds me sometime after midnight...and so ends Day 2.
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