Somewhere along Eclipse Sound, on our way from Pond Inlet to the Floe Edge, our komatik (sled) ran into a problem. In attempting to cross this lead in the ice, roughly 100 meters or so away from where I took this picture, we got stuck. Our komatik didn’t make it across the lead and started sliding back into the frigid Arctic waters. We quickly abandoned the sled, leaping onto solid ice, and as a team, pulled the sled to safety. Everyone was safe and it seemed like a good time to brew some tea, lay out a plate of bannock, and take a breath and a break before continuing on. That was the only reason I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time to take this picture. Every year there are a few weeks in June-ish, when it’s safe for adventurers to travel the frozen route from Pond Inlet, the northern-most civilian community in Canada, to the Floe Edge where a few nights of camping on the sea ice can be one of life’s highlights. Cliffs with thousands of nesting seabirds, narwhals, seals and on occasion polar bears, all sit amongst landscapes that will blow your socks off! The people of Pond Inlet are very warm, welcoming and proud of their community. This is also a time when locals travel to the Floe Edge to hunt and take mini vacation get-ways. It’s a weekend camping for them not unlike what many of us do down here. With climate change, the chance for people like you and me to witness all this is getting more precarious because the season and the ice are less predictable. If you have an interest, the sooner the better! It is truly one of this planet’s most stunning experiences.
Guestbook Earth, Canada
