Exploring the far north

We are half way through the 2007 Arctic season. Time has vanished, now positioned in Pond Inlet an Inuit community situated at the NE most point of Baffin Island. It’s a raw settlement overlooking Eclipse sound where Narwhal migrate shortly after the ice pack in Baffin Bay breaks up.
From here we are two days shy of the completion of our third voyage finishing in Resolute, the staging post for many northern polar expeditions.
Our client’s fly into Resolute, Cornwallis Island, the ship then embarks on 12-day polar cruises. Lancaster sound, Northern Baffin Island, Bylot Island the southern bays of Devon Island and the west coast of Greenland are our most frequently visited areas. It’s a dynamic environment; one certainty is that each voyage is completely different as sea ice density, fog, wind and ocean swell dictate when and where we go.
Whilst everything thus far is accurate there are a few other things that happen on the ship. Amazing cuisine comes at us without fail everyday. Huge three course meals, desserts at lunch and dinner, plus morning and afternoon tea on top of all this the bar is always well stocked. Needless to say I feel like a real athlete every time I get out on the water with my sea kayaking team!

We have not been able to visit Grize Fiord, Ellesmere Island all season. 8/10 of heavy pack ice has blocked the entrance bays. Pack ice presents other opportunities however!

Image Zak Shaw – Flying Polar Bear!

Sea ice, Baffin Bay, Image – Colin Bates


Most kayak excursions we travel out of view of the ship and explore the sea cliffs, glacier fronts, rugged coastline and secluded bays. Image – Marcia Opal A team of kayakers leaving the ship in Erebus Bay, Beechey Island.

“Inukshuk” singular, man shape. By stacking rocks in body like shapes the Inuit created visible monuments in specific places to assist in the herding of animals whilst hunting and also as aids in navigation. This inukskuk is aged over 1000 years.
Image –Zak Shaw.

Image – Zak Shaw. Paddlers in evening light, 11pm Cape Graham Moore


Fluking Humpback Whale
Image – Zak Shaw

Paddling through brash ice blows people away everytime.
It appears so innocent and non-threatening. However while we enjoyed paddling through the thick soupy blocks of fresh water ice the regularity of large carving chunks from the glacier confirmed the unpredictable nature of kayaking in the Arctic.
Image Marcia Opal -Pitugfik Glacier, Greenland