Its gone so fast this year. Twenty four hours ago I finished a 45 day work period in the Arctic.
I was lucky this year to be given exactly what voyages I wanted to work, the idea being I wanted to see more of the isolated SE coast of Greenland.
Voyage 2 we departed from Iceland following the movements of the Vikings across to Cape Farewell; Greenland's south cape.
On the south east coast we ventured into Tasillaq, one of the only small Greenlandic settlements in the east. Further south our charts displayed large blank areas of coastline and uncertain depths. One fiord with soundings "Skjoldungen" "Shield for the children" became a highlight of the season. The steep walled fiord with hanging glaciers, waterfalls and dominating peaks was quite overwhelming. Nansen makes special mention of its beauty, I would love to go back.
Nanortalik on Greenlands SW coast was a quick stop before we headed north with the current to Disco Bay. After several landings, kayak trips and amazing scenery we turned west again skirting the sea ice in Baffin Bay. We took to the zodiacs and found bears out on the ice with seals in their posession. The Inuit community of Iqaluit is where our second voyage ended. Fog delayed the plane and high winds and swell made for a challenging day of driving with Gps in hand.
Our final voyage of the season was a two week horseshoe shaped curve commencing along the coastline of southern Baffin Island. We headed north into Gibbs Fiord an extreme arctic version of Yosemite with walls of stone minus the crowds and carparks. Fog capped the 2000ft glaciated fiord. I delivered a kayak trip for eleven amatuers in rolling seas and rebounding winds. All emerged upright when our time ran low.
Our voyage touched some of the historic marks of the central Canadain Arctic. Pond Inlet; the gateway to the legendary northwest passage and of course Beechey Island; the site which has provided a great deal of insight into the disappearance of the Sir James Franklin Expedition.
Devon Island turned on a show with great weather, ice, Polar Bears, Musk Oxen and Caribou. In a remote arm of Starnes Fiord - Ellesmere Island Narwhal and Beluga whales ran alongside the ship and provided us with illusive glimpses. Back into Baffin Bay with the ice now drifted south we made good time back across to the more temperate waters of Greenland. A day at Jakobshavn and the mighty glacier, humpback whales and views of picturesk Greenlandic homes will for ever be lasting memories.
Enjoy some of my images from the season.
zak
No comments:
Post a Comment