We’ve been up close with wildlife here in new ways – at least new for us. We are out on the land with a keen hunter, who headed off in search of ptarmigan. Skidoo, shotgun and a Go Pro strapped on to his toque. The birds are beautiful – set off by the sun and…
The simple tool that directs and controls a dog team. Homemade. Complete with Dora the Explorer stickers. Thanks to Niko Inuaraq for this photo shoot. By @eric_guth . #meetthenorth #lindbladexpeditions #arctic #nunavut #pondinlet #dogsled #dogteam #dora
The home stretch of a dog team race between two brothers with the mountains of Bylot Island in the background. We arrived early to watch the race, but didn’t realize the competitors would be out of sight within minutes, only to return a couple of hours later. An early morning endurance sport, but not one…
Then two brothers came riding out of the fog. They offered us whiskey and took chewing tobacco in exchange. These men have been coming to this land their whole lives. They are carpenters who herd sheep and hunt fox for a bounty. “We’re what you would call hillbillies.” They’ve been working with 20 other men…
(Post 4 of 5) Many people come to the sheep round up on horseback, and finding your horses again can be a bit of a trick. Guðmundur Stefán Finnbogason (Gummí) is another son from Minni-Mástunga farm, and he’s gathered his five horses together to drive the sheep the last seven kilometers back home. To find…
(Post 1 of 6) I was welcomed to Sisimiut with Greenlandic food prepared by Tukumminnguaq Olsen. She invited me to her family home to share caribou she brought home herself after a successful hunt on the weekend. First, we ate tingulaat, a mix of cod livers (boiled), angelica (a robust green plant that grows locally),…
(Post 2 of 6) If you are from the south, like me, you don’t have caribou in your garage, but this is the result of hard work and family time: boat travel, overland trekking, lake crossings and skill. Eating food fresh from the land is very important here. Makka explained that leaving the meat out…
Farewell for now, beautiful Iceland. I’ll be back with friend and photographer Eric Guth in September. In the meantime, thank you to those I met and to this creature, Blassa, who showed me the tölt and carried me across the beach into hip-high lupines.
My newest friend in Iceland.
(Post 5 of 5) The trail to Platåfjellet leaves from behind the church in Longyearbyen. It’s one of Pastor Leif’s favourite walks. In less than an hour you reach the ridge above town. A little further, and the magic starts.