One of the icons of Iceland, the puffin. It’s about 10pm and fishing has been good as you can see. Traveling the Arctic we’re moving through such a big picture, but it’s often the details that make the biggest impact. Here, the land, the sea, and the air are all tied together. All in the…
It has been over a year since Eric and I last worked together aboard the National Geographic Explorer. Part of our sponsorship for this project is to spend time on board and share stories from Meet the North. We are back on board now, and we’ll sail from Iceland to Greenland and on to Nunavut…
A hallmark of the North, these tracks are unique to the Arctic. Thick fur around the feet brushes the snow and obscures each print. The path reaches out across the sea ice following clues we humans could never find. We are out on the frozen ocean and far from shore in all directions. Only the…
Form meets function. These what you need to survive on the ice. These ‘boots’ are made by Joanna Kunnuk. Some would call her a seamstress; I think of her as an engineer. I’m wearing two layers of warm booties under this fur, one with a legging that comes up over my knees. (I’ve never had…
And one more for the memory book. Because the Stanley Cup should never be lonely. The silver got a lot of love in Pond Inlet. #meetthenorth #lindbladexpeditions #pondinlet #community #stanleycup #hockey #hockeyfans #crowdcontrol #mountie #redsurge #hockeytown #playoffs #springfever
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…
Post 1 of 4 | The feast is almost ready. People are gathering around the community hall and choosing their spots for this special meal. Four long strips of plastic and then cardboard are laid out on the floor. Next, the frozen meat, cut with hand saws, is evenly spread out. You must bring…
(Post 1 of 3) This berg is within walking distance from town, though many make the trip out by skidoo. Aside from being very beautiful, it’s a destination for ice harvesters. Iceberg meltwater makes the best tea in town. Photo by Eric Guth
Pond Inlet, Nunavut. We are happy to be here. We filled our first evening by marvelling at the light and strolling the streets while our parka hoods gathered haloes of frost. Many people waved as they skidooed by, and a few kids called out: “What is your name?!?” We’ll have lots of names to learn…
Reunion and packing party complete. We have tested our gear, packed our parkas, and wrangled it all into bags. It’s been fun showing Eric around our nation’s capital – including the Inuit art at the National gallery, classic poutine from La Patate Dorée, and even a brewery. But the real adventure lies ahead in Nunavut….