We are getting ready for the next adventure – hard to find cold weather gear when the temperature is hot!

We are traveling through part of the North-West passage on an Ice-Class 1A ship. It is not an ice-breaker but can handle ice to a thickness of up to three feet according to wikipedia.

Here is our itinerary for the trip:

Day by Day Itinerary

Tuesday, August 22: Meet in Edmonton / Commence Group Services

Meet at 1830 in the Wedgewood Room located on the first floor of the hotel for a briefing and welcome reception. You will meet the Worldwide Quest staff and our Resource Educators will make introductory presentations on the experiences that await. Dinner will be served at 1900.
Overnight: Fairmont Hotel Macdonald, Edmonton
Meals: Welcome Dinner

Wednesday, August 23: Charter flight to Resolute / Embark Ship
We’ll be provided with a boxed breakfast to take with us to the airport. Our morning flight from Edmonton disembarks at 54∞34’N and takes us well north of the Arctic Circle to 74∞43’N where the hamlet of Resolute, ᖃᐅᓱᐃᑦᑐᖅ, lies. Please note that flight times may be subject to change.

Hotel Departure time will be posted in the Hotel Lobby.

Charter Flight Depart Edmonton: 0800
Arrive Resolute: 1345
(makes stop enroute)
Known as ‘Qausuittuq’ in Inuktitut, this means the “place with no dawn” – a harkening to the seemingly endless winter darkness that calls for celebration when it finally lifts in spring. Stroll through this High Arctic community before taking a Zodiac ride to our ship, the Akademik Sergey Vavilov.

Thursday, August 24: Beechey Island
Beechey Island is so small that it barely registers on Arctic maps. Its place in the canon of Northwest Passage lore, however, is enormous. In the winter of 1845-46, Sir John Franklin and his crew spent their last “comfortable” winter here, despite laying to rest three crewmen whose icy graves are still humbly marked. Almost 60 years later, Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen stopped here during the first successful transit of the Northwest Passage. We then head southward toward Prince Regent Inlet to marvel at the impressive bird cliffs at Prince Leopold Island – home to several hundred thousand seabirds.

Friday, August 25: Croker Bay / Dundas Harbour, Devon Island
The imposing Devon Ice Cap extends to the sea at Croker Bay where icebergs are regularly calved. Check these floating giants for resting seals and hunting Polar Bears. Land-based wildlife such as Muskoxen and Arctic Hare can sometimes be found at the old RCMP outpost at Dundas Harbour, which was originally established due to concerns over foreign whaling.

Saturday, August 26 – Sunday, August 27: Ellesmere Island / Grise Fiord / Alexandra Fiord
At the northern limit of the Arctic Archipelago lies Ellesmere Island – Canada’s third largest island and the tenth largest in the world. In 1899, Norwegian explorer Otto Sverdrup happened upon a fjord that he dubbed ‘pig fjord’ due to the guttural grunts of its resident Walrus herds. Known now in English as Grise Fjord, this is Canada’s northernmost settlement, with the well-conceived Inuktitut name of ᐊᐅᔪᐃᑦᑐᖅ, meaning “Place that never thaws”. The population of about 100 people is deeply traditional and very welcoming.

Farther north is the flagship research site of the International Tundra Experiment (ITEX) located in a coastal lowland adjacent to Alexandra Fiord (78º53’N, 75º55’W). This is where Dr. Greg Henry’s team operates a seasonal camp to monitor ecosystem responses to observed and experimental climate change and ecosystem development after deglaciation. The area is dotted with Paleo Eskimo, Dorset and Thule archeological sites, some of which date back over 4,000 years.

Monday, August 28: Coburg Island’s Nirjutiqavvik National Wildlife Area
Located 100 kilometres east of Grise Fiord on Coburg Island is the spectacular Nirjutiqavvik National Wildlife Area. This island and its surrounding waters provide vitally important nesting habitat for Thick-billed Murres, Black-legged Kittiwakes, Northern Fulmars and Black Guillemots. Be sure to scan the sea ice for Ringed Seals, Bearded Seals, Polar Bears, Atlantic Walruses, Narwhals and Belugas.

Tuesday, August 29 – Saturday, September 2: The Communities and Fjords of Baffin Island
Canada’s largest island stretches from the wildlife-rich Lancaster Sound to the sub-Arctic region where Nunavut’s capital is nestled deep in Frobisher Bay. Epic not only in its overall size, but also for the stunning fjords on its eastern coast, Baffin Island is truly unforgettable.

At the north end is the picturesque hamlet of Pond Inlet (Mittimatalik), where large pods of Narwhal are often seen. A presentation by Elders and youth at the Natinnak Centre offers a glimpse of Inuit culture, as do the carvings, jewellery and other local crafts that are available to purchase from community artisans. Continuing south, prepare to be overwhelmed with countless photographic opportunities in Gibbs Fjord amidst towering peaks and glaciers. The Bowhead Whale Sanctuary of Isabella Bay offers the potential to see what is perhaps the longest-lived mammal in the world. Watch for Orcas and Polar Bears on route to Sunshine Fjord astride the Arctic Circle.

Sunday, September 3: Monumental Island
A cliff towering from the ocean, Monumental Island is one of the best places to see Polar Bears at close range. Occasionally, large herds of Walrus feed in the surrounding waters. Also keep and eye out for the ghostly white Arctic morph of Gyrfalcon.

Monday, September 4: Iqaluit / End of Group Services / Commence Iqaluit Extension
Our vessel arrives in Iqaluit this morning. After disembarkation, we will be met at the pier by our local guide and transferred to our hotel. This afternoon, we’ll take a guided tour of the city centre including the Unikkaarvik Regional Visitor’s Centre and the Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum with a large collection of Inuit and Arctic items. There is time to shop to your hearts content for specialty art and jewelry, traditional clothing and colourful parkas.
Overnight: Frobisher Inn, Iqaluit
Meals: Breakfast (on board), Lunch

Tuesday, September 5: Iqaluit
After breakfast (independent), we’ll be picked up by our guides for a presentation on dog sledding in the Arctic. We’ll visit a kennel and learn more about this still essential method of transportation. Just outside the city, we visit the picturesque Sylvia Grinnell Park. Here we’ll find Thule archaeological sites, a variety of rare plants, several species of wildlife and some 40 species of birds. The river is a great spot to catch arctic char and the falls make a beautiful backdrop for our picnic lunch. Back in town, we’ll visit Nunavut’s Legislative Assembly for architecture that is sure to impress and the Iqaluit Fine Art Gallery.
Overnight: Frobisher Inn, Iqaluit
Meals: Lunch

Wednesday, September 6: Depart Iqaluit / End of Iqaluit Extension
The morning is free to visit the city at your leisure before you are transferred to the airport for your departure flight.

First Air 7F#861 Depart Iqaluit: 1345
Arrive Ottawa: 1650

There are 7 scientists on board with us and will be regular lectures and guided tours on what we are seeing.

I will do my blog each day, however, I will not have internet access for most of the trip and will likely post to the web when we return home.