This morning we arrived off the community of Kugluktuk. After a delay in securing a local guide, we all set off in zodiacs up the Coppermine River to Bloody Falls. The falls are actually rapids. We took 11 Zodiacs and, with the local guide in the lead boat were headed up the Coppermine River. There are many shallows and the guide navigated us thru. We also had help from the captain, via VHF, back on the bridge who had detailed…
This morning we visited Johanssen bay and took a ~4 mile hike. It was a one way trek, as the zodiacs dropped us off and then picked us up further in the inlet, We repositioned the ship during lunch and in the afternoon we toured the Richardson Islands by Zodiac. Johanssen Bay and Richardson Islands Abandoned hunting huts again.. View of the inlet Antler Zodiac Pick up.. Scout at Richardson’s Islands NR Resolution using Dynamic Positioning while we…
Last night we arrived in Cambridge Bay and spent the night in the harbor using dynamic positioning (sky hook). We have yet to use an anchor on this voyage. This morning and afternoon we had opportunities to go ashore and explore the community. As with other community visits, we are the first passenger vessel to visit Cambridge Bay since the start of the pandemic. The town seems excited to have us here and have been very warm and friendly. Cambridge…
Today we landed at Jenny Lind Bay on Jenny Lind Island. Screen shot of the chart of the island… We did a 3+ mile hike in the area of Jenny Lind Bay, on Jenny Lind Island. We saw some birds and Musk Ox. The Musk Ox could be seen thru binoculars but were pretty far off. I did not have my 500 mm lens on this excursion, and thus no pictures. They showed up as dots (pixel Musk Ox)…
This morning we arrived in the small community of Goa Haven. Located at the heart of the Northwest Passage, the name is in honor of Roald Amundsen’s ship the Gjoa, which landed here in 1903. Admundsen spent two winters here in the ice before successfully completing the Northwest Passage. As with all of out community visits, the people are very friendly and curious. For both Pond Inlet and Gjoa Haven, we are the first passenger ship to visit since the…
After nearly two days of banging thru the ice we reached open water and stopped to explore Cape Gloucester. This is a very remote location, with an inlet that we explored by Zodiac. Marker at Cape Gloucester. We explored the inlet behind the cape by Zodiac. Heading into the inlet. King Eider Females Glaucous Gull Glaucous Gull nest with two eggs.. Screenshot of our progress to date….Heading south to Gjoa Haven…
Sunday Afternoon we transited the infamous Bellot Strait. Navigating this remote narrow passage was on my bucket list. The strait is just over a mile wide and 16 miles long. The current can reach 8 knots. We are the first ship to transit the strait this year. Actually we are leading the way, and will (hopefully) the NG Resolution will record the first successful transit of the NW Passage this season. Getting from Jackson Inlet to Fort Ross involved…
Since exiting Bellot Strait we have been heading south through the Franklin Trough. We have been in the ice for over 40 hours and have covered almost 170 miles. The most noticeable part of ice navigation is the vibrations that constantly shake the ship and the occasional loud thud. You get used to it, but it is a relief when you reach clear water and things get really quiet. The dot with the circle is our position as of…
We spent today at Fort Ross, at the entrance to the Bellot Straight. Fort Ross is an abandoned former trading post on Somerset Island. It was founded in 1937 and was the last trading post established by the Hudson’s Bay Company but abandoned in 1948 due to severe ice in the surrounding waters that made it difficult to reach. Early this morning we did a landing at Fort Ross, then kayaked in the bay later in the morning. In the…
Tonight we are breaking ice and heading towards Bellot Strait. We hope to make it to Fort Ross, at the mouth of the strait by morning. while the whole process of navigating thru the ice is exciting, two other events added to this excitement. First we encountered a group of Bowhead Whales. Then we encountered several Polar Bears on the Ice. Several Bowhead Whales appeared off our bow and Martin (our Captain) stopped the ship so we could watch…