The House & other Arctic musings: On to Ikpikituarjuk

On to Ikpikituarjuk

Photo by Leah Ejangiaq Kines

In the late morning we struck camp at Ijjujuarjuk and headed down the road to Ikpikituarjuk. Despite it being one of the most popular areas here for fishing and camping it is another place I'd never been to before. Dozens of Ringed Seals dotted the ice, taking full advantage of the warm sun. Raising their heads as we moved along, they'd slip into the water if our path took us too close.

The kilometres slipped by as I drank in the scenery, although I was slightly perterbed at how technology had crept in to my world, and the way I view it. As I'd look at a deep valley, frozen river or mountain I'd think "I need to have a closer look on Google Earth". Turning into the shallow valley that led to Ikpikituarjuk, the trail became rougher, but still we made good time and we paused to shorten the ropes to the komatiq to manouver through the twists and turns of the river that would take us into the lake.

Photo by Leah Ejangiaq Kines

By the time we arrived there were many people fishing, most having arrived the night before, and even more arrived behind us. We no longer had a lake mostly to ourselves, but there was still a lot of room, a lot of fish, and the comeraderie of visits at other's tents for tea.

The rest of the weekend passed too quickly. Warm temperatures, often making it shirtsleeve weather, prevailed. I explored, and took some photos. And if a picture is worth a thousand words, here are several thousand below the fold.

I love the patterns in the snow on the hills behind Leah.