We began this expedition in Iceland and now end it in the Ice. This three-week expedition has let us experience both the youngest rocks on earth (Iceland) and some of the oldest geology ever found (Southern Greenland). We have seen land animals, whales, seals, birds, plants, and cultural artifacts. We have learned about how this part of the world was “discovered” and explored by people from both the west, Asia, and the east, Europe. We have experienced and seen the landscape as the first peoples saw it. We may only visit for a short time, and they continue to make their living off the land but there is an appreciation of its beauty by both groups.
Today we made our way west towards Resolute in Nunavut on Cornwallis Island. The ice chart showed some heavier floes were present south of Cornwallis so we spent the morning making our way through the ice. In the afternoon we continued west into heavier ice, but more plentiful ice means good environment for the polar bear. If ever there was a pure example of charismatic mega fauna it would be the polar bear. They are a great combination of softness and ferocity. There were distant bears seen still hunting in the thick ice so we left them to their silent attempts at food. The captain was able to approach what was thought to be one bear, but turned out to be a large fat mother with a large fat yearling cub. They were curled up together trying to stay out of the ever-increasing wind. They moved off away from us in search of better shelter.
The ship then approached the small hamlet of Resolute to anchor for the night. It was now time to pack our belongings and memories of this great experience from Iceland, Greenland, and the Canadian Arctic.
