The 2nd Annual IR Vacation to Hell- The Baffin to Ellesmere Challenge

Team Sweetwater....

On the day we paddled off into an endless horizon....

 

Tundra...

KEENO here...

I'm not certain I knew exactly what to expect of tundra before landing in the High Arctic.  Sure, I had walked on patches of 'tundra' in Alaska's Gates of the Arctic National Park and thought I had a fairly good idea what I was in store for.....  In reality, not a clue.  All I can say is that tundra is absolutely beautiful and far more intricate than I could have ever imagined.

Not much fun to hike across with a 40 lbs. backpack.....  But, beautiful to admire at the macro level & above.

 

Special Thanks to NEMO Equipment.....

Tim Here...

This week I would like to take a moment and spotlight NEMO Equipment....  The Company behind the innovative & well designed NEMO Tents.  A quick tour of NEMO's website reveals numerous awards for for doing what they do best... Making tents!

Here's a sampling...

- "Best All-Around Mountaineering tent" (Moki Tent:  Backpacker Magazine, January 2008)

- Top Honors in Rock & Ice Gear Guide (Moki Tent:  April 2008)

- "Coolest New Technology" (Morpho AR:  Backpacker Magazine, May 2007)

(Check them out in other postings on this Blog &/or on the 'net: http://www.nemoequipment.com/)

I mention all of this because, Kate Ketschek & the NEMO Team was completely generous in supplying us with our choice of tents to take to the Arctic.  Multiple Moki Tents (complete with accessories) & the Morpho AR were made available to us to demo, test & ultimately become comfortable with months before our departure.  This lead to familiarization (set-up & features) & complete confidence in our "mobile homes" & sleeping accommodations for the 6 weeks that we would spend in them. In the end, we chose a 3 person Moki & a 2 person Morpho AR to accommodate our crew and minimize volume within the kayaks.

All of this to say....  Thanks NEMO for stepping up and taking such wonderful care of us while up North!  Hat's off to the entire NEMO Equipment Staff for rock solid products and the willingness to take a trip to the Arctic in a kayak or four!

 

Inukshuk's we have known.... (or Inuksuit)

More on the Inukshuk and some we have "shuk" hands among....  (Tim)

"The mysterious stone figures known as inuksuit can be found throughout the circumpolar world. Inukshuk, the singular of inuksuit, means "in the likeness of a human" in the Inuit language. They are monuments made of unworked stones that are used by the Inuit for communication and survival. The traditional meaning of the inukshuk is "Someone was here" or "You are on the right path."

The Inuit make inuksuit in different forms for a variety of purposes: as navigation or directional aids, to mark a place of respect or memorial for a beloved person, or to indicate migration routes or places where fish can be found. Other similar stone structures were objects of veneration, signifying places of power or the abode of spirits. Although most inuksuit appear singly, sometimes they are arranged in sequences spanning great distances or are grouped to mark a specific place.

These sculptural forms are among the oldest and most important objects placed by humans upon the vast Arctic landscape and have become a familiar symbol of the Inuit and of their homeland. Inuit tradition forbids the destruction of inuksuit. An inukshuk (also known as inuksuk) is often venerated as symbolizing an ancestor who knew how to survive on the land in the traditional way. A familiar inukshuk is a welcome sight to a traveler on a featureless and forbidding landscape.

An inukshuk can be small or large, a single rock, several rocks balanced on each other, round boulders or flat. Built from whatever stones are at hand, each one is unique. The arrangement of stones indicates the purpose of the marker. The directions of arms or legs could indicate the direction of an open channel for navigation, or a valley for passage through the mountains. An inukshuk without arms, or with antlers affixed to it, would act as a marker for a cache of food." 

  

(Photos by Tim "KEENO" Keen)

Nunavut Flag & the Inukshuk

   

On April 1, 1999, Canada's geographical and political map changed when a new jurisdiction, Nunavut, was created. Nunavut was formed from the eastern part of the Northwest Territories and was officially named Canada's third territory.

Nunavut, "our land" in Inuktitut, was created by an agreement between the Inuit of the Eastern and Central Arctic and the Canadian government. Amongst other things, the agreement gives Inuit the right to self-government and self-determination.

Not only has Nunavut made Inuit culture, concerns, and aspirations more visible, it has brought much more attention to the inukshuk, as you can see from the Nunavut flag.

          

first showings...

(photo; Narwhal off Bruce Head,Photo by Marianne Marcoux)

    Well we have been back a while now and it still feels weird some days or parts of some days...so many people , cars , noise, birds.
    I recently went to Gettysburg College to teach and while I was there I was asked to present our Artic trip to a group of colleg students and others in a local resturant. I would like to thank Gettysburg Colleges' Recreational Adventure Board and John Regentin and Kris Nessler in particular for hosting me and as always taking care of things while I am under they're watchful eyes.
    I last night returned from Sea Kayak Georgia's Symposium where I was also asked to present and I was humbled by the attendance... Thank you Marsha and Ronnie at Sea Kayak Georgia. It was a standing room only crowd , ( they thought Phil would be presenting instead of me I'll bet.)
    Thanks again to all our sponsors , family and friends.
                                                                                  Russell

First Ice Crystals of Fall...

A few pictures of delicate Ice Crystals....  I found these one morning when I went to do the Breakfast dishes.  Beautiful!  (Tim)

Photos by Tim:

More than Rock and Ice

There's more to the Arctic than rock and ice. Every now and again , here and there we found some beautiful flowers such as these Arctic Poppies. One of the joys of being ashore was exploring the land. Much of it was barren with little plant life anywhere. In isolated pockets we found some jewels such as these flowers and marvelled at how they could survive such a harsh environment.

Can anyone identify these ...

In the United Kingdom we have a similar plant to this one above and it's called cotton grass. It grows in very wet areas and it's an indicator of where not to pitch a tent for that reason.

Whilst I'm now very much back into life here in Wales my thoughts are so often back up North. It was altogether an amazing summer that has brought memories I'll never forget.

Phil

Big Wall Paddling

A few Pics from the BIG WALLS we paddled near.  This one is aprox. 2500-2600 ft. of Pure Vertical Rock of Frechette Island! After seeing 4 different rock-slides during our paddle, we gave them a wide birth (even while wearing a helmet)    Tim

Photos by Phil:

Thanks.... Werner Paddles & Danny Mongno

The team is still sorting through our return to civilization and trying to make the necessary time to thank everyone & every sponsor that made the trip possible!  Over the next couple of weeks, we hope to spotlight those generous companies & people on the Blog (in no particular order).

In today's spotlight, I would like to call attention to Werner Paddles, & especially Danny Mongno, for being the first sponsor/company (outside of the VTH Sponsorship Circle) to step forward and supplying us with the finest in kayak paddles.  Working through Danny (Werner Northeastern Sales & Service Rep) & the Werner Staff, we were offered the paddle of our choice for the expedition.

All of us chose the High-Angle "Ikelos" Performance Core Series Paddle in the length of our choice.  (The team choosing paddles in the 200cm to 210cm range).  These weren't your off-the-shelf Ikelos Paddles either....  Werner made us custom carbon/carbon 4 pc. / straight shaft paddles to facilitate easy air plane travel on decreasing size aircraft as we went North.

http://www.wernerpaddles.com/paddles/touring/performance_core/ikelos/

Awesome sticks they are....  I have a chance demo one - Please do.  IKELOS! 

Danny attends most of the major kayaking syposiums & gigs east of the Mississippi.  If you see him....  Tell him the VTH Boyz said Thanks!

Tim "KEENO" Keen