Etah, Greenland; 78 degrees north
Adventure Canada informs us:
Day 7 — Wednesday August 26, 2015
Etah
Etah is an abandoned settlement which, until its closure, was once the northernmost community in the world and used as a jump-off point for Polar exploration. It is situated in a narrow, high-walled fjord with a lush valley and a great basin. Beyond its grassy plain we will see a flowing glacier with a large glacial lake in front. This valley has been inhabited for more than 4000 years. More recently it echoes with memories of Peary and Cook close to the beach, where weathered and dilapidated hunting cabins face the shore. There are remains of Thule dwellings, and further into the valley we will find fox traps.
Frederick A. Cook began his journey to the Pole from here. Peary also had his depot here. Wildlife we hope to see today include Musk oxen, Arctic hares, Arctic fox, Little Aux, dovekie, and gyrfalcon.
Etah
Etah is an abandoned settlement which, until its closure, was once the northernmost community in the world and used as a jump-off point for Polar exploration. It is situated in a narrow, high-walled fjord with a lush valley and a great basin. Beyond its grassy plain we will see a flowing glacier with a large glacial lake in front. This valley has been inhabited for more than 4000 years. More recently it echoes with memories of Peary and Cook close to the beach, where weathered and dilapidated hunting cabins face the shore. There are remains of Thule dwellings, and further into the valley we will find fox traps.
Frederick A. Cook began his journey to the Pole from here. Peary also had his depot here. Wildlife we hope to see today include Musk oxen, Arctic hares, Arctic fox, Little Aux, dovekie, and gyrfalcon.
Inuktitut word of the day:
Sanavvinnit nuqqangaarpunga — I’m on holiday
Sanavvinnit nuqqangaarpunga — I’m on holiday
"Man cannot discover new oceans
until he has the courage to lose sight
of the shore."
—Andre Gide
I'm in the first zodiac going ashore at Etah - it's a 40 minute zodiac ride up the shallow and beautiful fjord into the beach at Etah. We spot muskoxen in grassy meadows high on the cliffs as we come in. Here all day, and it is yet again another glorious weather day. We are allowed to roam a bit within a pretty good size perimeter allowing for some exploring, hill climbing and relaxing time - just absorbing the atmosphere. This is our most northerly stop of the trip - around 78 degrees north (as comparison, Denver is around 40 degrees north...if you look at a globe and look at 80 degrees north, it really shows how far north we are). Adventure Canada goes further north than any other Arctic tour company. Another wonderful day in the far north.
—Andre Gide
I'm in the first zodiac going ashore at Etah - it's a 40 minute zodiac ride up the shallow and beautiful fjord into the beach at Etah. We spot muskoxen in grassy meadows high on the cliffs as we come in. Here all day, and it is yet again another glorious weather day. We are allowed to roam a bit within a pretty good size perimeter allowing for some exploring, hill climbing and relaxing time - just absorbing the atmosphere. This is our most northerly stop of the trip - around 78 degrees north (as comparison, Denver is around 40 degrees north...if you look at a globe and look at 80 degrees north, it really shows how far north we are). Adventure Canada goes further north than any other Arctic tour company. Another wonderful day in the far north.
"situation room" for the Adventure Canada staff
Muskoxen
Muskoxen
The Etah fjord
At the glacier face
Woops slipped in - drying out
Muskoxen skull
Jason manning the perimeter
Caribou antlers
Muskoxen
Etah glacier
Edge of the pack ice at 78 degrees north
Edge of the pack ice at 78 degrees north
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