The first two legs of the flight, are operated with a Canadian North's B737-200. It flies to Yellowknife, continuing to Ikaluktutiak (Cambridge Bay).
Flying to Ellesmere island (Nunavut)
Is a long flight, with one stop in Yellowknife,
one change in Ikaluktutiak (Cambridge Bay) and one night layover in Qausuittuq
(Resolute Bay), before the final leg to Alexandra Fiord / Kane Basin on Ellesmere
Island by chartered Twin Otter.
(Click on a picture to see an enlarged version)
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The first two legs of the flight, are operated with a Canadian North's B737-200. It flies to Yellowknife, continuing to Ikaluktutiak (Cambridge Bay). |
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The aircraft is configured as combo cargo/pax. As it is flying to Nunavut, the Inuktitut is one of the language spoken aboard. |
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| Approaching Yellowknife. The area is surrounded by dozens of small lakes, I'll stop here for 2 nights coming back from Ellesmere. |
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The flight continues to Ikaluktutiak, crossing the Arctic Circle. The landscape is dominated by many islands, separated by an half-frozen sea. |
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| Approaching Ikaluktutiak (Cambridge Bay). There are no trees, but just flat tundra spotted by hundreds of ponds and nameless lakes. | |
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This Boeing 737-200 is certified to operate on gravel or snow covered runways. Although not paved, the runway has standard lights and is VOR/DME and NDB equipped. Here, the landing at Cambridge Bay airport |
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| I meet the entire group, the we board this Kenn Borek Air's Beechcraft 99 bound for Qausuittuq (Resolute Bay). |
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As the weight was excessive, it was necessary to load our luggage on this slower Twin Otter, departed earlier. It was possible to observe the aircraft at about halfway, flying at a different flight level. See you later, luggage! |
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The flight to Qausuittuq (I prefer to indicate the towns using their Inuit names... "Qausuittuq" means "The place with no dawn") is about 2 hours long and flies over pack ice often. We finally land on another gravel runway, ILS equipped for full guided instrument landing. |
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At the airport terminal, the Beech 99 is moved into an hangar, now we have just to wait for our luggage, before having a short rest in Qausuittuq, continuing to Ellesmere the next morning. |
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The nice air terminal. |
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| The following morning, a chartered Twin Otter await us. The non-stop flight to Alexandra Fiord on Ellesmere Island was just less than 3 hours. | ||
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Above: takeoff from Qausuittuq and then over the Arctic ocean. Left: southern Ellesmere. |
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| Flying over Ellesmere's main icefield, just before descending to Alexandra Fiord. |
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| Flying inside Alexandra Fiord before landing on the unprepared surface. |
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| The approach and landing procedure is indeed more complex, requiring a procedure turn at an altitude higher than the highest obstruction, then executing a kind of missed approach, before actually landing. |
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After loading the previous group, the Twin Otter flies away, leaving us alone in the wilderness. |
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| Well... it's now time to pack our kayaks and begin to explore. |
PICTURES |
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Two days in Toronto, touring the city's museums and attractions, as the CN Tower and the Toronto Islands. GO. |
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Two days in Edmonton, visiting the West Mall, the city, the Ukrainian Cultural Center and the Elk Island National Park. GO. |
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Fly to Ellesmere island, via Cambridge Bay and Resolute Bay <YOU ARE HERE> Is a long flight, with one stop in Yellowknife, one change in Ikaluktutiak (Cambridge Bay) and one night layover in Qausuittuq (Resolute Bay), before the final leg to Alexandra Fiord / Kane Basin on Ellesmere Island by chartered Twin Otter. |
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Ellesmere island - first camp on Skraeling island First camp on Skrealing islands, after a short paddle from the airstrip. This island is very interesting for the many archeological remains left by ancient Eskimos. GO. |
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Ellesmere island - camp where Alexandra Fiord ends into Buchanan Bay Back on Ellesmere to set up a new camp, approximately where Alexandra Fiord ends into Buchanan Bay. Time for long hikes and for further observation of archeological remains from the ancient Eskimo. GO. |
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Ellesmere island - long hike to inner glaciers We move again, paddling to a bay about 4 hours away. The following day, a spectacular hike to a mountain glacier ending into a frozen lake, awaits us under a perfect blue and clear sky. GO. |
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Ellesmere island - second camp on Skraeling island With about 7 hours of paddling, we go back to Skrealing islands, setting up the camp on a different spot. There are many birds and archeological remains here. GO. |
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Ellesmere island - camp on the opposite side of Alexandra Fiord We continue to north, close to 79th parallel, on the opposite side of Alexandra Fiord, a nice spot for long hikes and paddles around the nearby islands. GO. |
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Ellesmere island - going back to the airstrip, camping halfway The advanture is about to finish. It's now time to retrace our steps back to the airstrip, with one night stop halfway. GO. |
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Ellesmere island - camp at Alexandra Fiord near the airstrip Was located near the unprepared airstrip at Alexandra Fiord. From there, I've reached the beautiful Twin Glacier, by a short hike. GO. |
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Back to Qausuittuq (Resolute Bay) The Twin Otter arrives on time and brings the group back to Qausuittuq, where is necessary to stay one night, before continuing south. A tour of the town is included in this section. GO. |
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Flying to Yellowknife and Yellowknife city tour From Qausuittuq, I've flown to Yellowknife where I've spent two nights, before taking the connecting flights back to my country. GO. |
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Digital photo equipment used during the expedition In a so adventurous trip, where no computer or recharging facility is available, is necessary to bring appropriate equipment and to protect it from water and mechanical shock. GO. |
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