Exploration Week

Created especially for return visitors who want to expand their exploration of Somerset Island

In 2009, we celebrated the 10th anniversary of Arctic Watch Wilderness Lodge by exploring the vast and unknown (at least unknown to us) corners of Somerset Island and the surrounding area. During the first week of July we chartered a Twin Otter aircraft to fly us to interesting locations that amazed us. Now we want to share that experience with even more Arctic Watch visitors. Our next Adventure Week is in 2012… and we hope you’ll join us.

• Program: Exploration Week
• Dates: June 29 to July 6, 2012

During the 2012 Adventure Week, we’ll have an aircraft based at Arctic Watch, and we’ll take to the air to see narwhals, beluga whales, walrus and polar bears—plus all the Arctic landforms, tundra and other attractions that must be reached by air. We’ll even have a chance to see a bowhead whale. Below is a list of destinations we plan to reach during the week.

Exploration Week Destinations

Port Leopold Hudson’s Bay Company post

This two-story wooden house was built in the 1920s, then closed after only a few years as a Hudson’s Bay Company post. It was used as a residence during the 1930s, and then finally abandoned. Located near a large Thule site, which we can also investigate, this house is an odd contrast to the surrounding empty tundra.

Prince Leopold bird sanctuary

This small island off the northeast corner of Somerset Island is home to thousands of nesting sea birds, including thick-billed murres, northern fulmars, black-legged kittiwakes and black guillemots.

Beechey Island and Franklin graves

During the first winter (1845-46) of Sir John Franklin’s fated expedition, the exploration party was camped at Beechey Island (actually a corner of Devon Island). Three of the seamen died and were buried there. Their graves, which we’ll visit, were exhumed in the 1980s and the frozen bodies, still intact, were examined.

Elwin Bay

Elwin Bay is where beluga whales seek warm water. Formerly, whalers corralled beluga whales here for slaughter. Now almost one hundred years later, the shores are still white with bleached bones. The whalers have left and the Beluga whales have returned. Prospectors have been more fortunate and found diamonds here in the 1970s. This could be your lucky trip.

Fury Beach

In 1819 William Parry’s ship, the Fury, was so damaged by ice that he sailed the ship on to the beach and abandoned it. We’ll visit the site and look for the ship’s remains.

Creswell Bay

Some of Nunavut’s best Arctic char fishing is at Creswell Bay. At the beginning of July, the char are running from lakes into the ocean, which makes for perfect fishing.

Boothia Peninsula and the east coast of Somerset Island

We will fly between Boothia Peninsula and Somerset Island to look for narwhal. These “unicorns of the ocean” are mysterious animals and difficult to find, but can often be seen from the air, as they swim on the surface. We can also see belugas and polar bears here.

Walrus habitats

We will look for walrus at Brooman Point on Bathhurst Island west of Resolute and also while flying along the southern coast of Devon Island.

Devon Island

A flight along the southern coast of Devon Island offers great scenery, polar bears, walrus, beluga whales, narwhals and perhaps bowhead whales.

Hazard Inlet Thule site

The largest Thule site (ancestors of Inuit) in Canada is located on southern Somerset.

Fort Ross

Located on Bellot Strait, this was a Hudson’s Bay Company post from 1937 to 1948. The strait is a 37 km strip of water that separates Somerset Island from the mainland. It’s a great place to see polar bears.

Cost: The cost for the week from Yellowknife is to be determined. This includes transportation from Yellowknife and 25 hours of Twin Otter time for everyone.

Dates: June 30 to July 6, 2012, Yellowknife to Yellowknife

Note: This trip requires the participation of a minimum of 18 people.

Come Experience Arctic watch for yourself, we are now taking reservations for this years trips.