Winter Wonderland

The view from our deck this afternoon.

October 21, 2012

Sunrise: 10:25 am

Sunset: 6:50 pm

Temps: -4'C - -12'C

The snow showed up two weeks ago. It's dry and fluffy, and accumulating already.



Icicles all around the edges of the roof.





Temperatures have been just a few degrees below freezing, but the shallower lakes are already frozen over. Skidoos are out en masse, people are out for walks, and generally the town seems to be enjoying these mild, early winter days.





Cross-country skiing with friends.



We ventured out on the cross-country ski trails this weekend. At this stage, because of all the shrubs and bumps, the trails feel more appropriate for snowshoes than skis, but it was great to pull the gear out of storage nonetheless.






We have to take advantage of the daylight that we have left. At this time of year, our days are shortening quickly, by about 1 hour per week! Sunrise is already late in the morning (10:30am), although we are lucky to still have a few hours of light after work.












Beautiful sunset this evening. Sky is clear - northern lights tonight?





In addition to the increasing darkness, another novelty that we get to experience is a sunset in a different location every night! The sun is rising less and less high in the sky every day, and its time above the horizon is getting noticeably shorter.

It's part of the Arctic experience!

Camping, Northern Style

Sunset at the Yukon/NWT border.

October 14, 2012

Sunrise: 9:57 am

Sunset: 7:20 pm

Temps: -4'C - 9'C



Our Thanksgiving weekend involved a quick trip to the NWT/Yukon border, for a canvas tent camping experience with friends. We watched a beaver along the side of the highway, got some ptarmigan for dinner and spotted the first of the winter's snow in the Richardson Mountains.



Canvas tent - a favourite amongst the locals.





A tent with a stove! Luxury.



Mounds of sleeping bags = endless toddler fun.



Beaver!



A Trip to Fort Good Hope

Early evening on the Mackenzie River.

September 30th, 2012

Sunrise: 9:06 am

Sunset: 8:19 pm

Temps: 1-4'C

I just got back from a quick work trip to Fort Good Hope. Situated over 300 km from Inuvik, upstream on the Mackenzie River, this is a little Sahtu Dene community of about 500 people.

A street in Fort Good Hope.

The Ritz. Well, not quite. But I stayed at this B+B anyways.

A gem in Good Hope: this church is about 130 years old!

Detailed woodwork, even on the door.

A very ornate inside, complete with gold stars on the ceiling.

Colourful front window.

On the flight back, where I was joined by other Inuvik-based colleagues returning from other Sahtu communities.
A veritable allied health team: PT, OT, SLP and RD!

Beautiful Fall Weather



September 30, 2012

Sunrise: 9:06 am

Sunset: 8:19 pm

Temps: 1-4'C

We have experienced some (apparently) unseasonably warm days this September. While seasonal averages this time of year are generally just hovering above freezing, we have seen many sunny days in the mid- to high-teens. This lovely weather has prompted continued walks, bike rides, and berry picking excursions, as well as another camping trip to Campbell Lake.



Natou gathering firewood with the help of the zodiac, with a view of the escarpment in the background.

Our tent, fly-less, to observe the plentiful stars at night.

Rose hips, made sweet by the first frosts.

Did I mention the weather was gorgeous?

The leaves are all but gone.

Checking out a local cabin.

A little hike to the escarpment.

Relaxing by the fire (and the bear spray).

Harvest time!

September 17th, 2012
Sunrise: 8:19 am
Sunset: 9:19 pm
Temps: 4 - 15'C

Finally, it was time to reap what we sowed, to gather the fruits of our labour, to get our come-uppins. You get what I mean. It was time to uproot what was left of the garden plot. It was a yummy endeavour, as seen below.

The bounty from our little plot, clock-wise from left: beets, beet greens, swiss chard, kale, mint, parsley, a few beans, little carrots, rhubarb, and and baby tomatoes. Also, from a friend's plot, 2 special guests: wee little cabbages.

Bags o' greens. This is the swiss chard, now blanched and frozen.

Sweet bursts of tomatoey goodness.

Wee little carrots, but oh-so-tasty.

Rhubarb stalks.

An international salad: beet, orange, lemon, and poppy seed.

 

A local dessert: Wild blueberries, wild cranberries, not-so-wild rhubarb and a touch of BC honey. Yum!!

And you thought you couldn't grow vegetables in the Arctic. Pfff!

Yummy, yummy, cranberries in my tummy.

September 5, 2012
Sunrise: 7:36 am
Sunset: 10:06 pm
Temps: 12 - 21'C

Dempster highway cranberries.

They're tiny, but they're yummy.

My picking partner.

Cranberries and labrador tea.

Pick, pick, pick.

Fall colours on the xc-ski trails.

Our bounty. (And our toes!)

Fall colours on the Dempster Highway

Photographer extraordinaire.

September 5th, 2012
Sunrise: 7:36 am
Sunset: 10:06 pm
Temps: 12 - 21'C

Roadtrip!!

I joined my photographer friend to take in the autumn colour on the Dempster Highway. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and despite moody skies and rainy weather, I was a keen passenger.

The Dempster snaking into the Richardson Mountains.

I wasn't disappointed.


Enjoy the pictures.

A beautiful palette.

Our muddy wagon amongst the golden hills.

It's cranberry season!

Reflection on a still pond.

A caravan of caravans heading North towards Inuvik.