IF ONLY FRANKLIN HAD HAD THE BENEFIT OF ICE CHARTS

North American continent to the left, Arctic Archipelago to the right

Seven miles south of Fort Ross lies the Bellot Strait which links Prince Regent Inlet to Peel Sound and the Franklin Strait.  

Bellot Strait is remarkable because it divides the top of continental North America and the Arctic Archipelago.

A late afternoon zodiac cruise took us into the Strait between the ice flows and a strong incoming tide. A bearded seal popped his head up between the ice while we admired the red beaches formed 
from two billion year old rock formations.

Ice flanked the beaches. The floating masses seemed like silent sentinels as we motored between them. All body parts inside the zodiac!  Ice does not bend.

High up on the cliffside a polar bear sauntered along, occasionally looking down on a lone Muskox, his hairy body and curled horns giving the appearance of shaggy highland cattle.  We trained our binoculars on the goings on for as long as we could.

Polar Bear

Muskox

The polar bear disappeared and we hoped he wasn’t stalking the Muskox.

We would never know as it was time to return to Vavilov. 

It was frigid on the water and Becky was a welcome sight on the gangway with mugs of hot chocolate with a shot of Baileys.  A perfect end to another great day.

Tonight’s ice report will determine our ongoing itinerary and disembarkation point.  Unable to continue on to Victoria Strait and Prince William Island because of packed sea ice a Plan B had us returning north to Resolute which turned out to be inaccessible for the same reasons.  

A Plan C was adopted – south to Pelly Bay and the Inuit community of Kugaaruk which just happens to have extended its gravel runway.  A good possibility for our charter flight back to Edmonton via Yellowknife.  Nothing like expedition cruising.

Around here, ice is king as Sir John Franklin would tell you, if he could. Victory Point, Prince William Island and Victoria Island will have to wait another day.