The Amazing Aurora Borealis

This past week the temperature has warmed up (-20C) and with this the skies are clearer at night as there isn't any snow falling. We have been treated to an amazing light show, right from our front porch! It makes me laugh to think about all the times I jumped into the car and drove into the fields north of Calgary whenever the aurora report indicated they could be seen that far south.

I had become a bit discouraged after the first few months in Cambridge Bay without seeing any northern lights, but it seems as though it was just the extreme cold that had ice crystals in the air or blowing snow that prevented the lights from being seen.

It is typically when we are out walking Tetue at night that we see the lights and the intensity of the lights fade in and out for hours. With the warmer weather we can just stand outside on our porch and watch the lights as they amazingly create patterns in the sky. It is really hard to explain what it is like to view the lights as they really are magical. We tried to capture some photos of the lights and their incredible beauty.

Journey to the Igloo

One of the things that has always fascinated us about Inuit culture is the igloo and how it so beautifully fits together. We discovered that a few people had made an igloo out on the frozen bay and we were excited to go and visit it. We decided to head out one weekend to go and find the igloo (with basic directions- i.e., it's right out on the bay and you'll see it). This will be important for later on in the story. 

We put together Nicolas' wooden sled and the wind cover that fits over top of it (not an easy feat)! Stuffed Nicolas into his Canada Goose snowsuit and head out onto the bay. We didn't even get more than a few metres out onto the bay before Nicolas began protesting. We were pretty sure he wasn't cold as he was bundled up pretty well and so it was likely he just wasn't happy being confined to his sled. We continue on our trek over the frozen water and Nicolas continues to cry and cry and cry. 

Walking over the snow that has been blown into uneven mounds by the strong winds makes walking a bit difficult, so we focus on moving forward. Then suddenly there are no more cries, Nicolas is quiet. My first thought is that the movement of the sled over the snow mounds has lulled him to sleep. Randall moves the sled slightly to see if Nicolas stirs. Nothing. Randall gives me a worried glance and then he shakes the sled harder. Still nothing. Now I am becoming concerned. Oh my goodness is Nicolas alright- is it too cold out here for him. Panic sets in and we rip the cover off the sled to check on him and the opening of the sled startles Nicolas up from his nap and we breathe a sigh of relief and laugh at ourselves.

 

Randall and Nicolas on the Frozen Bay

We set off once again towards the igloo (or where I think the igloo is located) and it is at this point that we see the wind picking up the loose snow and blowing it around more. This decreases the visibility considerably and so we can only see about a kilometre in the distance. With this strong wind the local kite skiers are out on the bay enjoying the wind. 

Glenn kite skiing on the bay

We come up to the hill across from the shore where I believe the igloo is located (I'm just not sure exactly how far and in which direction to go along this hill). We have now been out on the bay for a good 40 minutes in -40C weather and we try climbing the hill to get a better view to see in which direction to go to reach the igloo. Nothing. We can't see anything anywhere. We decide we will have to pack it in and head back since we don't know which exact direction to head in and we don't want Nicolas out in this weather too long. So, we sadly we head back home without having found the igloo.

However, being as stubborn as I am, I decided we would head out again the next week but this time without Nicolas. Easier to stay out longer and move faster when we don't have to tow a crying 2-year old in a sled. The day is clear and sunny- gorgeous! We head towards the bay and from the street along the shore we see the igloo!! Unbelievable- that hour-long trek onto the bay and we couldn't see anything and here we are staring at the igloo and realizing we had just been 10 metres from the igloo the previous weekend and just couldn't see it because of the blowing snow! Crazy.

We get out to the igloo and it is as incredible as we had imagined it would be. The igloo even has a window made out of frozen water! Amazing. Below are a few photos of us having fun at the igloo. It was definitely worth the journey to get to the igloo!!

Igloo in Cambridge Bay

 Randall in front of the igloo door- close fit!

Hanging out in the igloo

Randall in front of the igloo window

 Igloo snow bricks

Randall in front of the igloo