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Aug 03 - Ice-Cruising the outer Cumberland Sound and Monumental Island - Today will be an exciting day look for Polar Bears on the ice, whales, seals and much more.
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Posted Wed 6:00 pm
Hi All,
 Wow. What a day this has been so far. This morning we saw 6 Polar Bears during our Zodiac excursion to Cumberland Peninsula on Baffin Island. There was a mother and two cubs, and another young bear that just sat on the shore, yawning and posing as we all sat 30 feet away in our Zodiacs! The sun is shining, the sea is glorious. We are all high on life.
Sheila Watt-Cloutier joined us last night and just gave a powerful lecture on how Climate Change is impacting the Arctic people, culture, land and wildlife, but also how it is all inter-connected with our entire planet. We are all one people sharing one planet together with all the other life on earth. Got to hop in a Zodiac and go look for some Walrus. Stay tuned.
Geoff
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Journals - Posted Thursday August 4th at 6:15 PM ET ....
August 3
The majestic mountain, the cold fjord waters, the spongy soft tundra and the whispering wind spirits called a group of us into the greenest tundra meadow beckoning us to BE and LIVE in the moment. We lay back on the soft comforting earth as if it was our bed for the night. Upon closing our eyes each one of us in silence inhaled the crisp clean air in deep soothing
breaths. The mosquitoes buzzed about our heads and tried to nestle into our hair and faces as if to want to breathe with us or to get a juicy bite before taking flight. We lay in peace, as not a human sound was made. All we could hear was the wind and the fall of water from the far side of the fjord. With our eyes closed, tongues resting and our bodies sinking into the
earth as images of our Arctic experience blossomed in our minds' eye; deep cold water, towering gray cliffs, gliding sea birds, sticky muddy tidal flats, icy determined falling water, thunderous cracking sliding rock and images of the strong roaming Inuit spirit. We are beckoned into present time in slow easy motion as if being pulled from a deep sleep. Time to wake up
but ever so slowly, the experience leaving the mind and body feeling the strength of the true north strong and free!!!
Trudy Lum Chaperone
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Ok, yet another day are over in the Arctic! Today was a very special day, today I crossed the arctic circle, by foot! Jep, so I am a proud soul :-) We were about 40 students and teachers that walked about 30 km through a valley. I'm dead tired now, but trust me it was all worth it. Half of the whole walk was in rivers and wet land (about 15 km), which was a very
different kind of hiking, quite challenging but still fun!! Super nice day - love the arctic!
Hejsa alle sammen der hjemme! Haaber at alt gaar godt, at den lille har det godt og at resten af jer nyder sommeren. Hils omkring jer! Ses om 5 dage...
Knus og Kram
Anne-Katrine, Nuuk, Greenland
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Aloha Everybody,
PART 1: (WRITTEN BEFORE LUNCH)
Today we saw polar bears. Well, most of us did!! Some of us (including me) were in the second shifts of zodiacs going out and by the time we got to the spot where the polar bears were they were gone. The only form of wildlife my zodiac saw was birds. Even though we didn't see any polar bears we did see a beautiful landscape. We saw mountains covered in patches of snow. It was really beautiful to look at. We also saw kelp when we looked down into the extremely clear water beneath us. There was so much of it that it looked like an underwater forest.
PART 2: (WRITTEN AFTER LUNCH)
Well, just after I finished writing part 1 I heard an announcement saying that those who didn't see a polar bear and who still wanted to could go on another zodiac ride to a different area nearby. I decided to go and after the extremely long zodiac ride we got to a place where we saw a polar bear. It was an adult but I couldn't tell if it was male or female. This polar
bear was so relaxed, it seemed to not mind being watched by so many people (5 full zodiacs). My zodiac got within 50 feet of it. I am so glad that I went on that second zodiac ride. Although I was really cold, even with all my layers on it was worth it to see that polar bear. I hope that the pictures I took turn out good. Well, a lecture is about to start....
Lisa Fox Hawaii
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Polar bear sighting in Cape Mercy. Exact locations are around N 65° W 63°. The day started off with a sighting of a mother bear and her two cubs via the zodiac boats. They were high up on the hill so it was difficult to get a picture of it properly. We started heading out to another part to explore when another polar bear was sighted. This time it was a lot closer to the
water yet still pretty high. We left that one alone and four zodiacs (including mine) found a peaceful spot where we just listened to the environment. After awhile, motors started up and I'm not sure how it started, but we began playing bumper zodiacs until we left to do more exploring. This time we saw one more polar bear. It was right up against the water staring straight at us. Both the bear and us stood there staring at each other for about half an hour or so. The bear sat down and hung his head and looked tired and lonely. No movement on either side. We were scared to come too close and he was scared as well. Reminds me of the Cold War. Fear can make us execute both the stupidest and smartest of ideas. After our staring contest, we decided to let the bear win and we moved back to the ship. Just as we left, I saw the polar bear lay down and close its eyes to go to sleep. This was our first search for polar bears and we were tremendously successful. And this is only the morning. After a wonderful lunch, we had a lecture by Sheila Watt-Cloutier, the head of the ICC (Inuit Circumpolar Conference). The ICC is the organization of the circumpolar nations where the Inuit of each nation is a member. She talked to us about climate change and how the Inuit are the first to notice and how they find it their duty to help the rest of the world by giving them an early warning to changes in the world. She was a wonderful public speaker. After her lecture, we had a lecture explaining public policy which was then followed by a student explaining the international COP 11 conference in Montreal in November and the various youth groups involved in it. This
student was the one who created her own conference after she graduated from high school. COP 11 will also have the first meeting of the nations who are part of the Kyoto Protocol. For the rest of the expedition, we will have time set apart in the day where we help this student create a youth declaration to be presented in part at COP 11. At the end of all this, we
were RUDELY interrupted by the appearance of a small island next to our ship filled with about 6 polar bears. So, of course, we set out in our zodiacs to go explore the island. While cruising around the island I saw a total of 6 bears (as expected) which brings the grand total of the day to 11 polar bears. I was wondering what the bears were doing all alone on this random island. The answer is that usually at this time of year (last year worked like this), pack ice fills the waters around here. Today there is not a single piece of ice around except for the occasional iceberg. Polar bears use pack ice to navigate to different lands and hunt. By being stranded on this island, who knows how long they will last. Polar bears can swim for 80
miles straight but the nearest pack ice is 200 miles north. Once again, global warming in effect. The only hope for these 6 bears is if a walrus happens to find its way onto the island (a very stupid walrus if you ask me...going to the home of 6 polar bears). Even then walruses have the advantage over polar bears because of their great size (they are bigger than the bears) and tusks. All I can do is wish the polar bears the best of luck.
Ankur Gupta San Jose, California
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Today was an exciting day. After breakfast we got on the zodiacs and went looking for polar bears and walruses. We saw five polar bears!! (no walruses) The first one we saw was a mother and two cubs! And I got a good picture of it (Christina). However, one of the polar bears was only about 40 feet away. We were both in Diz's zodiac and we were the first boat to spot this close up teddy. Both of us got amazing pictures of this bear. I (Adele) got one of me with the bear in the background. The scenery was amazing. There were gorgeous hills and breathtaking water. It was so clear and you could see the bottom. The sun came out today to it was AWESOME, because this was the first sun we had seen since Iceland. This experience
is beyond words! So after the cruise we got back on the boats and had some time before lunch. We both went up to the lecture room and put some pictures on the website. After that we had lunch. I (Christina) felt as if it was the fourth of July because yesterday we had hotdogs for lunch and today we had hamburgers. The rest of the day was awesome as well, we saw
even more polar bears (11 in total)(but still no walruses) (or weasels for Christina). But it is almost curfew time and we are tired so we are just going to say good night for now and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
Adele- Mom HAPPY BIRTHDAY! (August 4) Love you!
Christina- Still no weasels!!! Love you!
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As I sit here on the top deck of the M.S. Explorer and reflect on the past two weeks of my life, I feel really sad for all the people who are just too busy and engrossed in their own concerns and worries, which are really insignificant in the grand scheme of climate change (unless you are living in AIDS ravaged Africa, or the war torn countries of the world). I wish that these people, wherever they are would stop for a minute or two each day and think about what is happening to our environment and how they can go about changing the effects on the environment, whether it be by simply recycling everything that is recyclable, turning off the lights when you leave a room, converting to energy efficient machines and technology, or
lobbying government, sponsoring NGO's, or as one of our S.O.I. students, Alysia, did, start a group of her own, and attend the COPS and MOPS conference in November, in Montreal, to table the concerns of the youth of today.
The students on this trip are a mix, however they have all been changed in some way by the experiences they have shared, from the feelings that have been conveyed to us by the Elder of Pang, on Climate Change, which moved many of us to tears, and the generosity of the towns in Nunavut, Greenland and Iceland that we where privileged enough to visit. We have now become an extended family onboard our floating home the M.S. Explorer, from the amazing students to the chaperones' humour, and guidance as well as the Education Team's fabulous, hilarious, and informative lectures. The amazing documentaries featuring members of our team, our camera crews ability to be there without really being there, and then of course the leaders of the expedition, who without them none of use would have been able to have shared our wonderful experiences aboard our floating home. I guess I just want to say thanks for a memory and a life changing experience, a chance to meet new friends and wonderful people from all over the world and a chance to revitalize a soul that was very much in need of it.
It will be bittersweet to leave one amazing family to return to another amazing family in just a few days, I know many tears will be shed in the coming days as well as addresses exchanged as we prepared to return to our homes.
Tereasa - Chaperone Whitby, Ontario, Canada
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Ahoy again!!! We just got back from cruising in the zodiacs along a shoreline that looks a lot like Greenland---majestic mountains rising straight out of the sea with minimal vegetation...but an area we found to be rich in polar bears!!!! We saw a female with two cubs!!!! We also saw a huge male moving across the rocky slopes. And we also found a male who most likely had just eaten and was taking a snooze near the shore...we actually watched from our zodiacs (quietly of course) for over half an hour while he watched us...stretched...and watched...and eventually went back to sleep (we were within 100 feet of him). The area had icebergs dotting the horizon...and finally some blue skies with bright sunshine, which made the fjords bright
blue. We are at Cape Mercy which is again on Baffin Island. We left this area in search of walruses and found later in the day an island with six polar bears on it, and one bear went swimming near the island before getting back onto the land. Polar bears are marine mammals and can swim far distances. They could swim off this island to the mainland in search of
food. There was good rock formations for walrus to gather here...and this is probably what the bears were waiting for. But it was rather sad to think these bears were probably hungry and waiting for food to arrive. We were told that ice should still be in this area at this time of year, but that the ice shelf is 200 miles from here by the updated ice chart. The day
remained sunny until we left these six bears and their island...and then found ourselves in dense sea fog. We have a 12 hour trip to our next stop at Monumental Island. Yesterday we went hiking in one of Canada's national parks---Auyuittuq National Park of Canada. The park only allowed 30 people from the group to hike to the Arctic Circle which was about a 3.5 hour hike one way (total maybe 30 miles). We went on a 4 hour hike (total maybe 6 miles), which was quite an experience! First we went ashore off the zodiacs and found ourselves on a mud flat (the tide had gone out)...we then hiked to the shore and followed the shoreline over rocks and steep grass covered slopes---until we realized we should follow along by the shoreline (mud flats)...and then found a beautiful waterfall to hike up to...where we could sit and experience the beauty of the area...seeing the people on the beach looking like ants!!! We then hiked back down, and by this time many small streams had formed by melting glaciers from above, so had to jump or wade through these cold streams to get back to the zodiacs...and reaching the zodiacs just as the tide was coming back in...and coming back in fast!!! The afternoon was spent having some time to explore in another area (a glacier valley)---complete with a beautiful beach, high mountains, a beautiful meadow with streams coming from the mountains---some narrow and meandering...and another rushing past fast and deep all heading toward a
glacier fed lake where Canadian geese were present---we watched them fly in and sit down on the lake close to shore. This has been a most enjoyable trip---truly an expedition type of journey...as plans change depending on the conditions and what is going on at the time. It is not uncommon, when sitting in a lecture, to get an announcement over the loudspeakers telling
of whales or icebergs or other interesting sights...and everyone piles out of the lecture hall. We have excellent lecturers on board---we have a unique individual, Fritz Koerner, who is 73 years old (most of the young kids cannot keep up with this guy) and has been on Arctic expeditions in the past. In 1967-68 he with 3 others went by dog sled from Barrow, Alaska,
across the North Pole (spent 16 months to do this...wintering in the Arctic). He is a crusty Brit who lives and continues to do Arctic research in Canada---everyone adores him---unlike the British bland food...he has a spicy vocabulary which would make a sailor blush...and is never afraid to say what he thinks. There is a standing joke that when he starts lecturing...someone
comes over the loudspeaker announcing a whale sighting---he knowingly realizes this is just a joke...and the lecture goes on with his spicy comments!!! Each day begins with a renewed sense of adventure...as we wonder where our leader, "Rambo" Geoff will be taking us. Unfortunately, what you read about global warming is true...as the native elders tell of short
winters, poor sea ice conditions (the ice would form by November or December and melt by early June---but now the ice doesn't form until January and melts by March or April...and the seals are thinner (less fat) and skin that is not as strong (thinner skin), and this makes for food shortages for the polar bears also...and the polar bears need the ice to hunt the seals...so
polar bears are found dead (having starved). The elders of the Inuits have stated this is indeed an emergency situation. We have one more day on the ship tomorrow and disembark on Friday with flights home on Saturday. Talk to you soon.
Cheryl Horton Chaperone Brenham, Texas
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This morning started with polar bears and they just kept coming. Today we spent the day looking for wildlife along the coast north of Cumberland Sound on Baffin Island. After a quick breakfast and speedy change into Zodiac appropriate attire we were out of the water looking for polar bears. The first sightings started with a mother bear and her two cubs. To the naked eye the bears looked like creamy white spots halfway up a rocky mountain slope. When peering though my binoculars, the bears became identifiable. Continuing along the shore more bears were sighted. Finally at the end of the Zodiac ride a sleeping polar bear was sighted along the shore. We were able to slowly approach the bear with out alarming it. Occasionally the bear would lift its head and peer around, take a look at us and then return to resting. After more than half an hour of watching this great being we reluctantly returned to the ship. Over lunch we shared our thoughts and stories of this magical morning and the ship sailed farther north passing Cape Mercy. After lunch we had a presentation by Sheila Watt-Cloutier on the impact of Climate Change on the Inuit, followed by another presentation this one on policy, COP 11, and YC3. Alysia's presentation on YC3 ended with a
student exclaiming "there are two polar bears on that ridge"! In only a few minutes the Zodiacs were in the water and once again we were zooming thought the waters looking for any kind if wildlife. This excursion involved the sighting of three more polar bears. We saw one of the bears swimming thought the water from one island to another and the other two where walking around or sitting watching the Zodiacs drift thought the waters. Once on board the ship a final count of polar bears seen today totaled more than eleven different polar bear. A breathtaking day that we shared with the Kings of the Arctic.
Hannah Munro Salt Spring Island, BC Canada
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Wow! Wow! Wow! I thought we wouldn't get to see polar bears. The ice is melting in the Arctic, and we just didn't seem to be in the right places. So today we moved up to Cape Mercy, and group 2 was called to the zodiacs. My roommate Cheryl and I are in group 1, but we were ready when they had room for a few people from group 1. Off we went with Ernie driving, and almost immediately spotted a mother polar bear with two cubs, that decided to climb the mountain to get away from us. Wow!
Then we spotted a huge male, which also wanted to put distance between us and him. He went over rocks so fast that a human would not have been able to keep up with him. We had been out for a nice ride, there were seven boats out, and another stroke of luck happened for my boat. Geoff, Jeff and Scobie cut off to go back to get group 1, and the other boats got to stay out longer! Double wow!! We were in the right boat, again!
We took off through a cut in the mountain, and then by an island with shallow rocks, and further up the bay. Suddenly Ernie said, oh s--- a bear! Up close and personal, this bear was sleeping, apparently just having eaten a meal. He managed to wander about six feet closer to the water, and then started stretching. He didn't seem to rate us as dangerous, and we were
only about 50 feet away. It was awesome to sit there for over half an hour, probably 40-44 people in four boats, totally quiet, watching him stretch, scratch his nose, and generally entertain us. It was amazing to see the look of awe in the eyes of students, and the happiness on the face of one student who had rough first days, that he was this close to a polar bear.
So wow, wow, wow!!!!!! This surpassed my wildest dreams!
I was also glad when we finally left, and this glorious bear just went back to sleep, curled up on his paws. We got to enjoy him without disturbing him, and for this I was grateful. This afternoon we moved up the coast, and then went out again in the zodiac, seeing a whole bunch of polar bears (5 or 6) on two islands. One actually got into the water and swam a long ways, until we stopped following it to let it get out.
The weather today was gorgeous, if a little nippy, but the sun does actually shine in the Arctic. We haven't had much sun on the trip, but have had calm seas. I fell asleep on the upper deck today, it was so nice. What a great trip! We took a great hike yesterday, and then part of the group did a meditation on an open meadow, a perfect ending to the day.
Carol Francis, Chaperone
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Not another early wake up call we moan on the eve of August 2, 2005, following day of strenuous hiking and field work in the Pangnirtung Fjord!!!!
The morning of August 3rd had us feeling cheery and optimistic as we were about to partake in a search for polar bears, walrus and whales. We zoomed from the open waters where our ship anchored early this morning into calm quite bays in search of polar bears and there they were in all their mightiness! High on the mountain side keeping her two furry white cubs
protected from our gaze was a female bear while across the bay ambling along the cliffs was a huge male bear. We patiently sat and watched bear behavior. Could they see us? Could they smell us? Did our approach disturb them? As true expeditioners we decided to head into a secluded bay surrounded by cliffs of what appeared to be crumbling rock trimmed with ice patches. As we looked around using our keen sense of site we spotted a single young bear. The sound of our boats from the distance appeared to wake him from his deep
sunny ridged sleep. He curiously sat up and lumbered down a few rocks closer to the water's edge then sat to look out at us. Our engines went silent as he watched us and we him and every once and a while he would put his nose to the air as if to smell for any sign of danger. We watched quietly and respectfully for over half an hour. We hoped he would take a dip in the cold waters of the Cumberland Strait but that was not what he had in mind. Sighting five polar bears made our early morning wake- up call..... a call to the wild. I wonder if a walrus colony awaits us as we pull up anchor in search of our next point of observation.
Sweetheart Emile, honey-bun Sophie and little Holden you would have enjoyed seeing these creamy white wild polar bears and other sea mammals in their natural Arctic habitat. I miss you and will call you as soon as I get home. Kisses and hugs!!!!
Trudy Lum Chaperone
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Hello Everybody!
The past couple of days have been absolutely amazing! I am pretty sure that yesterday was one of my favourites. We started out early yesterday morning by loading up the zodiacs for a full day of hiking. The first group made the shore landing at around 7:30 a.m. and hiked up mountain after mountain until they reached the Arctic Circle which was about 20 km away from our ship in the Pangnirtung Fjord. That group hiked all day and finally returned to the ship around 5:00 p.m. As they returned to the ship, happy they could feel their legs again, some students in mild pain, but as I hugged them as they came in and congratulated them on a job well done, the number one emotion that I could see all over their face was happiness - the smiles that expressed how happy they were with what they had accomplished. At around 8:30 a.m. the second group made their shore landing. We hiked up mountain after mountain for a long time to a waterfall situated fairly high up on one particular mountain. We all decided to fill up our water bottles with fresh water from the glacier (instead of drinking "ship water") and then sat there taking pictures and enjoying our moment of silence. Thirty students sitting in utter silence on the side of a cliff with the crashing of the water directly behind you, the mist spraying onto our sweaty faces, mountains capping either side of the fjord, the wind blowing and the birds whistling, was a rare and treasured moment for all of us. In the afternoon, my group made their second landing. A few of the students learned a lot about finding the scientific discharge of a flowing river from Eric and Ingrid. After that, Sophie, Edward and I went for another hike up a mountain onto the ridge so that we could overlook the ship as well as the fjord. That moment was incredible. One of the students brought this to my attention at last
night's briefing and I came to realize that it was very true - It was a phenomenal experience being able to look out into the distance, and not to be able to see anything man made. I think that this is something that everyone should have the opportunity to be able to experience because we all sat their so content, without our computers or televisions, watching nature
happen.
This morning was so great!!! We saw four polar bears finally!!!! As soon as Geoff came on the intercom and said that we had spotted our first polar bear, I ran to my room, put on my warm clothing to go out in the zodiac, and I ran to the gangway. This was something I surely didn't want to miss after waiting all year to see one. There was one female with her two cubs on the side of one mountain, and then one male on another mountain. They were watching us, we were watching them, and then they scampered off up the mountain out of our sight. It was so amazing! The day isn't over yet so let's see what other exciting things happen.
Only three more days of this expedition and I can't believe it. This adventure has whizzed by so quickly and I never want it to end. I cannot even begin to pull together a few words that can sum up this experience and what we saw, so that all of you back at home can attempt to understand what we all got to experience. One thing that I know for sure is that this past
year has been the most incredible year of my life. I have had the most breath-taking and amazing experiences - two expeditions to the Arctic and one to Antarctica, all of which have shaped who I am today and will continue to do so. These expeditions have done so much for me have taught me so much about global climate change, they have allowed me to meet some of the most amazing people in the world and have guided me to find my passion in life and I will continue on this path to make a difference in this world as far as global warming and educating people about climate change goes. I have come to realize that even though I am only one person, one person can make that world of a difference. I also think that a lot of the people on this trip are now realizing that our world and its issues are all interconnected. Our society is presently faced with one of the largest problems on this planet, climate change, and we will need to work together to act upon it, and act quickly, because tomorrow might be too late...
I'd better be going, I'd like to get out on deck before our first lecture of the day. I'll write later!
Love, Kelsi
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Today is the third of August, we had a great day. We got to see our first polar bears. First there was a mother and two cubs, and then there was another bear, then we saw a bunch more which brings the count up to eleven. I think that we are truly privileged to be here in the fresh air, we have seen whales, polar bears, seals, arctic birds, dolphins, and other wildlife.
This trip is amazing! I'm happy that we got the chance to see these things in real life instead of seeing them in just pictures .we have seen so many beautiful things that I know a lot of people in my town will never be able to see. I don't know of many people in my town who have ever chased down a mother blue whale and her calf. Mom and dad I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to call. Tell Uncle Robert and everyone that I love them and that I will see them when I get home. Kisses and hugs.
-Margarett Parducci
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Today was incredible. After breakfast ended this morning we heard an announcement about a mother polar bear and cubs, so everyone rushed up to the deck to try to see them. Although it was far away, it was our first polar bear sighting of the trip. We saw one adult bear, then started going around towards a nice quiet cove. As we rounded the corner all the zodiac drivers killed the engines and we all watched this bear that was only about 50 feet away from us. We stayed for about 40 minutes watching him, (The bear yawned quite a bit, we must not be too interesting) and headed back to the ship. After a few lectures we dropped anchor at this string of small islands to drop the zodiacs and take a look for bears. We saw quite a few, and at one point we noticed Elia (Cameraman) got up on the rocks to get a shot. All of us in the zodiac were discussing how funny it would be if the polar bear at the top of the ridge would start coming down (The bear was a good distance away, don't worry) when suddenly this absolutely massive bear comes out from behind a ridge, and from where we were, the bear was right above Elia. The whole zodiac started laughing and pointing, Elia looks up, turns back and shrugs his shoulders as if he doesn't see it. After a while
of watching the bear drooling (seriously) we carried on to check out a few of the bears that we saw earlier and here I am back at the ship. My total polar bear count today was 11 different bears, I got some great shots. Hope to see everyone back home soon.
Ryan Leach
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This trip has been an amazing experience. Traveling by ship through the Denmark Strait and Davis Strait, from Iceland to Greenland to Baffin Island. Climbing glaciers and volcanos, seeing polar bears, puffins and whales. Sharing all this with many people who have common thoughts on taking care of this planet we live on. Today the sun is shining for the first time in a
while. I can feel my body soaking it up. Sheila Watt-Cloutier spoke with such clarity this afternoon about how we as a society are dissociated not only from each other but from how our everyday choices and actions impact the earth. I notice this when I walk down a city street and people don't look each other in the eye, or when there is needless waste and excess just
for the sake of ease and comfort - but I wonder just whose ease and comfort we are taking into consideration. There are so many issues out there that I feel overwhelmed at times. Some days though, like today, it feels easier - living consciously, living with respect for the land and the animals and our fellow humans - walking the walk and talking the talk - hopefully it will
spread...because it feels so good.
Susan Walton, Chaperone Whitehorse Yukon
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Today was a very fun day. We went on the zodiacs to look for bears and you know what? We found a bear, but not just one but like 8 or something. The first ever polar bear I have ever seen was form afar, but using my binoculars we could see them pretty good. The first bear was a mother and two little cubs, about 1 year old. We also saw other bears to, a
lot more afterwards. It made us sad that there was no ice around the islands. The polar bears couldn't really eat anything because there was no ice, with no ice no seals and that is what they eat. I wish there were more polar bears around the arctic so everyone can see how beautiful they are and instead of just seeing pictures in books and television scenes.
We also got up close to a bear, but he was tired and probably just ate so he just looked at us, looked down and then somewhere else. Looking at this polar bear and taking pictures one thought ran through my mind "what in the world is this bear thinking of us right now". My reason for this is we were all in zodiacs snapping pictures and looking at them in
amazement, you know was he looking at us in amazement or was he just like okay... Anyways that is why I wish I could read any one's, including bears minds.
When we got back and had a our lunch we decided to go on the zodiacs again looking for some more polar bears. There we saw about five of them it was beautiful. I took many pictures and hope they turn out right. I don't think I put my thoughts or description into words on what I saw. Sometimes I can't believe my eyes on what this trip has giving them. It
seems that everyday I had so far on this trip is a first time experience or a once in a life time chance.
Dinner kind of just ended, dinner was great today. The food was absolutely terrific!
Victoria Ransom Ahkwesasne ON, Canada
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Yesterday was hard, we went on a long hike (30 km) to the artic circle, and we had to cross steep hills, many rivers and sand dunes! The arctic circle is not really anything special, but the hike was spectacular. The scenery was extremely special, and sometime I just had to sit down and enjoy.
My legs are quite sore today, but luckily we started the day with a search for polar bears, and guess what, we saw 4 of them! What more can you ask for, it is not even 10 am and we have seen 4 polar bears. This trip has been amazing, not only the volcanoes and the hot springs have been amazing, but blue whales, seals and polar bears, words cannot describe what I have seen on this trip.
Jeg har lige set 4 isbjoerne I dag, og vi skal ud og lede efter flere senere, maaske vi ogsaa faar chancen for at se andre dyr. Turen er ved at vaere slut, men det har vaeret en helt fantastisk tur, og jeg har allerede moedt en masse fede mennesker som jeg haaber jeg kan holde kontakten med.
Mads Qvist Frederiksen Haslev, Denmark
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