WOW! The Arctic Cowboys were well aware that today would be a tough day, and it certainly lived up to expectations. Crossing Prince Regent Inlet is not for the faint of heart but this team handled it like the champs they are. Based on all our data, we knew they would encounter some winds when they set out, but after a couple of days of staying put, they were well-rested and ready to face it. We also knew that they would come across some ice within the inlet, as our indicators suggested there were large chunks of ice moving south at a rate of 2 miles a day, about 20 miles away. Additionally, we spotted ice on the eastern shore of Somerset Island, precisely where they intended to land at Fury Beach.
The team started their journey from Scorpions Tail Camp at 2:45 pm. All weather indicators were accurate, and they had a great time paddling out. At approximately the 18-mile mark, the team encountered fast ice flows, roughly the size of dining room tables and full-size cars. They observed the ice flowing south down the inlet, with sheets of ice crashing into each other. The team paused in their kayaks, witnessing this ice derby for a while, and then planned their crossing strategy. Finally, they made the decision to cross, which turned out to be a pretty harrowing experience, but they managed to do it safely.
The sound of ice crashing behind them left them feeling a bit unnerved. After that, they enjoyed a pleasant paddle with calm wind and water. As they got about 8 miles away from the shores of Somerset Island, they encountered even larger ice flows, but these were not moving like the ones they had encountered earlier. They navigated around them by paddling with serious intention. This was the largest ice they had seen on their entire expedition thus far. Their initial plan was to land at Fury Beach, but due to ice blockage, they had to scout a location about 15 miles south, where they eventually set up camp, named Waterfall Camp due to the presence of a beautiful freshwater waterfall. We all anticipated this being their biggest challenge of the expedition and are very glad to have it behind them.
During their paddle toward the camp, the team had the opportunity to see more narwhals and a mother Polar Bear with her two adorable, playful cubs. They decided to camp at a safe distance from where they had spotted the bear family.
West indicated that they might be stuck there for a while due to the ice, but on the bright side, there were no major crossings ahead, and they could stick close to the coastline if necessary.
We aren’t sure when they’ll be on the move but will make some big pushes, as they are able.
Total: 433.0 Today: 63.0 Expedition: 355.01
