Polar Bear season coming to an end

Nov 16th ....

By now the fringes of the Hudson Bay should be caked in ice, connecting this extension of the Arctic Ocean to the shoreline of the bay. Polar Bears by this time are usually situated on the new formed ice, eager to take their first step into the world of the seal. Alas, this season it is not the case.

The most recent ice chart showed that no ice what so ever has started to form. In previous years freeze up occured around November 17th, and the 25th at the latest. This year, it seems that we will go into December and the bears will still be contained on the shore.

By now my guiding contract would be over however I was asked to be the guide for the very special Cape Churchill trip which will take me to the end of November. This is when the Tundra Buggy lodge is seperated into compartments then towed by individual buggies 30 km towards to the East to Cape Churchill in the Wapusk National Park. 38 keen photographers and guests join us on this tundra convoy and stay an entire week, photographing the large males who have chosen not to make the journey towards Churchill.

Here, the sparring matches continue as 1200 pound bears stand on their hind legs and combat battle between others a similiar size.

Due to the warm temperatures we have experienced throughout the 6 week polar bear season, we may just be staying put at the original Tundra Buggy Lodge site - Polar Bear Point.

This evening I will meet 34 travel companions and prepare them for the journey of adventure and uncertainity, the destination not truly known.  The weather, ice and earth will dictate our movements and allow us to go as far as we can. Nature, being the true expedition leader will teach us patience, flexibility and acceptance and we will learn to be as spontaneous as nature itself is.

Hopefully I will be able to post a few blog entries so you too can follow along as the ice forms and the bears move out, an exciting part of the season I have never been a part of.  I can't wait!