Thanks to all for nice words. It was incredible experience, I am telling you.
@ckcarr: not many animals, mainly small mammals and lots of birds (before I reached the glacier) and one, seen from a distance polar bear (good that from the distance :-)
Also I am really concerned that MajeedB peed in his pants, opening this photo Hope I won't be charged for laundry expenditures!
Wishing you all a Happy Halloween, I am attaching this aurora made monster from Baffin Island. Enjoy and don't get too scared
THe Auyuittuq traverse has been on my list for about five years now. So is access easier or harder than during spring and fall? Summer is the season I see it travelled the most with boat rides to and from the trailheads. I guess polar bears are less an issue , as I assume they're out on the pack ice?
@river rover: obviously it might be a bit harder in the winter, mainly because of low temperatures. Late summer and early fall (end of August beginning of September) is the best time to go there IMO. Days are not as long and you don't have wait for the sunset until midnight. Hiking is also easer in fall because temperature drops and water level in the rivers is much lower ( or there is no water at all ). Crossing rivers in the summer is the number 1 danger of the entire trekking ( not the polar bears). They recommend to travel there between mid July-September. They claim that weather is the most stable but you can expect snow any time of year. Also in the summer there is some vegetation that might give some foreground. It all depends on this what you want to photograph. Seasons are changing very quickly there and you might get a little of everything.
In terms of polar bears, of course you need to be careful, but when I was there nobody mentioned them as a serious issue. You go through mandatory safety tutorial on polar bears and if you behave the way they recommend, you should be fine. Polar bears look for food near the shores so these are the most dangerous spots and you need to have eyes around your head As I mentioned earlier, I saw only 1 polar bear and I saw it from a distance (from boat on my way back from trek).
Again many thanks to all of you for nice comments. When I go there again, I will let you know. Maybe somebody from this forum will fancy such trip&company
What a beautiful location! I'm sure it was fantastic to spend that much time there. One common theme among my winter backpacking ... it can be a ton of hard work while you are out there, but as soon as you get home you want to do it all over again! It is so satisfying. Recommendations for the photo: I'd personally like just a little off the top, as it seems a bit top heavy as it is and I don't think it's contributing much.
Hope I won't be charged for laundry expenditures!
