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Thank you to Torngat Mountain National Park and Base Camp

Colourful Flags...  

...send threads of poetry into the wind.   

Wendy Morton's poems about the Torngat Mountains National Park were printed onto multicoloured flags in English, French, as well as Inuktitut in Roman characters and Syllabics. The poems declare the beauty of the Park, and of the people who enjoy that beauty. Thank you to everyone at the Base Camp and at the Park for our wonderful visit. Thank you also to Muriel Edmunds for sharing her photos throughout this month! 

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The Friendly Staff at the Base Camp

It doesn't take long...  

...for the staff to get to know the visitors.   

The staff of the Base Camp welcome visitors with friendly attention to detail in the services that they provide. Thank you to all the staff members!           

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Fog

When cold air meets warmer air that holds moisture...  

...you get fog.   

Stripes of fog drift over the surface of the water and cling to the contours of the land. When there is little wind to disturb it, the fog rests in elongated bands of water vapour which add contrasting patterns and counterpoint to the forms of the mountains and islands. 

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The Bear Guards

Bear Guards...  

...accompany every expedition away from the Base Camp.   

On day trips and expeditions in the Park, skilled Inuit hunters with knowledge of the land are part of the team. Bear Guards are necessary because dangerous animals like polar bears and black bears roam freely and naturally in the area. Park visitors and personnel alike rely on the sharp senses of the Bear Guards to stay safe.          

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Golden Cliffs, Purple Textures

The Cliffs of the Torngat Mountains...  

... show dramatic colours as they meet the sea.   

Because of the mix of minerals in the ancient rock that makes up the Torngat mountains, the cliffs shimmer and glow with colours that seem unearthly.      

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Waterfalls

Glaciers carved into the rock...  

... and rivers started to flow.   

Torngat waterfalls show the forces of nature at work over millions of years.  After the winter's snow has melted and collected into ponds on top of the mountains, the falling water cuts its path deeper and deeper into the hills as it makes its way to the sea. 

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Colours of Summer

Wildflowers of the Torngats...  

...masses of pure, bright colours.   

From June to August, the colours of wildflowers light up the northern Labrador landscape. The Iceland Poppy in yellows, oranges and creamy tones, the River Beauty in magenta and pink, and the Snowy Gentian in spectacular dots of shimmering blue, are only a few of the colourful plants of the Torngat Mountains.       

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Rock Formations

The Devil's Footprints and The Tombstones...  

...tell stories from the sides of the cliffs.   

The geology of the Saglek Fjord area is so varied that there are interesting rock formations almost everywhere. Many of these have stories attached to them, like the Devil's Footprints, where the Devil is credited with pushing apart the high cliff walls going into North Arm, and leaving his footprints in the rock. Whoever is buried at the Tombstones, we do not know, but their stone markers, huge slabs of delicately balanced rock, can be seen for miles atop the cliffs going into South West Arm. Thanks to Muriel Edmunds for both of these photos.        

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A Ramah Chert Point at Rose Island

The Dorset style of this point...  

...suggests a date between 3000 to 800 years ago.   

All around the Saglek Fjord there are artifacts from ancient cultures dating back thousands of years. We were on the trail to explore one of the many archaeological sites on Rose Island, when we spotted this lance point or arrow point chipped from the highly desirable stone Ramah Chert. Its style of construction suggests the point was made by people from the Dorset culture, possibly thousands of years ago. We left it in place for Park staff to examine later.

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Yes, We Saw Polar Bears, Part 2

Polar Bears...  

...are at home in the water and on the land.   

This bear noticed us while he was swimming, and he took a leisurely paddle to shore. Then he shook off the water that was weighing him down and gracefully trotted off along the rocks. Thanks to Muriel Edmunds for having the right settings on her camera and for sharing the photos.        

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Bigger Than Our Boat

But what kind of whale?...  

...we couldn't tell for sure, but they certainly dwarfed our little zodiac.   

We were out spotting grounded icebergs, and found we were not alone in this calm cove. Later, at the Base Camp, we tried to identify these animals. Minke whales, probably, because they are so common in this area, or sei, perhaps, likely feeding on a small fish called a sand-lance. It was an unexpected pleasure. Thanks to Muriel Edmunds for these photos.  

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How Many Blues and Greens Are There In An Iceberg?

Turquoise, azure, indigo, teal, cerulean, aqua, sea-green...  

...as the light changes, the colours shift.   

Icebergs were something we were interested in seeing up close, and we saw quite a few of them. These 15,000 year-old mountains of fresh water float south into the Atlantic Ocean, melting as they go. Most of their beauty goes unseen and unappreciated. Thanks to Muriel Edmunds for the closeup photo of the light shining through the base of the iceberg.        

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Fishing at North Arm

North Arm...  

...is always a good spot for fishing and a boilup.   

At North Arm, archaeologists have found campsites dating from thousands of years ago. People love it here. On this perfectly calm day, Base Camp staff set up a fire, boiled the kettle and cooked a char fresh out of the water. It was very tasty.          

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Yes, We Saw Polar Bears - Part 1

Polar Bears were something we wanted to see...  

...and they were everywhere we went.   

We were out in zodiacs on a day trip for fishing and a picnic, and we spotted this fellow in the water. He had spotted us first, of course, and he headed for the camoflage of the nearest island. He trotted up the rocks, gave us a few intense stares and a goodbye glance before he disappeared into a crevice.  Thanks to Muriel Edmunds for the photos, and for having her good zoom lens on her camera at the time.       

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Boats

Every day at the Base Camp we went out in boat...  

...the passenger boats, the speedboats or the zodiacs.   

The islands and bays of Saglek Fjord are easiest to explore by water - so for quick transport or for landing on shore we used the speedboats, or else the zodiacs, and for larger group trips we went out in the passenger boat Inuttatik, or the longliner Robert Bradford. Thanks to Muriel Edmunds for the photo of the zodiacs zipping along past the Inuttatik.

        

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Downtown

The Base Camp's Tent Area...  

...is nicknamed "Downtown."   

This is the 10th anniversary of the Torngat Mountains National Park, and the Base Camp has grown along the Park. The original tent area, placed close to the dock, the bunkhouse and other facilities, is now nicknamed "Downtown" and the expanded accommodations area is called "New Town." The tent ground sports a mixture of backpacker styles and traditional canvas prospector tents.  The colourful tents are the first thing a visitor sees of the Base Camp from the air or water.

        

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Gibbous Moon over the Camp

Quiet and restful nights...  

...under a never-dark summer sky.   

This time of the year, there are 17 to 18 hours of visible light each day, and twilight and dawn blend into each other. Unless they are very intense, the Northern Lights are rarely able to be seen in the summer. But the moon shines beautifully in the clear sub-Arctic atmosphere.          

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The Cafeteria

Meals at the Base Camp...  

...are hearty, generous and filling.   

The kitchen staff sets out breakfast, lunch and supper every day for staff and visitors to the Base Camp. Keeping nutrition and variety in mind, the cooks prepare breakfasts of bacon, sausages, pancakes, and porridge or beans, and people can serve themselves with cereals, toast and beverages. Folks leaving camp for the day prepare their own lunch from the sandwich and snack buffet, while the noon meal at the Base Camp is usually homemade soup with a sandwich. Supper is a full cooked meal, either good substantial camp food, or fresh-caught country food like trout, char, seal, rock cod, all prepared home-style.  

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The Daily Schedule

Every day camp assignments are posted...  

...for visitors, bear guards, park staff, pilots, drivers, and other Base Camp personnel.   

At the time we were in camp, there was also a group of hikers from a college in Vermont, a film crew from Japanese television, a group of natural scientists, and several park researchers, all going to different places in the park. All our activities were co-ordinated to make efficient use of the boats, helicopters, bear guards, park interpreters, food preparation, and on-the-land camping facilities that the Base Camp provides.         

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The Red Chairs

Parks Canada's invitation to sit and enjoy the view...  

...from their Red Chairs.   

In scenic locations in National Parks across Canada, clusters of red chairs are waiting for visitors to sit, relax and look at the view, and of course, take photos of the spot to share with friends and family. The Red Chair experience at Torngat Mountains National Park can come in some exciting places, but none is more welcoming than the adirondack chairs in front of your own accommodations.