The M & M of Cape Dorset

Feel the Inukness

2012-03-07T20:27:00.001-05:00

Great video on You tube. Love it. Try to name all the places in Iqaluit. The video was made by Becky Qilavvaq and stars Anguti Johnston.

Feel the Inukness

Lights and a Machine

2012-02-21T22:03:00.000-05:00

I got out tonight to take some photos of the northern lights.

They were light and only the long exposures would bring them out.

I was standing in the middle of Tellik Inlet. The ice was cracking and booming.

I got out there using my new toy. It's a 600HO ETEC Renegade Backcountry Ski Do.

!!Zoom Zoom!!

Supper

2012-02-18T19:52:00.002-05:00

Guess what's for supper!

Fighting over a Bone

2012-01-28T10:00:00.001-05:00

A couple of ravens were fighting over a bone and entertained us for several minutes. The photo is poor quality because I was taking the shot through a window and a piece of Plexiglas.

The Moon & Venus

2012-01-27T13:59:00.000-05:00

The Moon and Venus were very photogenic last night.

November Blizzard

2011-11-29T08:35:00.000-05:00

Michele recorded a video of the blizzard in Cape Dorset last night.

Tellik Serpent

2011-11-03T17:24:00.000-04:00

You've heard it here first!! The Serpent of Tellik Inlet has finally been photographed by yours truly.

It looks suspiciously like my photo of the three whales but on further review a head can clearly be seen on this new photo.

You be the judge!

Special thanks to the West Baffin Eskimo Co-op Print shop for alerting me to this photo I overlooked.

Three Bowhead Whales

2011-10-31T18:21:00.000-04:00

Three whales are better than one.

The cry went out at work that bowhead whales where in the inlet and after most of us seeing them from the windows all of work emptied out for the chase. Of course this hunt was done with cameras. I did get a couple of good photos but some folks went out and chased them in boats which obviously irritated them. After that they dove down and only came up a couple more times.

It was two years ago that Michele and I got the photos of a bowhead whale that came into Tellik Inlet. You can find those post here and here. We were the only ones that got a photo with the tail in the air.

I guess if a person is to start blogging on a regular basis again this is a good way to start.

The photos are not of the best quality just given that it was the worst time of day and weather for them. It was getting dark (4:00pm) and overcast. Tried to fix them up as best as I could in Photoshop.

Enjoy.

Three are better than one. Think it was a mother and two young ones.

Got one of the young ones blowing some air.

The last good site of them going around the point.

That is just the top of their heads sticking out of the water.

Photoshop

2011-10-30T22:15:00.000-04:00

I decided to get Photoshop Elements and have been doing some initial digging into the program. Will start posting some photos in a bit. Kind of let the blog go down hill this year but will get the quality and quantity back up to par soon.

Thanks for the continued patience.

Here is a photo from our vacation in August.

Me, Michele and a rock holding the camera. Good times.

6 hours into a cross Canada drive.

Almost Back

2011-06-11T15:14:00.001-04:00

As you can see by the blog title things have been changing.

Michele and I are back together and enjoying the adventure of getting to know each other again. It's been a hard road getting to this point but usually the things that are most valuable take the most work to obtain.

My laptop had died a month ago and it's only been in the last couple of weeks that a new one has come to my possession. Have been getting everything put back on the computer but can't find my Photoshop program in the boxes. Might be an excuse to get the full version of Photoshop instead of Elements. Have been wanting to try out the HDR option available with Photoshop. And this is another excuse to why the blog has not been updated in so long. Once things are settled and I get all the stuff up and running with the new laptop (love windows 7) there will be a flurry of post on the blogs with photos over the last 6 months. Just because the blog has not been updated in awhile doesn't mean the photo taking has stopped.

I was recognized in public the other day as the M of Cape Dorset. Kind of neat when asked if I was the "M" in The M of Cape Dorset. Unfortunately I wasn't up to my best being in a rush and was shorter than I normally would be. Had to get some tire patches for a hole in my Honda tire and had someone waiting for me. My fault the flat happened and it's fixed now.

Thanks to my loyal stalkers to the site. The restart will be soon. Promise. You can trust me.

:o)

Dorset M

Not Dead

2011-04-07T20:11:00.000-04:00

The blog isn't dead just in a brief hibernation.

Life has been getting in the way of my blogging.

Once again I will be up and running again soon with some changes.

Me & I

2011-01-25T21:05:00.000-05:00

What's that in the eye?

Accidental shot while playing with my macro lens.

Moonbow

2011-01-19T17:30:00.000-05:00

The light of the moon reflecting through some high cirrus clouds to make a moonbow or a half corona.

Got lucky last night and happen to be out and looked up at the right time.

The weather has finally changed and it is now bitterly cold out.

The 2010 Nunies

2011-01-18T17:28:00.001-05:00

Well it seems the impossible has happened and I got nominated for the best Nunavut Blog for 2010. Clair from The House & other arctic Musings left me a message letting me know I was nominated. Cool. Don't think I will win over Townie Bastard or Bulldogs & Babies but it's an honor that someone liked the blog enough to nominate me. Those and the other nominated blogs are very well written. My blog has always been more of a photography blog. I will have to hit Clair up for a photography section next year.

So if you are a fan of the site please give me a vote at Clairs site! Just click this LINK to go to the post to vote.

Northern Fools

2011-01-13T21:35:00.000-05:00

Look here are two northern fools now!

Photo by Ken.

Moon, Juipter and Lights

2011-01-10T21:19:00.002-05:00

I'm trying to get motivated to get out and do some photography again. The lights were dim tonight but there was still the opportunity for some nice photos if you knew where to look.

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

Kananginak Pootoogook

2010-12-07T14:45:00.003-05:00

Kananginak Pootoogook is a Cape Dorset artist that passed away on November 23, 2010. See a brief history of him here. Turns out I purchased one of his works at the 2009 print show in Cape Dorset called Proud Leader. I was actually looking to purchase a different print that year but with the high number drawn it was long gone by the time my turn came around. Of the ones left "Proud Leader" had grabbed my attention earlier in the evening and was the one I chose. The web doesn't do it justice. Turns out it is one of his more popular prints and was used at the top of the Dorset Fine Arts calender that year. I don't purchase prints based on the artist but on what I like at the time. Still feel good about this purchase.

Proud Leader Etching & Aquatint 59.5 x 56.5 50/50

Not for sale.

The Oil Tank

2010-12-02T09:45:00.000-05:00

My new oil tank.

Shiny!

Same old tank stand.

Yawn

2010-11-30T19:48:00.002-05:00

I'm still around.

The continuous overcast and dreary weather seems to have gotten to me. Just haven't been getting out to do any photography lately that was worth putting on the blog. I did realize no photos from my vacation in August appeared on the site so some of those will be the focus of the end of the post. Why was thoughts of my last vacation filtering through my noggin you ask? Well I booked holidays for February. Yaaaa.

Back to the weather. It has been a strange winter season so far. The temperature hasn't been below -10C and we (and Iqaluit) have been some of the warmest places in Canada. In the four years (starting the 5th on Dec 4) since Cape Dorset has been my home this is the first time Tellik Inlet has been ice free in November. Many folks are wondering if it will be ice free at Christmas. If it is it will screw up the annual snowmobile run and races on the ice. We shall see. Also when will the cloud go away it's been overcast since September.

I leave you with some of those August vacation photos from a day at my brothers work.

Original stained glass window.

I know it's just a grate in the ceiling.

I got to go places the general public don't see. Finally got permission to go up the tower in the afternoon. My bro said it would be a bit difficult. I guess by difficult he meant vertical climbs, cramped spaces and swinging out into open spaces with dark vertical drops. In this photo I'm looking up and saying to myself don't look down, don't look down. I was also saying "Are you f*****g crazy?!?" Followed by my little brothers motivational reply "Ha ha. Come on you p***y". Damn but didn't it work.

The hole at the top wasn't big enough to come straight up so this photo was an accidental shot as the camera was passed through. Kind of cool.

I wouldn't go all the way up since the railing was only knee high and only for decoration. Also being scared of heights may have had something to do with it. What a person does to get a couple of photos.

Before the band formed for the march to the capital buildings.

Sword handle.

mmmm. Those leprechauns are everywhere.

Cape Dorset Prints

2010-10-21T19:30:00.000-04:00

Tonight was the annual Cape Dorset print show. Since there is only one of each print to chose from the print shop has a bag with numbers in it that everyone reaches into to determine who goes first. Lowest number first. As my turn approached the numbers coming out of the bag were large (50,48,46,34,38, etc) and I mentioned with all these large numbers coming out it should only leave the small ones. When my hand came out of the bag it was holding number one! So with that advantage I chose print number 34 Vigilant Wolves. It's one of the prints that is sold out across Canada. Several people at the show were disappointed it was gone. The two purchased prints are below and the sizes are in cm.

#34 - Vigilant Wolves by Tim Pitsiulak - Lithograph 28.5x77 50/50

#26 - Flip Flop by Ohotaq Mikkigak - Stonecut & Stencil 35x41 50/50

Kitty Mind Meld

2010-09-23T09:58:00.000-04:00

You will feed me meat....only meat!

And belly rubs...I like belly rubs too.

Rankin Inlet Travel

2010-09-17T15:11:00.003-04:00

I have been away this week travelling to Rankin Inlet for work and have just returned. Regular post to commence soon!

I didn't take any photos while in Rankin Inlet (gasp) so here are a couple of photos of the famous large Inukshuk located in town. I can easily get my 6'2" frame between the legs with room to spare all around. I think both photos have appeared on the blog in previous years.

Lands to Explore

2010-09-11T09:00:00.002-04:00

Lands still to explore.

Old Garbage

2010-09-10T09:00:00.002-04:00

Unfortunately even at the top of Nipple Mtn. there is garbage. That sure looks like an old Pepsi can.

Falling Rock

2010-09-09T09:00:00.003-04:00

The rock face was in different stages of falling down. The power of water.

The photo was overexposed but looks interesting in black and white.

The Wide View

2010-09-08T16:26:00.000-04:00

A panoramic shot from the top of Nipple Mtn.

The Climb

2010-09-07T09:00:00.001-04:00

I finally climbed Nipple Mtn. It was a good day.

Dorset Sunset

2010-09-06T09:00:00.001-04:00

With the dark comes the colors of the sunsets.

Light and Dark

2010-09-05T09:30:00.002-04:00

It's finally dark at night and the lights can be seen again. They weren't very bright and exposures were in the 30+ second range. Hope we get some action on the Sun and the sky's stay clear so there is a nice outburst before the cold weather is back.

I love chasing the lights.

Cape Dorset at Night

2010-09-04T12:03:00.000-04:00

I couldn't get the illusion to work in the photo but last night the crescent moon looked huge over the Hamlet.

Large Inukshuk

2010-09-02T18:30:00.002-04:00

You can find these large Inukshuk around Cape Dorset on high points around the communtiy. The ones that resemble a person are called Inuksuk.

Must have taken some time to build this.

Around Town - RC Beach

2010-09-01T18:30:00.000-04:00

A favorite spot to set up beach shacks and to pull your boat out of the water.

If your lucky you can score some seal meat here too!

Around Town - RC Valley

2010-08-31T18:30:00.002-04:00

A look at the RC Valley with Kingait and Nipple mountains in the back ground. This valley is called RC Valley because it was the location of the Roman Catholic church. It is no longer here and I don't know when it was closed. It was the church involved with molesting young children. A sad time in history of the community.

Umm Nipple Mtn is the one on the left.

A Rare Visit

2010-08-30T23:04:00.000-04:00

We have a rare visitor to the island. It is uncommon to get icebergs floating this close because most of the big ones are on the other side of Baffin Island. This one is on the smaller size and has floated in during high tide and has grounded with low tide. It will be here until the wind changes or it breaks up on the rocks. Some photos below to enjoy.

I never tire of them.

A boat came by and gives a nice sence of the scale.

Enjoy.

Poker Construction

2010-08-29T12:40:00.001-04:00

We have an active group of poker players in Cape Dorset and have been playing Texas Hold 'em for several years. Last night we had the last member of the original group leave for a new job and everyone who plays on the regular Saturday night showed up for the send of game. It's not a high stakes game but a way for everyone to get together for a fun, social, and cheap night.

We have been playing on a small octagon table for years and a couple of us came up with the idea of getting a new table to accommodate the larger group of players that show up on a regular basis. We had the plywood donated by one player and the labour for the construction was provided by me. The material had to be purchased and shipped from the south so every night we take a small percentage of the pot until it's paid for. That way everyone pays.

There are some defects but they are only visible if you really look for them. If a second one is ever built it will be done a bit different and should be done faster. Everyone liked the table and was very enjoyable to play on. Overall a very nice first attempt.

The finished product with some poker paraphernalia below.

If they don't find you handsome they better find you handy!

Waves go Boom!

2010-08-26T17:30:00.003-04:00

Last wave photo for a bit but with the weather we've been having in Cape Dorset they have been great.

Obsessed With The Waves.

2010-08-25T17:30:00.006-04:00

I know there has been several photos of water on the blog last couple of weeks but there has only been one good day of weather during that time to go exploring and take photos.

There will be some more variety soon.

Park Bird

2010-08-24T21:53:00.001-04:00

What kind of bird are they?

Thanks to my knowledgeable readers they are Purple Sandpipers - Caldris maritima.

There is two of them in this photo.

This was the first bird at the park I almost stepped on.

Foggy Photography

2010-08-20T17:15:00.001-04:00

The fog, combined with rain and wind, is still hanging around . I got cabin fever the other night and headed out with my camera gear. It's like driving around in a wet bubble with visibility down to 300 meters. Did find a new path when I was exploring and came across this Inuksuk on top of a hill. When the weather is nice again I'll go back and see what the view is like.

Fog and Water

2010-08-19T17:15:00.004-04:00

It was worth going out the other night just to see the large surf crashing to shore at the park. The fog meant I had to go into the stupid zone to get the photos. The fog has currently lifted from Cape Dorset but word is it will roll back in later tonight. Hope there are still big waves coming in.

The water was spraying about 6 meters into the air at this spot.

Spent a lot of time just watching the large waves crashing in.

The waves were huge!

Very Foggy

2010-08-16T18:10:00.001-04:00

Not much to see today.

Faint Lights

2010-08-11T12:15:00.002-04:00

Still not dark enough to get good photos of the northern lights but I just can't wait. The CME that was supposed to hit earths magnetic field last night didn't happen but there was still some bright enough to be barely seen through the twilight. Hope this seasons turns out to be a good one for Northern Lights.

This was the best of the bunch. I think this was a 20 second exposure.

Bedroom Window

2010-08-10T20:41:00.000-04:00

A look out my bedroom window including screen, cracks, garbage and all.

Rainbow

2010-08-09T17:30:00.002-04:00

Heading to poker Saturday night and saw this faint rainbow in the sky.

Another Sealift

2010-08-08T15:40:00.000-04:00

The second container ship of the year arrived last week as the first ship was leaving. The new windows and materials for the kitchen cabinets will be on the third ship scheduled to arrive on August 18th. I'm feeling a little impatient.

Waiting for the barge to get back to the ship.

Unloading the barge.

NEAS's portable office.

The View

2010-07-29T12:07:00.000-04:00

The American president will be on the View today. I prefer the view from Nunavut.

Cant wait to get back to playing on my ATV.

The Moon

2010-07-28T11:00:00.006-04:00

One thing about being south is the ability to see the moon again.

The best photo I've taken of the moon so far.

Summer Flowers 2010

2010-07-27T11:00:00.001-04:00

I'm having fun with my new macro lens. It's hard to make sure the subject is focused because it is so small in the viewer.

These flowers are very small. How small?

The pink thing at the top is my index finger.

More to come once I'm back in Cape Dorset.

Duck Blind

2010-07-26T19:00:00.001-04:00

A northern style duck blind. Duck decoys are created by tying a grocery bag to a stick and shoving the stick into the ground. Simple and effective.

Ocean Floor Parking

2010-07-26T11:00:00.001-04:00

Some photos from an evening of exploring when the tide was out.

We have sand but note the gloves.

Exclusive parking.

2010 Canada Day Parade

2010-07-25T17:03:00.002-04:00

I finally got a card reader so posting can continue. I will start off with the Canada Parade in Cape Dorset. It was the first one I was actually in the parade. Photos below.

Getting ready to start. Most of us with ATV's and motorcycles were at the back. Guess we are kind of like the horses in a parade south.

This is what I saw through most of the parade.

A shot over my shoulder.

A better view of the vehicles ahead with the newly renovated high school on the left.

Mr Canada himself waiting to jump into the parade.

Some excited onlookers.

More parade watchers.

Everyone gathering at the end.

Travelling

2010-07-11T17:43:00.000-04:00

I'm travelling on my holidays for the next three weeks. I haven't been able to post any photos because my card reader has a broken pin. Should be able to get a new one soon and get caught up with my posting. If you can't do without a little M of Cape Dorset come follow me on Twitter. See the side bar.

Damn it's muggy in Ottawa.

2/3 Buried Rock

2010-07-04T11:30:00.003-04:00

A 1/3 in the ground and a 1/3 in the snow.

Waves

2010-07-03T11:30:00.006-04:00

During low tide at the park a few days ago the tempeture was in the teens and there was no wind. There were some waves breaking on the rocks so I climbed down the ice and got real close. Good thing no one got a twisted ankle.

A couple of shots below.

Bug Bug & Bug

2010-07-02T11:30:00.002-04:00

Don't know what kind of bug they are. Found these under a rock I had kicked over.

Fuel Ship Time

2010-07-01T11:14:00.000-04:00

The first ship of the year came in last week and it's always the fuel ship.

I will be in the Canada Day Parade today and for the first time will have photos from within the parade instead of outside it.

Last Years Whale

2010-06-30T19:54:00.000-04:00

Not much left of the whale now.

Folded Rock

2010-06-28T20:00:00.000-04:00

Rocks are neat.

Waterfalls

2010-06-27T09:00:00.006-04:00

The big falls in the background and the little falls in the foreground. The little falls is about 2 meters heigh. The water falls are impressive this time of the year because of the spring runoff. They were very loud.

Nice shot of the big falls. Wish it had been sunny out.

The water is slowly drilling it's way through the rock.

I was told a person couldn't get to the falls yet. Never challange me. That story later in the week.

Park Landing

2010-06-26T11:00:00.002-04:00

A plane landing at the Cape Dorset airport. The pilots have to come down between two hills to get there. I was lucky to catch this one landing while playing at the park.

Inukshuk

2010-06-25T18:30:00.001-04:00

Find these all over the place in Cape Dorset and I enjoy finding the occational new one.

This is a new addition to the park.

Rare Treat

2010-06-25T09:00:00.002-04:00

I won't tell you how much this dish of blueberries, raspberries and blackberries cost but it was good. It's so rare to get fresh fruit it's like candy. Just add milk or creame and a spoonful of surger.

First Flowers of the Year

2010-06-24T17:30:00.001-04:00

The first flowers I've seen this year.

Dead Dog Lake

2010-06-23T16:15:00.003-04:00

The melting Dead Dog Lake with the Government of Nunavut office building in the background.

Ottawa Earthquake

2010-06-23T14:46:00.003-04:00

Seems there is some excitement in Ottawa today with a 5.5 magnitude earthquake happening. Got an email from my brother who works in Ottawa and the reports are starting to come out on the web news sites. A copy of his email is below.

"We just got hit with a 5.5......Lost 14 lights in my office. All cell phones are out. One of the old brick buildings 200 meters from the drill hall basically exploded into the street, whoever owned the Mercedes parked beside it isn't gonna be happy. I'm taking the afternoon off."

Sounds exciting but hope no one got hurt.

*UPDATE*

Follow this LINK to get more detailed information regarding the earthquake that happened close to Ottawa.

Telik Inlet Ice

2010-06-22T13:00:00.002-04:00

All this ice in the Inlet is broken up now. I'll get a photo of the broken ice on the blog if it stops raining for a couple minutes this week and if it doesn't blow out before then.

Through the Blinds

2010-06-21T20:00:00.000-04:00

I came across this photo while looking throw the photo files on the computer. It is taken looking out the window from my desk with the blinds down. Looked kind of neat.

The blinds will allow you to see out but not in.

Inukshuk Point or Inuksuk Point

2010-06-21T10:32:00.003-04:00

Reader submitted question:
So this is going to come out of the blue, but I'm helping out with a novel that's being written, and part of it is based in your area - would you mind if I asked a couple of questions? For example - how far it is from the Cape Dorset airport to Inukshuk Point (and would you have to travel by skidoo)?

Let me know if you need more information about Cape Dorset and surrounding areas.
I don't mind answering any questions about the area. Let me know the name of the novel when it gets published so I can purchase it and show it to people and say "Hey I helped out with this novel!". LOL. No one would believe me anyway.

Inukshuk Point is located on Malliq Island (or Malliqjuaq Island). Although it isn't very far from the airport you would need to get there by snowmobile in the winter. You could walk there or use an ATV in the summer if you use the land bridge between Dorset Island and Malliqjuaq Island but would have to take into account the tides because the land bridge is only accessible during low tide and has an twelve hour tidal cycle. The body of water between Dorset and Malliq Island is called Tellik Inlet. Total distance is approximately 5 km. But I am guessing a bit. It has been called Inuksuk Point on the blog but it wouldn't be the first time I was wrong.

Have a look at the post Snowmobiling Day for a view of the area and some features on the way. Funny I don't have any more photos on the blog from the area. I may have more on my computer but it would take some time to find.

Let me know if you need more information about Cape Dorset and surrounding areas

The Hudson Strait

2010-06-20T21:02:00.002-04:00

A photo taken two or three weeks ago while snowmobiling on the Hudson Strait on the south eastern corner of Baffin Island. All this ice is broken up or impassable now.

The Hudson Strait connects Hudson Bay to the Atlantic Ocean. Click on the link to learn more about the Srait.

Yep that's melt water laying on top of the ice.

Greenery at the Office

2010-06-18T13:00:00.002-04:00

We do have some green to enjoy at the office.

Just Me

2010-06-17T20:05:00.001-04:00

Here is a rare photo of me for the blog. I've shaved the beard off and now sporting a goetee. This is just before leaving to go ice fishing for IQ day. Wasn't smiling at the end because I was sunburned, wet, cold and tired by the end. At one point I was stuck in 2 1/2 feet of slush. It took three of us to get the snowmobile out. I would do all over again. LOL.

A bit of white in the hair. The sweater was actually purchased in NYC.

This fine gentleman is single too.

:o)

Bozo the Seagull

2010-05-28T22:16:00.001-04:00

I forgot this photo on the last post. This particular Seagull was the only one that showed no fear of me at all and would eat alone and turn it's back on me. The seagull would always be standing with it's two legs crossed and one wing hanging down. It didn't have any trouble walking or flying so it wasn't injured. Made for an entertaining few minutes.

Every time I giggled this is how it would look at me.

Dump Turkey

2010-05-26T17:30:00.003-04:00

Back on the east cost we always called Seagulls "Dump Turkey's" because they were very common and always at the dump. Never did find out if they tasted like turkeys. Although they are common south, in Nunavut they are one of the first signs the brief summer is starting.

I had left a bag of bread on the counter and one or more of the cats tore the bag and destroyed the bread inside. So instead of throwing it in the garbage I figured it was a good excuse to bait some birds for photos. The best of the results are below.

My favourite photo of the evening. I originally passed it off as a failed photo but after looking at it again the eye kept drawing me in. Taken just as the seagull was taking off.

The bait. I had to stand outside for about an hour before they would start going for the food. Luckily the last couple of days have been sunny and warm. Today it's 2C but feels liks 20C.

The first investigator on the scene. Didn't care for me being so close to the bait.

Was a failed photo until I noticed this shadow.

Fighting over a prime spot.

A rare moment in the summer. A raven and a seagull in the same place.

My second favourite photo of the evening.

This would have been my favourite if it had been in focus and the other seagull wasn't in the photo. But a friend at work liked it the best and wanted to see it on the blog. So blame him not me.

Arctic Hares

2010-05-25T00:02:00.000-04:00

Not the best photos but the conditions were bad. 10:30 pm and the sun had just gone below the hoizon, strong wind and the tempeture was -8C without the wind and the snow won't hold my weight anymore. After the initial photo below they took off and I decided to chase them though the knee deep snow. In the end it was all worth it.

A bit blurry but I had the big zoom out and was hand holding it.

They had run (hopped?) up one of the steep hills at the park and gave me some time to set up the tripod and catch my breath. The wind was blowing hard enough that I had to hold on to the tripod or it would blow over.

Neither one ever turned their back on me even though I was a long way off at this point.

Too cute.

Matty Land

2010-05-21T20:46:00.003-04:00

I will be back to blogging soon.

Until then all is good in Matty Land.

:o)

A Friend

2010-04-18T14:24:00.002-04:00

Anytime someone begins the journey to the North there is a rollercoaster of emotions to go through. You will feel fear, dread, excitement, anticipation and wonder to name a few. What makes it an easier transition is to make friends when you arrive. They will provide the necessary support and sage advice you will need to adjust to your new surroundings.

The second person I met when I got of the plane was Terry Girouard. The big fellow with the long hair and scraggly goatee met me with a friendly smile and a helping hand with all the luggage. I found out the next day that his cubicle was close to mine and I stopped by after introductions to thank him for helping me with the luggage. We soon learned we had much in common and a friendship quickly developed.

A couple months ago Terry went to the health center complaining of sever pains in his side and was soon medivacted to Iqaluit for more test. Soon after that it was off to Ottawa for even more test. I seen his wife Barb walking and stopped to ask how Terry was. With tears in her eyes and a shaking voice she told me he had oesophagus cancer and it has spread to his liver. Barb and the children were leaving immediately to fly to Ottawa to see Terry in the hospital.

After a brief battle Terry died last night around supper. He was a lot of things to many people. A husband, father, son, brother, musician, poker player, co-worker. To me and many people in Cape Dorset he was, and will always be, a friend.

Moon Walk?

2010-04-08T11:55:00.002-04:00

No it isn't a photo of footprints on the moon just my footprint in the snow. I was playing with the photo in Photoshop and got the result below.

Back Side

2010-04-07T11:55:00.001-04:00

The back side of Dorset Island.

More Snow Formations

2010-04-06T11:55:00.002-04:00

Holey

Just hanging out

Tunnel

Very delicate

As the wind blows from right to left the wind driven snow catches on this lip and slowing wears it down creating the lines you see to the right of the ridge.

I way over 270lbs with my gear on (The majority of that weight is me *sigh*) and I barely make a mark on drifts and they look so soft. Try hitting them at speed on a snowmobile. Ouch.

Big Drift

2010-04-05T11:55:00.001-04:00

The road going to the new lagoon. The lagoon isn't being used yet so it will be awhile before this drift across the road is removed or melted. The part were you can see the tracks is were I attemped to climb to the top of the drift. It is about 3.5 meters to the top and vertical at that section. I didn't make it. Were you see the drift continuing past the road it is almost straight down for a couple hundred feet and someone either went down or up it on a snowmobile. That is well past my skill level.

Snow Removal Needed.

Lonely Boat

2010-04-04T16:31:00.000-04:00

It will be a couple more months before this boat makes it to the water.

Snow Formations

2010-03-31T18:10:00.001-04:00

Not the best photos but I didn't have much choice because of the snowmobile trails and sun limiting the angles I could use. These are as hard as concrete. Before knowing any better I had went through a group at high speed and darn near lost control of the machine because there was no give in the snow. If it stays nice this weekend I'm going exploring for some untouched drifts.

Doggies

2010-03-30T17:10:00.002-04:00

Dog Team on the ice.

Igloo

2010-03-26T13:35:00.002-04:00

The elders were teaching some of the younger children how to build an Igloo. Igloo is Inuktitut for house. The community of Igloolik, located in the Melville Peninsula just south of northwestern Baffin Island, means "place of houses" in english. It originally referenced the sod houses that were common there.

They build it right in the center of the snow mobile trail.

Not sure what happened last night. This post was scheduled for today but it showed on sidebars as being published yesterday. First time that has happened. Anyway this is the mystery missing blog post.

Sun Fun Revisited

2010-03-25T20:10:00.000-04:00

Last night just as the sun was setting I went out to get a last photo of the Sun. Sorry about the power lines in the photo. It might be the last sun we see for a few days because a blizzard is supposed to start tomorrow and stay until Saturday or even maybe Sunday.

Sun Fun

2010-03-24T18:48:00.001-04:00

With all the ice crystals floating around in the air it is making for some nice atmospheric optics.

Pretty Parhelions (Sun Dogs)

This would have made for a cool photo but between the blowing snow, freezing hands and laying in the snow this was the best I could come up with. Still kind of neat.

There was a 46 deg halo with this but it is impossible to get it in a photo without using a fisheye lens. The 46 degree halo is classed as a rare optic. Maybe someday I will invest in a fisheye lens.

Snowmobiling Day

2010-03-18T16:50:00.000-04:00

Mark and I got out the last couple of days to snowmobile around the area. Nice to finally get my machine up and running but I still need to install the voltage regulator, headlights and change the crankcase oil. My shoulders and neck are now stiff and hurting.

Pretty snow formations. The photo has been enhanced with Photoshop to show the textures. I have to start trying some more black and white photography.

Mark and I posing by an enormous boulder left behind by a glacier.

Ahhh the solitude.

Mark at Inuksuk Point.

Even though it is warm for March (-22C) you had better keep covered up on the snowmachines.

I See You!

2010-03-14T14:06:00.000-04:00

Alfie

The Lights Continue

2010-03-11T18:00:00.001-05:00

It was a nice night for the Northern Lights Wednesday night. I may have solved the problem with my camera by using an ISO of 200. Haven't seen the red streaks and heavy pixelization of my photos at that setting. Given the results below I would say it's working. The exsposure settings on the first few is only 10 seconds to give you a feeling for how bright they were.

Bright enough the snow was reflecting the green color.

This line of lights was just along the line of the clouds.

Kingait mountain in the background.

A line of lights just starting to creep across the sky.

It showed potential but quickly fizzled out.

I always like to end with the lights and Orion.

Little Brother

2010-03-11T09:26:00.000-05:00

So finally my little brother is here for a visit. The best use of my Airmile points yet.

Mark has been in the north before with the Canadian military when he did Arctic survival training in Resolute Bay. He got some wicked looking frostbite on that trip. This should be a warmer more comfortable visit. There will be much snowmobiling.

He did get the classic welcome to travelling in the Nunavut when he was 20 minutes from landing in Cape Dorset on Monday and the plane went mechanical. Apparently they could have landed but would not have been able to take off with the malfunctioning gadget. He was then told when arriving back in Iqaluit they would be taking off at 4pm, then 5pm, then 6 pm and finally they said the flight was cancelled. After a brief argument at the counter, First Air gave everyone a free room at the Frobisher Inn and a discount on the meals.

Mom and Dad had no idea Mark was coming and it took the efforts of several people to make sure everything stayed hush hush. Dad was at the airport to pick up a fellow employee and took several looks before he realized that it was Mark standing in the airport. Thought he was going to have some tears. Mom got the surprise later at their apartment after I had to go on a search mission to find her walking around town. There was tears then.

Mission successful and thanks to everyone who helped out keeping it a secret.

Quote of the day “I learned a long time ago how to lie to my parents.”

The plane, the plane!

The first sighting of my little bro.

Here he comes!

Unfourtunatly my photos when he got into the airport didn't turn out because there was to much jumping around. There will be more photos over the next couple of weeks.

Good to have you here Bro!

Lights On

2010-03-07T23:13:00.000-05:00

I missed the best part of the Northern Lights because I was mesmerized by the dancing and colors. Still I did manage to get a couple of good photos.

Depending on how you view things this could look like a dove or a screaming skull.

Looking straight up at the fading Northern Lights.

We don't have any trees here so I used a power pole as a substitute. The ice fog was coming over the mountains causing the rest of my photos to show the reflection from the Hamlet lights. That is what is causing the red to the left of the photo below. You can see the clouds distorting the Northern Lights in the photo.

Hi Def Blog

2010-03-05T19:40:00.000-05:00

I am not obsessed with my blog. Maybe if I put a third TV to the right. Yaaa.

This is also the 300th post on the blog. Never thought it would last this long.

Cape Dorset

2010-03-05T18:20:00.001-05:00

Back to home and work in Cape Dorset.

Flag outside the Government of Nunavut Regional Office.

Got home just in time for snow.

Odd Views

2010-03-05T11:52:00.001-05:00

Last couple of photos from my trip to Iqaluit. Whenever I was at the Navigator I would toss change onto this light tray that runs the length of the hallway. It seems someone has picked it up since I was last there. To bad they didn't clean it too.

One of the many crazy angles you will find at the Navigator. The piles, the building sits on, are moving and lifting. This is pushing walls, doors, windows and floors into weird angles and lumps.

That is my reflection in the window!

Post for Megan.

2010-03-02T11:01:00.002-05:00

This is a special post just for Megan at the Snow-Covered Hills Blog.

If I can spot spelling and grammar errors it must be bad. LOL.

This sign was posted outside the Caribou Cafe.

Sugary Goodness

2010-03-01T23:25:00.000-05:00

At the Baffin Mayors Forum I overheard a Mayor saying "The surgars good; it keeps you alert to ask more questions."

I try to avoid topics that are close to or about work because bloggers in the North get in trouble for that kind of stuff. So if any of my government readers think this should be taken off because it references the Baffin Mayors Forum and a quote from one unnamed Mayor, let me know and I will remove the post. Personally I don't think this crosses the line.

Favorite Morning Place

2010-03-01T10:56:00.001-05:00

If you are in Iqaluit this is the best place in the world first thing in the morning.

This is the Caribou Cafe outside the Frobisher Inn at the Brown Building.

Busy Day

2010-02-28T18:00:00.002-05:00

Photo taken over Christmas during the candy toss at the Northern Store in Cape Dorset. This is just before the employees come out with the candy. Most of the community was there.

Footprints

2010-02-28T11:18:00.001-05:00

It was dark when I took this photo. Can you see the footprints?

Iqaluit Sunset

2010-02-27T18:00:00.002-05:00

Sunset photo in Iqaluit taken last weekend.