ELLESMERE ISLAND

“Tourists would rave over this scenery.”
-- Douglas Robertson, 1931, while visiting Ellesmere by ship

SPECIAL NOTE:

The store is open! You can now buy books, calendars, prints and the Sledding Equipment List with one-click shopping, via Paypal. Just go to the Store link at the top of this page. Jerry's latest book, Arctic Eden, based on his travels on Ellesmere, Axel Heiberg and Devon Islands, is now available.

February 8

Some unpublished Ellesmere images:

Spring mirage, Buchanan Bay

Camped on the icecap at the foot of Barbeau Peak, just before climbing the highest mountain in Canada and the US east of the Rockies.

Arctic hares often assume cat-like positions.

Alexandra in Fram Haven, explorer Otto Sverdrup's first wintering spot.

The grave of Niels Petersen, who died of scurvy in 1876 on the Nares expedition. Located near Alert.

First night on Ellesmere: Aug. 1986. Time, just after midnight. Gotta love it.

January 18, 2012

The New York Times published an article yesterday about Jon Turk and Eric Boomer's circumnavigation of Ellesmere. It's always interesting to review the comments following a mainstream article like this one on arctic travel. Most were supportive -- "Good work", "You're living my dream," etc. Predictably, a small number of negative remarks came from the No Tomfoolerys --sober paterfamilias types who seem to regard adventure as a tacit rejection of the life that they themselves have chosen. You always run into a few of these; they are also the ones who write angry letters to newspapers about search and rescue costs, but find nothing contradictory about contributing to Medicare for smokers and overweight people.