Amanda and I finished working at the rosette the night before at 4 a.m. At around 9:30 am, I heard my name announced on the P.A. system saying that I was expected at the flight deck?! Rushing out of bed, I’ve got a call from Gary saying that the captain and he would like to scout out Banks Island for a possible excursion for the scientists to hike the highest point in the Western Arctic, Durham Heights (724 m), before ending the leg. Nurse, Ève Bolduc, and I were honoured to be invited to join them on the helicopter ride. Setting out at 10 am, the helicopter headed towards the rugged southern cliffs of Banks Island. The landscape was very dramatic with high-rising cliffs bordering plateaus carved out by rivers and dotted with ponds. Several herds of muscox and flocks of snow geese freely roamed the land. The helicopter landed on a beach where we enjoyed the remarkable scenery then headed to Durham Heights where we walked up the steep edges covered in gravels and pebbles. I have collected a lovely bouquet of wild flowers. The excursion ended with a sandwich lunch on the beach with a view of the Amundsen at a distance. We have identified a location on a beach where it is safe to land for the planned expeditions of other scientists in the coming 2 days.
When we got back around 13:30, everyone was busy clearing out fridges and started clearing the lab. After dinner, we have a mad hatter’s party where everyone made interesting hats out of leftover laboratory supplies, paper, duct tape, towels and clothes. I made one with origami crane, fox and whale. There were only 2 rosettes and everyone came out to the party and; again, lots of dancing :lol: .
Beach on Banks Island (photo courtesy of Ève Bolduc)