Igloolik, at last

Today started off nice and early--5:30 AM.  We got to the airport by 6:30 AM, as the workers told us to, to catch our 7:30 AM flight to Igloolik.  But that's not quite what happened.  Staff did not arrive at the airport until after 6:30, and then they had to clear the runway of the snow we got last night.  We ended up boarding the plane around 8:45... unless I read my watch wrong and it was 9:45, which is totally reasonable.  Unlike most terminals you are probably used to, in the Arctic there are very few "security check" places.  At most of the airports (Iqaluit included) you simply drop off your checked baggage, grab your carry-on, exit the airport building, walk over to your plane, and climb on.

Ashley mentioned to our cab driver this morning that gas prices were very low ($1.169/L  Don't believe me?  Look for yourself!).  He explained to us that they receive gas by tankers that cannot come up in the winter time.  So the price they pay for it the previous summer is the price they sell it at all year long.

Gas price, Iqaluit.

We flew from Iqaluit to Hall Beach, which took about 1.5 hours.  I took some photos along the way.  As we got closer to Hall Beach, the ground was more snow covered and the clouds, more numerous.

Out the plane window, fairly close to Iqaluit.  You can see the rocky ground poking out from under the snow in some areas.

Further from Iqaluit.  Now the snow completely covers the mountains.

Closer to Hall Beach.  Complete cloud cover.

 Hall Beach, despite its name, is not a place you would want to wear your bathing suit.  When we left Iqaluit, the display said Hall Beach was at -33° C!  Thankfully it warmed up a bit before we got there.

Hall Beach, NU airport.

Boarding the plane at Hall Beach after refueling.

 Immediately after take-off from Hall Beach, we took a sharp left hand turn, which put my window looking straight down into the Arctic Ocean.  The ice is already starting to break up around this area, which means hibernating polar bears have already came out of their winter dens.  I really hope I get to see one--from a distance, of course.  The flight from Hall Beach over to Igloolik took about 45 minutes.  Igloolik (in Inuktitut: ᐃᒡᓗᓕᒃ) means "place of houses".

Ice breaking up outside Hall Beach.

Igloolik airport.

When I got to my room, I was surprised to see two beds, despite having it to myself.  Then I looked out the window to see the real shock--Igloolik's version of a snowplough.

My bedroom.

The people of Igloolik (and many other northern towns) use summer construction machinery, such as this loader, to move snow.

We are staying at Inns North, which is attached to a co-op restaurant.  The restaurant reminds me of an old diner.  To be exact, it reminds me of the diner in Noëlville, ON.  Most of the food is hamburgers, french fries, poutine, chicken fingers, other deep fried things, and basic sandwiches.  After lupper (lunch combined with supper) and a bit of a break, Ashley, Niall and I went out to explore the town.  First, we went over to the grade school, where we will be teaching next week.

The grade school with a snowmobile in front.

Igloolik's grade school.

The people on the snowmobile were messing around a bit.  I didn't see what happened, but we heard someone shout "Help me" and went over.  The driver got the snowmobile stuck between a snowbank and the building, thankfully no one was hurt.  We walked around the town a little more before heading inside, catching the tail end of Jeopardy, and playing Rummy.  Anyone know of another good 3-player card game?

Who needs paint?  Just graffiti the buildings with snow drifts!

The high school, which is near the edge of town.

The packed-snow covered roads are great for snowmobiling on, but are difficult to differentiate from the surrounding snowbanks.  The person driving us from the airport to the inn swore a couple times as she overshot a turn or nearly turned too early.

Snowmobilers coming down the road.

A couple houses.

Ashley walking towards a house on the coast.

The shoreline of town.