Canadian Rangers

These guys, and others like them patrol the most isolated parts of Canada maintaining a military presence, performing search and rescue, and generally keeping an eye on the vast wilderness that makes up most of this country. They had had a tough ride in from Wakham bay due to the overcast sky and very flat light, which makes it hard to travel on the snow, but they were all still smiling and were very obliging when one of the geologists here asked them to line up for a photo.

The Rangers Visit camp

We had a visit from The Canadian Rangers today. They were on a patrol from Wakham Bay to Saluit and had trouble with a Skidoo, so stopped here to fix it and have a cup of tea. then they went on their way.

The Canadian Rangers are part-time reservists who provide a millitary presence in remote parts of Canada.

Pingualuit Crater

++Update, this image has recently become quite popular, and I have no idea why. If you have come here after searching for this image please take a minute to tell me why.++

I managed to get a seat on the left side of the plane, without a wing in the way, so I was able to get a shot of the Pingualuit (New Quebec) Crater. This crater is 3.44 km in diameter, about 250m deep and is about 1.4 million years old. You can also see it here on google maps.

Off to Raglan again

yep, after two weeks home I am on the road again. Today I flew from St. John's to montreal, tomorrow I'll be heading up to Sunny Raglan again.

Home again

I made it home early on April the 5th, just in time for Michelle's Birthday. I now seem to be suffering from a touch of Raglanitis, Just a bit of a cold, not the full blown respiratory infection that seemed to be going around camp. Just hope I get over it soon so i can enjoy being home before i have to head out again.

Meringue

Snow here does not behave like snow in the south, it is not light and fluffy, now is it wet and sloppy. Here it is hard as concrete, you can walk on it without sinking, no need for snow shoes. The snow here is made up of single crystals of ice, not flakes, these are blown by the wind and form some amazing shapes. Here a valley is slowly being filled in by the massive Meringue like structures.

Drill Parking lot

Since not all the drills are running, some remain parked for the winter. Snow here seems to stick to everything, not because it is wet, it isn't, it sticks because it is very fine and carried by the wind it slowly builds up on everything.

Frozen porter

This is the porter the drillers use to move equipment around, it is currently on a winter holiday. It has been parked here since november, in a very exposed location so snow hasn't gathered around it very much, but snow has stuck to it.