July 12, 2008
by Olympia
 Today we woke up at 7:30 to go have breafast. Breakfast in the South Camp Inn in Resolute is from 7:00 to 8:00. That night I slepped with Alexa so we came down together. After breakfast, we went to this place that was really, really big, and it had two rooms: one room was for food, and the other was for speeches. So when we went there, we had to be silent to hear the speeches, but we also heard Inuits throat sing. It was so cool, it sounds like instruments! We also saw Inuit dance. Tey danced so good, it seemed like they were practicing for a long time (which they probably did). Well when the science was spoken, I fell asleep. “And then water here is 1,000 feet deep blah, blah, blah!!! It was really boring! After that, we ( Alexa, Mommy, Mark Ainhoa, Flaam, Matty and me) had lunch. When me, Mark and Alexa went outside for lunch, a little boy came up to us and said: “Ask me about my weener!” And me Mark and Alexa laughed so hard!
After that, people over 15 can go on a boat called the Icebreaker. It was so unfair!! But then they managed to get Kuria, Ainhoa, Flaam, and all the grown ups, but Matty. Alexa, Mark, Matty and me went back to the hotel. When we got to the hotel, Alexa, Matty and me went to this store to get journals for Ainhoa and Flaam. Mark went with Beth on the ATV’s. We did not find journals. And then Matty told us that in an hour we were all going to go on a hike up a mountain that was really high. So when Alexa and me came to my room, we decided to take a nap because we did not want to go on the hike. Get it? Well if we sleep we would not go on the hike. So I had like a little apartment in the hotel, with stairs and we were waiting for my mom and we were practicing what we will do when she came. When we were practicing the 5th time, she came up the stairs and we were jumping on the bed when she came. But we did not go on the hike after that; two really nice girls came named Blinda and Sapora. We were laughing so hard. After that we had dinner and ice cream. Night night. Sleep tight. Mind the bugs don’t bite. And if they do, catch them tight, and they won’t bite another night!
| July 11, 2008
by Sebastian Copeland
 Iqaluit/Resolute
Fly in from Kimmirut after home stay with Inuit. Early rise and short twin otter flight to Iqaluit for a few hours layover. Just time to reconfigure packs for the trip up North. Pack efficiently, and plan for the ascent of Mt Barbeau, after the kids return home July 25th.
This only Luc, Matty and I will do, though there is talk that Ainoha might join us.
4 ½ hour flight lands us in Resolute. Could have been called Destitute.
Frontier town. Mojave desert feel—desert landscape with sea ice in background. Surreal. Dusty. And WARM! Today sets a historical record high of 19C degrees! The same day last year had set a record high of 17.5C degree… Quite literally shorts and flip flop weather. Completely unprepared for these temperatures, as I have with me mostly winter gear. It is disconcerting to be in this desert—it receives less precipitation than the Sahara desert.
Cowboy sensibility, but instead scientists with Inuit as Indians. Sun never sets here, and it never gets dark in the summer months: 24 hour daylight. Very friendly community—no crime. We stay at the South Camp Inn, which is run by the very kind Aziz, who happens to be Beth’s father! Lots of human waste: washing machine, cars, computers. No Maytag friendly repairman in these parts, one can gather! Functions somewhat outside the law in the way isolated outposts do, and not the worst for it. Friendly people; no visible law enforcement. Kuria, again, is quick to make friends with local Inuit; as is Boogie, Alexa and Amber. Tomorrow promises to be a great program, with the arrival of the Canadian Fisheries and Oceans Canada Coast guard ship, the Louis S. St Laurent, in from doing field research. We timed our trip to be there for that arrival, to bring a scientific dimension to the kids experience in the Arctic. There will be a presentation of the scientists work, as well as a visit on the ship. | July 10, 2008
by Kuria
 Today we had to go on with our expedition, so we got up pretty early and rafted towards Kimmirut, and a man named Louly helped us tow the rafts across a lake. Louly is Pascale’s husband and they are both Matty’s friend. As Pascale went to unload the truck with our luggage, Matty directed us to the town with a little hike. We had lunch and then had an opportunity to walk around town, and meet some local kids our age. We met some really friendly people who took us where they go swimming and where they play soccer. We went back to Louly and Pascale’s house and had Caribou for dinner. I loved it. After dinner the local kids showed us where they play poker, but I chose not to play because they are really good. It’s interesting how they take poker really seriously and when they have no more money they trade. We had a home stay with Inuit people, her name is Latie: a single mother as well as a grandmother. She is a very swet lady, and we also found out that she is also related to Beth, when we got there and started introducing ourselves. | July 10, 2008
by Flaam
 We woke up to find our entire tent covered in mosquitoes. That was quite impressive. Last minute (in Greenwich) I bought mosquitoe nets with my mom, so I am really thankful for that. I had never seen so many mosquitoes in my life. Today I was a little “down”, kind of out of energy and missing home. No choice though, you have to keep paddling. When we arrived in Kimmirut, Pascale let us have lunch at her house which was really nice. In the afternoon, while many were showering and taking baths, I went with Boogie, Nicole, my dad, and Sebastian on a boat to ride around the bay. Though we did not see any polar bears, we had a great time. We saw seals and the icebergs were incredible!
For dinner, I had caribou. Finally everyone went ot sleep in a family. I don’t really feel I got the “experience” I stayed at Pascale’s house.
| July 7, 2008
by Sebastian Copeland
We have spent saturday in Ottawa finalizing preparations. Luc, Mary and I spend our afternoon shopping for breakfasts, lunch and snacks for 15 days and 15 people. The proportions are daunting: 27 kilos of cereals, 500 power bars, etc. Nicole, Olympia and Kuria rush to the airport to meet Mark, who flies in from Italy. Paige arrives at the same time with Alexa, Ashley and Amber. Flaam and Ainoha are busy re- arranging clothes and distributing the Napapijri lot that made it: but 2/3 of our shipment got stuck in customs, and I had to leave Los Angeles without it! The rest will be hand delivered to us but not before the 11th, after our Soper river excursion. The weather here is warm and beautiful; it is hard to imagine that we will be in winter clothes in 24 hours. John Coo from Green Cross Canada and his wife Alex give us a warm, welcoming dinner--seeing us of in style!
Post dinner, we spend another hour removing excessive packaging to reduce extra weight from the large containers we will be checking in to our flight to Iqaluit in the morning. It is 2 AM. We will meet tomorrow in the lobby at 6:30 AM! | July 7, 2008
by Ashley
 We woke up and went for breakfast at Matty’s house. After we went to the science museum and learned a lot about cool things (plants and ice). We went back and talked about the center and then we went there. We watched a movie about sfety in the Arctic. We wnt back to Matty’s house where we spent a long time packing. Then Ainhoa and Flaam helped weigh the luggage to see if we were 2900 pounds. Fortunately we were close (3180). We went to the beach and got stuck in quicksand a lot. Flaam saved us. On our way back we say dead whale blubber. We all got on the roof and jumped. Flaam and Kuria took pictures of me jumping off the roof. Mark made us crack up on the porch. Then Matty told us that we were leaving. At the airport we played hang games. Then my mom and Mary bought homemade pizzas. Mark was hilarious during the games. Then we heard that we might no make it because there wasn’t enough room in the plane. Then Sebastian and Luc arranged it so we could go. The girl pilot was really mean and rude. We landed safely by the river and went on to bring the luggage really far away, and it was heavy especially the rafts were 95 pounds. Then Matty set up our tent as demonstration. Then we snacked and went to bed. | July 6, 2008
by Alexa
 Today was one long day, but it sure was a fun-filled one too. Boogie (Olympia), Nicole (her mom), and me where all sitting next to each other on the plane ride from Ottowa to Iqualuit. Boogie and I had such a blast on the plane ride, we practically giggled the whole 3 ½ hours. When we finally landed we had four hours until our next flight, but that never happed because of the terrible weather. Instead we went to Matty’s wonderful home and spent most of the day there. While we were at her house Brian (our cameraman) interviewed me and I think I did a very good job, and I have noticed that I am not “scared” of being in front of a TV camera, which is very good. The reason why I am not being afraid of talking in front of a camera is because I have a dream about being in movies and now I know I am not worried. YES!!!!! All of us kids laughed and played all day long. I feel as if all of us are brothers and sisters. We have all became a big family and it is so much fun. This trip has started out to being a trip of a lifetime and I am thrilled about everything that has happened and that is going to happen. This is such a great beginning of a wonderful trip!!! | July 5, 2008
By Luc Hardy
 Ottawa – a beautiful capital. Big buildings that were built to last are made of thick stone walls. Their spiraling turrets lighten the structure as they reach toward the sky. The oxidized copper roofs create an organic green contrast against the blue sky. The weather is perfect. The air is the temperature as our skin. We drive from the airport along a beautiful canal that creates a meandering lifeline through the city. Bicycles and runners and strollers move along the sidewalks share by walkers intoxicated with the peaceful mood. We toured the city with John Coo, our host from GreenCross Canada, as he drove us from the airport to the hotel and appointed out those ‘not to miss spots’ like only a local can do.
At the hotel our group begins to take shape as members of the expedition arrive through out the day. The tasks are delegated as we rush to take advantage of our last opportunity to gather supplies. Nicole coordinates the arrivals of Mark and the Zangrillos; Luc, Sebastian and Mary shop for food; Flaam and Ainhoa manage the fitting of gear from Napa Pijri and distribution of sunglasses from Oakley; Olympia is our meet greet master (since she has already met all of the young explorers) she handles introductions wth ease while Brian interviews the explorers about their expectations of the adventure that is about to unfold.
Meanwhile the Coo family has spent the day preparing a feast. At 8 pm, we sit together at a long narrow candle lit table decorated with flags representing our many nationalities brought together at a long narrow candle lit table decorated with flags representing our many nationalities brought together by GreenCross and Pax Arctica. Sebastian leads our toast – to our hosts and the beautiful Arctic we are about to encounter!
Learn more from Luc at his personal Arctic Ambassador's expedition Pax Arctica's blog. |
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Edited by kate_sheofsky