Mt Harvey Summit

This is from a few months ago, but I just found it on my Camera.

Mt Harvey is a lowish mountain by Lions bay, you use the same trail as the lions. Its a great little day trip that for some reason sees little to no traffic. Considering its only a few minutes outside of Vancouver it doesn't really make sense to me. I ran up there one day after getting my new Dynafit TLT5P boots and I have to say that they are the most amazing ski touring boots that I have every used!! if you can make them fit you there worth every penny!!!!!
So I think that it took me about 5hrs round trip and that included running out of water and having to try and eat noone tablets with out water, (this is not recomended and almost casuse me to puke) to see if I could stop the cramping in my legs. I remember the weather was said to be cold and windy, so I packed and dresses accordingly and ended up with warm, sunny little to no wind until the summit. Overall it was a great day with my dog keon out in the mountains. The amazing views off the summit make it worth doing alone, and there is some nice skiing in the area as well. I'm sure with the huge snow base this year there is still lots of time to get up there and enjoy a mellow spring day on the north shore mountains.

Da Boys,

So there are 2 young lads that we have been fortunte enough to get as roommates, we like them. Ryan and Joe are good dudes. We all get allong well and its making for a fun house. just wanted to give them a quick bit of recongnition,

Toonik Tyme

This Dog got a ride to the start line in his owners Kamatik pulled behind there Snow Mobile. It was a good tactic as I think this pooch finished a solid 4th.
The Unassuming guy in the Hockey Jersey took home Second
Kellie being a Inukshuk on the Sea Ice
Skijoring Race Start,
Kellie getting a little Cold at the Dog Race -20 with Heavy winds gets chilly Quick.

So Its been a few days since I have got around to writhing a post, so I will quickly fill you all in on whats been going down. 10 days ago Kellie arrived after what was kind of an ugly flight schedual from Vancouver. Its so great to have her here, and she has been settling in well. Shes been filling her days by cooking me amazing food, and wandering around the sites of town. I cant say how happy it makes me that she has come here!!!! She has also learned how to make herself a killer Mocha from the serve your self Tim Hortons at North Mart.

Also we have been going to the gym as much as we can, and have started the 5,3,1 lifting program. Bench press was a little rough for me, but Kellie has been making it look easy!!!

Its Toonik Tyme, and what a time it is!!! Things at work have slowed down for a few days and the timing couldn't have been better. Every year for the past 65 years Iqaluit has its annual spring Festival. There are allot of people in town at the moment and lots to do. Yesterday was the uphill snowmobile race that we unfortionally missed but we were told that it was won by a local rider on a stock 800cc Skidoo. Today Kellie and I got to attend several different events. We Started by going to the Craft Fair, witch was much larger then Expected lots of local artisans from Iqaluit and around the north gathered to Show there wears. The jackets and traditional clothing was very beautiful. There was a nice Fox trimmed jacket that unfortunately was a little small for Kellie.

After the Craft Fair we trundled over to the country market, were the local hunters were to be selling meat. It was to start at 12, noon, we got there at 12:30 to find nothing left. apearntly there were several Kamatiks and trucks full of meat, but by the time we got there all that was left was a few huge arctic char. Disappointed we headed home to warm up.

After a quick rest and warm up we headed over to the Skijoring race. If you like dogs and skiing this is a must see. I also see a Harness in Keon's future. If you have never seen a race its cool. The start was a bit of a tangle of dogs and skiers tied together by ropes, but one they started it seemed to become more organized and less chaotic, that being said one lady did end up having to realese her dog with in the first hundred meters. She got it back after her dog fallowed the rest of the teams back to the finish line. This was a great event to watch but both of us were some what under dressed and had to take refuge at the tourist centre before making the walk home.

After once again warming up, and layering up we were off to are last event of the day. At the high school they were having the Bannock and Tea cook off, Inuit Games, and the Seal skinning competition. Kellie took part in the Inuit games and placed 2nd in what became an international event. Supper fun to watch!!! lots of laughs!!!

We didnt see much of the cook off, but we did see extreme Jump Roping, one guy got taken out by the Caribou skin!!!

The Speed that the guys skinned the Seal was amazing, the more amazing, part was how fast the local women were in there taking the meat, and what ever else they wanted to make the big feast.

Over all it was a great day, and a great show the local culture, the festivities are going on all week and were both looking forward to all of the activities. Also, the photo at the bottom is a local dog that we call Lion Face. We really like Old lion Face.

Kellie and the Seal before it was Skinned and Carved up.
This Little Dog was just trying to stay warm.
Kellie in the finals of the Net Game, She took home 2nd after the tie breaker between her and the Girl in the green Sweater,missing out on winning a pair

of heated slippers.
Extreme Skipping Inuit Style. There is a Caribou Skin tied around the middle, this took a few people out
Lion Face King of all the dogs!! He's a solid dog!!

Sunday morning running club Arctic Style,

My new Friend,

So after working some 86hrs this week the boys and I have decided to take it a little easy and have the morning off. What a treat it was. I planned to have a nice sleep in, but by 7 the sun was blazing into my room and sleep time was over. So I made the best of the morning and got myself sorted to go for a run. After a quick drive up to the work site to get my Sunglasses, I got changed and headed out. My house is right on Frobisher Bay, So I headed out and started running the Skidoo trail along the "beach". About 1500m in the trails hooked off on the ice. I fallowed. And what an amazing time it was. I have to say that off all the Mountains I have stood on top and all the places I have been, going for my first run on the frozen ocean might be one of the coolest things that I have ever done. The First 400-500m is really broken up and rough, with car sized blocks of ice that make a little maze to get through. Apparently this is caused by the 10m tide that the bay gets. but once your past that its just flat and smooth. As far as you can see is just ice. It amazing!!!! I have never experienced anything like!!!

As I was running along heading towards the town of Apex, in the next bay over, lost in the shock and awe of my surroundings, I felt a little nudge on the back of my left leg. I just about shat myself with fear, as there was a huge white (I though it was a wolf) dog at my feet. Iqaluit has more stray dogs then there are people in town. Often sled dog teams are just let go when they are no longer wanted or needed, and with the price of dog food being so high, family pets are often left to roam and scrounge for food as well. So I guess this cute guy, wanted to come for a run as well. After I realized he was supper friendly and just wanted a belly scratch, he fallowed me on the rest of my run. He was great company and once We got back close to Iqaluit another one of his K9 friends joined for a few hundred meters until they both headed back in towards town. I think I ran about 9-10km. It was a great way to start my day and recharge.

Heading back to Iqaluit after my Ice run im just about to go back through the Tidal Ice maze.

settling in Iqaluit

so I have been here for about 2 and half weeks now and im settling into the flow of the town. Ive been going to the gym a few times a week and, mixing in some runs for good measure. Running on the packed ice roads really makes you work on your pose running tech in a hurry. I also think that every time I go to the gym im going to be told that its my last. I really have forgot what a "normal" gym is like. I really cant understand how people think that some the movements they are doing are beneficial, but to each there own. Today I was doing some overhead squats and when I would jerk the bar off my shoulders and stomp my landing I think all 15 people in the gym looked at me like I was some kind of freak. I was also told that its harder to bench all the way to your chest, so not to bother, since I would be able to life more if I didnt. I didnt know what to say so I kindly thanked the guy for the advice and carried on with what I was doing. I think I then blew his mind by doing a 10minute amrap with pullups, HSPU and double unders in it........ After he said hes never seen some one do a Handstand push up before..... But over all its a nice place run mostly by Volunteers and there seem to be some cool folks there..... Mind you not that any one talks to each other...

So this time next week, Miss Kellie Jane Moore will be joining me up here in the arctic, and I have to say that I cant wait.

Other than that things are going well up here, and it looks like im going to be staying about a month longer than expected.

Boz

Iqaluit

so I have now been in the north for about 4 days, and for the most part things are going very well. The town of Iqaluit is a strange place. You are in Canada kind of. The money and government buildings are the only things that really remind you that you are still in Canada every thing Else is a little different. Almost all the signage is in English and Inuktiut, witch has its on Alphabet, you are as likely to meet a Skidoo at an intersection as a car, and for the most part lots of the little laws that we normally fallow like seat belts either don't exist or there just not enforced. Its an interesting place.
As for work, its rather basic and boring. I am essentially building additional basement suits into some new townhouses. For the most part its a good crew that I'm working with and there easy to get along with. For the time being I have a house to myself. The weather has been chilly by local standards (-30ish most days) but not really that cold. Having the sun shine ever day makes a big difference. Im going to see if I can borrow a camera tomorrow and get some photos to post, as well Im planning to go check out the local gym.

Boz

The Journey continues with an early start. leaving my Mothers house around 545 this morning was a little harsh on my normal wake up routine but none the less it was ok. I arrived to the Edmonton air port to find that the place was a total zoo. I have never seen such a long lineup for airport security. That being said I have also never seen such an efficient airport security. So I was off. My flight to Yellowknife was uneventful. In Yellowknife i changed flights and was seated beside a lovely lady who spent 7 years in Iqaluit during the late 70s and early 80s. During her time there she was nurse and eventually became a Counselor/social worker. She has been full of interesting facts and stories about the area and I feel that I am a little more prepared for what to expect. At the moment she is returning to the area working with the Government delegates working on the public school fiasco.
I am currently flying over the Hudson's bay, after a quick stop in Rankin Inlet. Given that it was -30 outside and we were only going to be on the ground for about 20minutes i didn't bother to go outside. My quick view of Rankin is that its cold and, flat and windy. Maybe on my way back I will get to spend a few minutes there. Since leaving Edmonton the land scape has gone from wide open prairie to wide open tundra. I cant describe how big and open the north is. Everything is still fully frozen and I cant tell if its tundra or frozen ocean that we are flying over. Its just all white and flat. Its one of the craziest landscapes that I have ever seen.
One a quick note, I must say that First Air has to be one of the only full service airlines left. Between Edmonton and Yellowknife I was served a lovely breakfast, and then offered another between Yellowknife and Rankin. Now I was just served lunch with the offer of complimentary wine. If you ever find yourself needing to fly some were in the Artic I have to highly recommend First Air.

Boz

so it begins,

less than 48hrs ago if you would have asked me were I would be sitting right now I would have told you that I would be in hanging out at the crew house in Whitehorse of my now ex employer. But I'm not. I'm sitting in the Edmonton international air port, waiting for my Mom to come and pick me up. Let me start from the beginning.

Yesterday around 1130 in the morning I was starting to get my self packed for a summer of working in the bush in the northern Yukon. My phone beeped to tell me I had an email, It was from my employer. It was more or less saying that things I had been offered were no longer going to happen. After several conversations it became obvious that we were not going to come to some sort of a contract agreement in the next 24hrs, and that I wouldn't be getting on my flight to Whitehorse. This was a very hard decision for me to make for many reasons. First I was walking away from allot of money, and had no other job to go to. And second I have some good personal friends that worked there that are going to be affected by my decision. But at the end of the day I have to look out for myself . So in a flurry of stress and emotions I managed to find a 8-10 week contract up in Iqaluit Nunavut. This is were my adventure begins.

Since I was more or less ready to go to some other cold place in the north, it didn't take me long to pack my things, leaving me some time to hang out with my Girl Friend and my dog before drifting off. When I awoke I had confirmed flights, going from Vancouver to Cow Town Cow town to Edmonton, (were I am now), and then tomorrow i will be off to Yellowknife, Rankin Inlet and then finally Iqaluit were I will be for the next 8-10 weeks. Lucky for me my mother lives here in Edmonton so I get to spend a few hours with her before heading back to the airport early tomorrow..... Truthfully I don't know what to expect or what to think of this trip. Its long enough that leaving Kellie at the airport was one of the hardest things Ive had to do but short enough that there is already a light at the end of the tunnel. Wish me luck and who knows maybe Iqaluit is a cool town, and this turns into something more, maybe its a quick solution to a current problem.

Boz