Arctic Vacation, Somerset Island, Canada: July 7, 2019

Near the entrance to Flatrock Falls and looking west

Every morning before breakfast the staff presents us with our activity choices. Since it was warm and no wind, Dan and I signed up to kayak to Flatrock Falls on the east side of Cunningham Inlet. I didn't want to take a chance that it wouldn't be offered again due to weather changes. Weather changes quickly in the Arctic.

Topo Map of land around Cunningham Inlet on Somerset Island

There were four guest kayakers and Richard and Chris as guides. Once we got across the Inlet and pushed our kayaks onto the beach, Richard showed us the remains of a very old whale bone sled which would have been used by the Thule (200BC to 1600AD). Thule, ancestors of the Inuit, populated coastal Alaska by the 11th century and by the 13th century had spread through northern Canada to northwestern Greenland. The long whale bones used as sled rails are missing and were probably reused by whomever made this sled.

Flatrock Falls just around the corner

After lunch, we kayaked the inlet a little farther out toward the ice.

In the distance I saw a loon swimming and a seal on the ice but sadly no belugas anywhere. Back at the lodge the weather was already changing.