Why should you visit the
Arctic? Why go to Nunavik? What is the appeal of Ungava Bay?
Great questions. I’ll tell you what I experienced and why I loved my trip to Ungava Bay Eco-Camp. First, it was remote. There are no permanent settlements on the islands, and the camp is seasonal, only open for a few months of the year. When we hiked or biked away from camp, we knew there were no other people around other than anyone still back at camp. It was extraordinary. I still remember the silence of the place when we all sat quietly after biking to a tranquil spot.
The nature is astounding! Tundra is much more colorful than many imagine—including myself before this trip. Icebergs and tides make the ocean an ever-entertaining place. Add some seals, perhaps a beluga or a polar bear, and it is incredible. The tides in the area are some of the biggest, changing more than forty feet from high to low tide. Watching (from the boat) what amounts to a horizontal waterfall as the tides recede and rapids develop is amazing. The sound still rings in my ears.
And nature can surprise you: I almost stepped on a lemming (it was much more shocked than I was), we surprised an Arctic wolf swimming between two islands (a rare sight), a variety of seals were around the camp and out swimming among the islands, and we even got a taste of the Northern Lights, the Aurora Borealis.
And as wonderful as all those things were, my favorite aspect was learning more about Inuit culture. The camp is Inuit-owned and run; your guide will be Inuit when you head out of camp on a hike or bike ride, as will the boat driver, the cook at the lodge...everyone. Their generational knowledge of the area is astounding. Watching them appreciate their land and sharing it was a lovely experience. Asking them questions—about their families, traditions, anything—was a heartwarming experience I will always treasure. Hearing tales of their childhood—experiencing Nunavik and learning from their elders—and then having them share that with me was truly astounding. And they even prepared some traditional food for us. Truly a unique experience you can’t find elsewhere.
Inspired?
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