Two Nonne in Yellowknife

One of the things we were looking forward to was seeing a few animals we don't see in the mid-Atlantic states.  We were not disappointed, even though there was a "heat wave" in Yellowknife* and one naturalist told us the ptarmigans fly north where it's colder. Ravens These ravens seem to be enjoying hanging out on the street corner at night. Ptarmigans This house had a feeder for these birds who turn snow white in winter.  Can you spot one? Evidence of wolverines We stopped by the local fisheries and wildlife office where we learned they'd bought 3 wolverine pelts from a local trapper just a few hours earlier. *Ironically, during our week in Yellowknife, it was colder at home than it was in Yellowknife, and both the week before we arrived and the week after we left, the temperature in Yellowknife plunged to below -30C.

The dogs at Beck's are well taken care of. There are 200 dogs here. In winter their kibble is 32% protein and 32% fat. We got to take turns mushing. Sally and Mary are the lead dogs.  Blue, beige dog in back, liked to snap at snow while he was running.  The black dog was a loaner, we think.  They are worked well together. Nonna 1 at the helm. Pretty blue eyes. The ubiquitous snowmobile with dogs in the background. Dog food includes ground chicken and fish caught in the lake, both shown here frozen. The chicken is sliced into thin pieces and brought in overnight to thaw.  It's then mixed with water to help keep the dogs hydrated.

There are a number of ice roads across the lakes. With the ice so thick, it makes for a fine road bed. We met a man at the hotel who came up from Saskatoon for a project planning meeting on hauling cement out of a diamond mine. The operation was going to run nonstop using 100 rigs. Here are photos of our trip on one of the ice roads. Preparations for upcoming Snow King Festival. Weight limit sign.

This is a completely revised post.  Nonna 2 got sick during this trip, likely something she was exposed to before departing for Yellowknife.  She was "off her feed" starting Tuesday afternoon, and on Wednesday, after dog sledding, essentially slept nonstop until departure time.  It was on Tuesday that she thought to check her toiletry kit for an important item she usually keeps there, a thermometer.  Alas, it was not in place.  Nonetheless, we're pretty sure she was running a fever beginning Tuesday night. Being sick on vacation (usually planned and saved for so far in advance) is no fun.  So, some thoughts to ponder on foreign travel: Do you know if your insurance card will work in your host country?   Do you know how to access health care in the place you will be visiting? If your only alternative is going to the emergency room, at what point do you decide it's an emergency?      This is what we found to be our situation if w...

Myra and Nonna 1 Nonna 2

  We geared up with our rented outerwear and headed to the lobby for our tour. Nine PM must be the appointed pick up time for such things as the hotel lobby was flooded with scores of Canada Goose parka clad visitors, each group with its own color of parka. My Backyard Tours  runs a small group size tour company. On our tour there were three guests and two hosts. We piled in the van and headed up to a private cabin on a lake. All the cottages here are off the grid.  The short walk from parking to cabin was well lit with solar lights, and the trusty outhouse was pointed out to us.  The cabin was toasty warm when we arrived and lit with propane lights. Host Bill Braden, a writer and photographer, helped folks get their cameras set up, then we went outside to see the sights. The aurora cooperated beautifully. Beginning as a cloudy plume on the horizon, it soon formed an arc spanning the entire sky. The backdrop of pine trees, snow-covered wilderness and one of the...

The airport Polar bear sighting at baggage claim Sweet artwork for parking validation A common sight:  electrical cords leading out to cars. Polar bear license plate. Look who pulled up beside us at the intersection! Sunset comes early here.  This is perhaps 3:30 or 4 PM. Explorer Hotel lobby...

The hotel room and breakfast