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Northwest
Following our 2006 and 2007 successes, the 2008 Arctic summer will see our third attempt to sail through the Northwest Passage, the long-sought sea route linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through Canadas far north. Over 13 days, well aim to forge a westerly route as far as the ice will allow. Our voyage will be an exploration of remoteness and sea ice and of all the life that the High Arctic supports. Wildlife is abundant, and were likely to meet polar bear and walrus; musk ox and Arctic fox. And from the water well see astonishing birdlife and possibly even narwhals, the legendary tusked whale.
A scant century after Roald Amundsens first successful voyage through the Northwest Passage, well make our own bid to traverse one of the worlds most elusive sea routes
Starting at the eastern end of the Passage, well push through into Larsen Sound, where the permanent polar pack ice bottlenecks its been the nemesis of many past explorers. We sail southwards through the Arctic Archipelago, through Bellot Strait to Point Zenith, marking the most northerly point of Canadas mainland. These waters are renowned for challenging navigation, rapidly changing conditions and diverse wildlife. Well attempt a landing at Victory Point on King William Island where a cairn provides the only written clue to the fate of explorer, John Franklin and his men, who disappeared in this area in 1845.
ExpEdition LEAdER
David McGonigal
David is an award-winning travel writer and the author/editor of more than a dozen books, including Antarctica the Complete Story, the most comprehensive single book ever published on Antarctica, which he co-wrote with Dr Lynn Woodworth (another of our ship-board experts). A Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, David has completed over 50 voyages to the Antarctic and Arctic as leader, lecturer and photographer. In Australia, he has lectured on polar photography and convened two courses on the polar regions for Sydney University.
20 // PEREGRINE
Photo: Graham Charles
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