The day began with a chance to explore the remains of a Royal Canadian Mounted Police Station at Dundas Harbor. Established in 1924, it was leased to the Hudson Bay Company in 1933, and finally abandoned after WWII. Guests had a variety of hikes to choose from, returning to the ship chilled from the northwest winds.
In the afternoon, National Geographic Endurance entered Cuming Inlet in search of wildlife. We were rewarded with a small pod of ring seals escorting the ship north into the inlet. Not long after that, the first polar bear of the voyage was sighted on land. The ship maintained a respectful distance, and we all had great views with binoculars and spotting scopes.
Soon, a few muskoxen were also seen up on the bluffs, looking like a cross between a bison and a water buffalo. Guests barely had time to warm up from the muskoxen sighting when a few walruses came into view not far ahead. Once again, camera shutters clicked as everyone donned hats and gloves to go back on deck.
All the tables at dinner were abuzz with excitement as guests traded accounts of what was a very full day of true exploration. But the day wasn’t yet over, and after dinner another polar bear was found along the hillside! And so, we bundled up and grabbed our cameras again.
