Still at Tugtilik
Umiak
Mike Jaques
Sun 7 Aug 2022 18:18
Today it is warm and raining, as a result you won’t be surprised to know
that we are having something of a rest day. In fact we are expecting some wind
to pass through and hoping that normal service will be resumed tomorrow
afternoon. The weather is usually very stable as the area is generally in high
pressure.
There was an excursion to the lake and some moderate salmon fishing (
three, I let the fourth go as he/she was small ). As the temperature has
increased the bergs in the fjord have been dropping bits off and while we were
having a good time ashore in the rain, Tim and Olly were fighting off bergy
bits. This can be tricky when you are anchored and requires the use of the
infamous bamboo poles and the bow thruster. Eventually we moved to the other
side of the fjord. I expect they will follow us.
Yesterday was good. Olly and I set off to climb the peak directly opposite.
After a scramble up to the glacier we climbed what was like a Scottish grade 1
gully for 300m and then scree and boulders before a fine ridge to the summit at
1100m. We were surprised that there was no cairn on the summit given that the
other peaks in the area had them. Maybe a first ascent. We then descended
another ridge back to the glacier, making the prize of a traverse. Meanwhile Tim
and Gringo set off skiing and skinned the glacier below us and then we met them
as they ascended our descent. final descents for both of us were down the
glacier, us crampons and Tim and Gringo skiing. Not quite though as much
to Tim’s surprise, Gringo announced he had only skied for four days
previously. Their tracks had a contrasting style.
Next we are hoping to go into the arm of this fjord or even a bit further
North. |