Baffin: Day 11 - 5th day of walking - the big push

Because of our extra day visiting Asgard, we need to catch up a day if we want to meet our boat in time.

So today is a 20km push, from Glacier Lake to Summit Lake and then onwards to Thor Camp.

We start 15min earlier than usual, at 08:15am. As usual there’s a big moraine to pass. It connects the two lakes. So up we go on rocks again with the extra worry about the weight.

After the moraine we follow Summit Lake to its ends and to the beginning of the Weasel River valley which will accompany us until we exit the park.

Summit Lake is the official top of the pass. The pass is called Akshayuk.

Two encounters along the way: massive caribou antlers abandoned on the rock, and a lovely, maybe a bit lonely, arctic hare. Very rare to spot.

Along the way we also learn that the rock markings which we are following to stay on the right path are called “Inukshuk”, and they are meant to emulate the shape of a person.

In 4 hours we cross the Caribou River and make the Summit Lake refuge.

Lovely spot with two chairs offered by the Canadian Park authorities. Perfect place for lunch and a bit of sunbathing.

Forgot to mention that the day is gorgeous, and the shorts are out again.

There is also an unexpected treat. Celine has produced some jelly overnight….!!!! And she is now offering as a refreshment.

30 min break and it is the next 10 km along the Weasel.

We’re supposed to go downhill but the glaciers and rivers on the side create additional moraines for us to climb up to and descend from.

While we walk. Celine explains that the Inuit originally had no surname just their name.

For example the Auyuittuq Park is named after the first Inuit who established this route across the pass. His name was just Auyuittuq.

The adoption of a surname was forced by the Canadian government. This was better than the original idea which was to assign to each individual Inuk a number.

Not much to report until camp, more river crossings, more moraines. 

We get to camp at about 5:30pm. As per the name is just below Thor with his massive overhang which is towering over us.

Because of its overhang climbing Thor is also regarded as a feat of mountain climbing. Apparently the guy who succeeded spent 56 days on the face.

In camp, the group we passed two days earlier are there. We are relegated to the lower campsite. The good news is that it is close to the river. Great time to try my luck at fishing.

The river is still running fast but there are a couple of slow current pools where I can fish. I lose a streamer on a rock but again no fish.

Because the camp is occupied, it is dinner “plein air” rather than in the emergency cabin. Amazing surprise: Celine has some left over brownies.