Picture page 3


Picture Captions - Top left to bottom right

Inukshuks line the ridges along the countryside at the Thelon Bluffs. This area is very rich in ancient artifacts. It is obvious that at one time the region was frequently populated by aboriginals.

The grave marker of Edgar Christian who starved to death in a small cabin on the banks of the Thelon during the winter of 1925. Eccentric English explorer John Hornby led the expedition which ended in tragedy for the three adventurers that tried to overwinter in this rugged land. The remains of this cabin provided the solution to one of the north's most intriguing mysteries.

A young Rough Legged Hawk on the nest. The cliffs along the Thelon are popular nesting sites for birds of prey. Every day we'd see a variety of hawks and falcons as well as the occasional eagle.

There are lots of rapids encountered on the river, but none required portaging. It was a treat to travel 500 Km of river and not have to carry the canoes once.

Various stone tools including arrow points and spear heads littered the ground at one of the chipping stations along the river. The boys were intrigued with the process of flaking stone and would spend idle time at campsites attempting to make tools.

Twenty four hour daylight was a concern, so we brought some eye covers to shut out some of the brightness. Most often though. we were so tired that it wasn't hard to fall asleep.

The arctic is known for strong winds and we took advantage of the wind on some days to let the kids fly kites.


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