Operation Hill Top 21

Operation Hill Top 21 went ahead with a reduced schedule due to COVID-19 restrictions.  The cadets and staff of 3045 Army Cadet Corps normally spend two nights camping over the weekend, learning & reviewing various skills, and completing a 7-kilometre hike.  This year the field training exercise (FTX) could only be a one-day event.  That still gave us plenty of time to complete the main objective: the 7km hike.  It’s a requirement in the cadet program because it prepares cadets for more demanding hikes in their senior years.

The staging area for the FTX has been the Second Bridge on the Road to Nanisivik since 2013.  The hikes have been done in one and/or two groups.  If you have read my previous posts about the FTX, you know we either hike to the First Bridge or 7km towards Nanisivik.  There would only be one hiking group this year.  This year the cadets were going to hike 10km.  The final destination would be the old Nanisivik Airport.  Canadian made Individual Meal Packages (IMPs) and the equipment to cook them would be waiting for them; an added incentive.

The FTX began in the early morning on September 18.  Everyone assembled at the Uquutaq Centre at 9:30am for breakfast.  The meal was prepared by the same parent who prepared breakfast for the beach cleanup at the beginning of the month.  Unfortunately, there was no electricity due to work being done on the power grid, so a generator had to be used to power a microwave for heating the egg McMuffins.  We ate in semi-darkness.  Natural light shined through tall narrow windows.  The cadets cleaned the place up after breakfast and we drove to the Second Bridge in a convoy of two pickup trucks and a jeep. 

A white tent had already been set up at the staging area prior to our arrival thanks to Frank and his helpers.  The cadets moved the supplies & equipment we brought inside the tent.  I fired one slug from my 12-gauge shot gun away from the camp to scare away any lurking aggressive wildlife.  Unfortunately, the Canadian Rangers were unavailable to provide polar bear protection, so it had to be me.  Technically, we don’t need Rangers if we’re only staying out for a day.

Preparations for the 10km hike included handing out backpacks & walking sticks, and dividing various supplies amongst the cadets.  The cadets would carry granola bars, juice boxes, garbage bags, and toilet paper.  I would also carry those supplies as well as a first aid kit.  A cadet parent would drive ahead in their jeep to make sure the road was clear and assist us in an emergency.

The hike began at 10:45am.

The cadets followed the road up a hill; our first ascent.  I walked behind them.  I took several pictures of the campsite when I got to the top.  Normally, I would have the cadets walk together, but since we had a parent as a forward lookout, I was okay with the group being stretched out, as long as they remained between the jeep and I.  The weather was a little cold.

The hike consisted of walking, more walking, and even more walking.  We took a few snack & juice breaks to replenish our strength.

Nanisivik Airport in the distance.

We saw the Nanisivik Airport buildings after 90 minutes of hiking.  They were to our right, on top of a plateau, across very rocky terrain.  The cadets asked if we could cut across, but I said no, because it would be cheating.  I assured them we were getting closer to our goal; one step at a time.

We reached the 7km mark two hours after we began the hike.  Frank was waiting for us in his pickup truck to hand out cups of hot chocolate.  The cadet parent was also there.  Several cadets sat inside the vehicles to warm up.  We rested for 10 minutes then continued walking along the road.  The terrain here is a little flatter with less ups & downs. 

We reached The Terry Fox Pass monument after 45 minutes.  The monument consists of a rocky mound, three flag poles, a dedication plaque, and a separate sign pole that shows the direction and distance to several large cities.  Frank was there to inform me that the 10km mark wasn’t the Nanisivik Airport.  It was actually the T-intersection.  I passed this information along to the cadets who were relieved to know the end was closer than they thought.

Frank moved his truck to the T-intersection and waited for the cadets to pile into the back of the truck.  I was the last person to get in because I wanted to photograph the moment.  I got inside the truck and Frank drove us the rest of the way.

Lunch was held inside an old First Air Cargo Garage.  The cadets cooked their IMPs using Coleman stoves.  While the meals were being prepared, I was introduced to two Canadian Armed Forces officers who were leading a survey team.  They had been sent to survey & photograph the layout of the airport.  Their equipment included an expensive drone.  With the nearby Nanisivik Naval Facility nearing completion, maybe the federal government and Department of National Defence (DND) are interested in rebuilding the airport?  Only time will tell.  The IMPs were delicious.

The cadets & I watched the soldiers fly their expensive looking drone above the tarmac, runway, and buildings.  Maybe I’ll buy a drone one day.  They look cool and they capture amazing footage from a bird’s eye view.  I can also enroll in a legitimate drone training program to feel more comfortable operating the machine.

The cadets & I explored the old dilapidated airport buildings.  Though the exteriors look stable, the interiors have seen better days.  The terminal building looks much worse than before.  The walls & ceiling tiles have fallen to the floor, and there are hanging wires & wooden beams.  Thankfully, there is no electricity because the generators have been switched off ages ago.  If the DND is serious about resurrecting the airport, then they need to move everything out, throw out a lot of stuff, demolish all the buildings, and then build new ones.  It’s not worth renovating the old buildings.  Even though the mechanics garage looks salvageable, I wouldn’t keep it.  Time for a fresh start!

Can't forget the Creepy Hallway.

The cadets cleaned the First Air Cargo Garage and loaded everything – garbage included – into Frank’s pickup truck.  We needed to leave no trace behind.  Frank drove us back to the campsite.  The garbage bags were left in the truck while the backpacks, walking poles, leftover food, and Coleman stoves were brought back inside the tent.

The cadets enjoyed an hour of free time.  Some played frisbee.

Large pieces of wood had been brought to the campsite for an evening bonfire.  The cadets built the bonfire at 5:30pm and had the fire going by 6:15pm.  Several cadets helped me move the bonfire food, two cots, foldout table, and roasting sticks to the bonfire site.  The bonfire food – hot dogs, marshmallows, & juice boxes - would serve as dinner.

The cadets did an excellent job keeping the fire going and not getting burned.  We all dined on hot dogs and marshmallows.  A fitting end to an FTX.  There’s not much else for me to say.  I guess I can add the bonfire burned brightly.

The fire was extinguished, the tent was taken down, and everything was loaded into vehicles.  The cadets did one last garbage sweep of the campsite.  The convoy left the Second Bridge.

We stopped at Frank’s shop to unload and put away all the cadet supplies.  I held a quick debriefing, congratulating the cadets for completing the 10km hike.  The shop was locked up and everyone was driven home.  The FTX was officially over.

Before I go, I would like you all to know that I will be taking a brief break from my blogging duties for the next 3 weeks.  A great opportunity came up that I can’t pass and it’ll be taking place outside the territory.  I’ll explain more when I come back in October.

Small Craft Harbour Open House

Before I write about the main topic of this post, I would like to take some time to address the 20^th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.  September 11 was on a Saturday this year and I found myself reminiscing about the events of that day and where I was.  I was in high school at the time.  It’s hard to believe that 20 years have already passed since that dreadful day.  The world changed after the attacks.  Fighting terrorism and enhanced security became priorities for all countries.  The mastermind behind the attacks, Osama Bin Laden, was eventually found and killed in 2011.  Commercial flying became more of a hassle due to enhanced security measures & rules.  I remember the time when kids were taken to the cockpit to see the pilots and look at all the buttons & controls.  I doubt those days will ever return.

Despite all the changes, it also feels like we’ve ended up back where we started.

The Taliban managed to reconquer all of Afghanistan last month, thanks to the government being corrupt, unplanned, and downright incompetent in running a resistance.  (The Taliban were overthrown in 2001 because they refused to hand over Bin Laden to America).  The Afghan military crumbled and most of their American-made weapons were seized by Taliban forces.  The last remaining pocket of resistance in the Peshawar Valley didn’t last and rebel leaders have fled to neighbouring countries.  Dark days are ahead for the people of Afghanistan.  Women & girls will suffer the most.  The Taliban say they are different now, but I don’t believe that for a second.  They’re still evil and need to be defeated.  I guess another 20 years will be needed.

The United States decided to withdraw its forces, drawing comparisons to the Vietnam withdrawal of the 1970s.  Despite the best efforts of the USA & its allies, they were unable to quash the Taliban insurgency.  Thankfully, the USA and other foreign powers can hit the Taliban where it hurts the most when it comes to running a country: in the wallet.  Afghanistan’s oversee assets & reserves worth billions are currently frozen. Withholding this money could force the Taliban to not roll back the hard-won rights women & girls enjoyed for the last 20 years.  I think the money should be spent on training an anti-Taliban insurgency.  It would be even better if the insurgency was all-woman.  That would really stick it to the Taliban because they’re scared of women.   

All we can hope for now is that Afghanistan’s women keep fighting for their equal rights.  I know the Taliban will lose in rolling back the clock, because erasing 20 years of progress is next to impossible.

An open house on Arctic Bay’s upcoming small craft harbour project was held at the community hall on September 14. 

The community’s breakwater pier is too small to accommodate & protect all the boats in town.  Owners are forced to use long ropes to secure their boats to two tall metal poles on land.  (Sometimes they tie their ropes around vehicles & large rocks).  There are no wooden docks, so boats need to be pulled ashore first for people to fill them with supplies and then board them to go hunting.  The new craft harbour will solve these issues and more.

The new small craft harbour will add a much larger breakwater pier, creating a big enclosed space.  Docks will be installed in this space, providing over a hundred parking spots for small boats.  The current laydown area will be expanded, a boat launch ramp will be added, and a fixed wharf will be built at the end of the pier for larger fishing boats.  The harbour will be big boost to local infrastructure and the economy. 

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans will own the harbour, but locals will oversee its operation.  Funding was secured from the federal government, Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA), and Parks Canada.  I’m not sure what the final cost will be, but I’m guessing at least $40 million.         

I arrived at the community hall at 4:30pm.  Large Inuktitut & English posters lined the walls.  Several representatives were present to answer any questions.  A few posters displayed photos of the small craft harbour currently under construction in Pond Inlet.  Arctic Bay will experience the same amount of construction activity when the project begins in the summer of 2022.  The targeted completion date is October 2025.

I read and photographed each poster.  I would most likely use the pictures for my social studies classes. 

A representative walked up to me and asked if I had a blog about Arctic Bay?  I replied I did, and they added that they read my post about the ice drilling operation in late March.  (The ice drilling relates to the small craft harbour project).  I asked how they found my blog – (this one) – and they said it was through pictures on Google Images.

I asked what would happen to the posters after the open house?  The representative said they would be thrown out, but offered to donate them to me.  I accepted the offer and instructed them to talk to Frank about delivering the posters to my classroom.

I stayed at the open house for 30 minutes.  I couldn’t stay longer because I had to get ready for the following school day.  I looked forward to receiving the posters.  They will be an excellent addition to the posters I already have on the small craft harbour.

 

NSSI Sealift & Arctic Bay

The MV Rosaire A Desgagnes anchored in Arctic Bay on September 5.  The second sealift ship was here!  It would most likely be the last vessel of the 2021 shipping season before the arrival of ice.  The Rosaire is operated by Desgagnes Transarctik Inc. (DTI) and Nunavut Sealink and Supply Inc. (NSSI).  It’s the same ship that came to Arctic Bay last year.

Sealift activity is in the centre of the photo.

The first sealift ship that arrives is operated by Nunavut Eastern Arctic Shipping (NEAS).  This year, the company decided to send its ship assigned to Arctic Bay really early.  It arrived in the middle of August!  We usually see NEAS at the end of the month, just a day or two before NSSI.  I guess the company had other plans.  The NEAS ship was gone before I could take any pictures.  I tried to organize a tour for cadets, but this was unsuccessful due to COVID-19 restrictions.  There’s always next year.

Two tugboats & barges were lowered into the water.  Loaders, ramps, and several sea containers were lowered onto the barges.  The tugboats pushed the barges to shore and the NSSI crew moved everything ashore.  One of the sea containers had been converted into a temporary office.  People with orders were required to see the Shore Captain at the office and sign paperwork.  Once the area had been transformed into a temporary dock/unloading area, the main operation began. 

I safely investigated and photographed the activity in front of the Northern Store.  There were already a number of sea containers and wooden crates ashore.  Unfortunately, I couldn’t locate my wooden crate.  I met the Shore Captain and he confirmed that my crate was still aboard the Rosaire.  He assured me it would be brought ashore while I signed some documents.  I avoided the two moving loaders.  Even though a lookout is assigned to each loader, you still have to be very careful around the large machines.           

I decided to walk up one of the tall hills behind the Co-op to get a few pictures of the ship in the bay.  A Co-op employee on break asked me where I was going when I walked by.  I pointed to the top of the hill and briefly explained my plan.  They wished me good luck before heading inside.

The walk to the top took about 30 minutes.  I did stop a few times to take pictures of my ascent.  I was sweating a bit when I reached the top.  I think I’m starting to get too old for this.

The view from the top of the hill was breathtaking.  I took plenty of pictures of the Rosaire A Desgagnes.  I was surprised to see it anchored in the centre of the bay.  The captain could have dropped anchor closer to shore, but I guess not.  The bay is deep enough to accommodate large ships.  Just think of it as a large bathtub filled with water.  I also photographed the breakwater pier & all the sea containers & wooden crates brought ashore by the NSSI crew.  A much larger breakwater pier and small craft harbour are scheduled to be built within the next few years.

I found a safe spot to photograph Inuujaq School.  I wanted a good picture of the building and the new playground for the school’s Facebook page.

New power plant.

West Coast and Uptown neighbourhoods.

I also took plenty of pictures of the entire town.  Arctic Bay is slowly changing and I want to document it with photographs.  I’ll eventually select the best photos and create a timeline collage.  The new blue power plant at the Gas Station is nearing completion.  I think it will become operational by the end of the year.  The increased power supply will enable more buildings to be built in the future.  Taller & larger power lines are also being constructed to increase distribution capacity.

Eastside.

Once I was satisfied with the pictures I took, I walked down to the Co-op to buy some groceries.

I found my wooden crate on September 6.  I made arrangements to have it moved to my residence.  A co-worker helped me open it with crowbars on September 7.  I spent a good three hours moving everything inside, opening all the boxes, and finding places to put everything.  My residence resembled a fully stocked underground fallout shelter.  The co-worker loaded the wooden crate into his pickup truck and transported it to the landfill.  I thanked him for helping me.     

New power lines installed along the road to the
Gas Station. (Left side of the road).