KGVM - September 21, 2013. |
Operation Hilltop 13, (the 13 stands for 2013), took place on the Road to
Nanisivik with the final destination being just past the Second Bridge. There are two bridges on Nunavut's longest
road and the distance between them is exactly 7 kilometres. The bridge closest to Arctic Bay is known as First
Bridge and the one after is called Second Bridge. ("A darn good arrangement.") Cadets would be driven to the First Bridge
where the hike would begin. The senior
cadets were required to complete the hike wearing rucksacks and overnight just
past the Second Bridge. The junior
cadets only had to finish the hike and would be driven back to Arctic Bay.
In
the past, the hikes were done over rougher terrain but this forced adult staff
to rely on ATVs to ferry food, equipment, and people to & from the camp
site. Staging the FTX near the Nanisivik
Road enabled the use of heavier vehicles (pickup trucks). The faster mobility would definitely be
important in the event of an emergency.
The morning of Saturday, September 21, began with the sun steadily rising over King George V Mountain. All participating cadets were required to be at the Community Hall for breakfast at 9am. Senior cadets and adult staff overnighting on the land also had to bring their packed rucksacks and sleeping bags. I arrived at 8:30, setting my belongings on the floor in the main hallway that had been turned into a makeshift cafeteria. Irene, the town's mental health nurse, was in the kitchen preparing egg mcmuffins. She was assisted by another nurse and a visiting student doctor. For drinks, there was orange juice and water. Two tables and chairs were set up in front of the kitchen for junior & senior cadets. By 9:15, breakfast was in full swing. Cadets were served from youngest to oldest, followed by adult staff. Naturally, the egg mcmuffins were delicious, and everyone went back for seconds.
Seniors loading supplies. |
Water sign next to the First Bridge. |
Before
the trek started, the seniors organized themselves into two lines. I led the way while one of the senior
Sergeants walked at the back. The RCMP
officer and the student doctor walked alongside us. The sky was mostly blue and the temperature
was in the minus single digits. With my
digital camera at the ready, I snapped photos of the rocky landscape and the
unpaved road. After following the road
around the first large hill to our left, a large white Arctic hare suddenly
appeared. It had been hiding in a drainage pipe under the road and upon hearing our approach made a dash for safety. It stopped several feet away and eyed us with
curiosity.
"Wish
I could keep it as a pet," I added.
I tried to get really close to the hare but he slowly moved away. I'll catch him next time.
We continued following the Road to Nanisivik, slowly inching our way up the rocky hills. To my right, I saw Holy Cross Point and the area where the Spring Camp was held back in May. We stopped and had a quick rest, taking the rucksacks off our backs and stretching for 5 minutes. When the trek resumed, the seniors took turns walking at the front of the group so that they wouldn't fall behind. You're only as fast as your slowest person.
Beyond the second plateau, the ground became blacker and there was much more snow lying around. The road slightly curves to the left and then becomes a straight path for a good kilometre. Then it begins to dip and curve to the right. As we followed the road's descent, I could see we were entering a small valley. To the left, I could see a frozen river that ran alongside a tall brown mountain with a steep hillside. "There's no way you could get a solid footing on that side," the RCMP officer commented. "You would just slide back down all the time." After walking several more metres, the road became straight again but continued to descend.
"Yes,
I see it too," I replied with my eyes squinted.
Second Bridge. |
"Don't
get too comfortable," I advised the seniors. "Once the juniors get here, there's work
to be done."
To be continued . . .
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