ARRIVAL of the fitest!

"Welcome to KUGLUKTUK" at high noon on Tuesday

The watch said 11:57. It was Tuesday and the next voice heard said “Ladies and Gentlemen we are making our final approach. We hope you've enjoyed flying with First Air and welcome you back again next time.”

A younger female voice was then heard to say “Trays and chairs in the upright position, etc..” and then the words that I had hoped to hear...”Welcome to KUGLUKTUK. While we are re-fueling we ask that all passengers continuing to Cambridge Bay disembark...”

Welcome to KUGLUKTUK. It's a small community just southwest of Cambridge Bay. If I had come in on sunday, as planned, I would never have stepped on its soil (snow) but again this is the north and strange happenings are the norm. The 'weather' delay and switch of airlines had allowed this moment.

Main Terminal in Tugluktuk Airport CYCO

My flight north from Yellowknife had been uneventful. A breakfast offering of coffee, applesauce, coffee cake, was completed with an additional coffee and conversation with my seatmate. The First Air ATR turbo prop had loaded and a few minutes later than scheduled and we had stopped out on the runway for de-icing. The winter surrounded us with dark grey style snow clouds and sure enough, by the time we were taxiing to our takeoff position the snowflakes were falling.

My new friend Zach, a 19 year old from New Brunswick, was in awe as I pointed out to him...his first arctic snowfall. He's on his way to Kuglugtuk to work in bylaw enforcement...in order to complete his program at the Atlantic Correctional College. NO...he's on the good side of the bars...as a guard custodian or whatever the current name would be.

Around the walls of the terminal were all sorts of decorations

He was excited about being here, about being in the arctic, about being sworn in later in the day as a peace officer and about his future. When I told him he should have brought his hockey gear...the main winter activity in Nunavut, he mentioned he thought about bringing his skates. After flying over Calgary the day before he had seen the numerous outdoor rinks that are visible from the air. Thinking about it afterwards, I thought that he wasn't just excited, no...he was SUPER EXCITED about the opportunities ahead in his 8 week placement.

Heading back to the ATR for the final leg to Cambridge Bay CYCB

I briefly thought back to when I was 19...over 46 years ago...wow how things have changed....I would never have considered travelling that far to do a placement...family support or not...but then was quickly back to reality. Our liftoff had been smooth and strong...the roar of the engines in the background as the ATR climbed above the clouds to our 22K foot  altitude cruising speed of 275 or so knots. The sun shone bright above those puffy white clouds, low in the sky here this time of year, but bright just the same.

Having fun with a family heading to Cam Bay

As we began to land, the sun started to disappear below the horizon...at about 500 feet it was gone despite clear blue skies and no cloud. I said to Zack you'll see it in a week or so (since he is south of me)...told him to look at the south sky at noon for the first blip and gave him an email address to contact for information. Almost two hours and 600 kilometers had literally flown by. We parted company...as I gathered my camera for some shots of Kugluktuk passenger terminal.

Down the narrow steps, off the plane in the brisk winter air...a moderate breeze blowing and with the snow crunching underfoot, I climbed the steps, past the arrival sign, and stepped inside to a moderate waiting area with three check in counters, a snack stand, washrooms and offices. Seating was full. People waiting to board or greeting the new arrivals, perhaps awaiting a later flight as well. Cars were in the lot with their engines running.

At 2:35 we were being directed to our "parking place"

On the walls were various bulletin boards were warnings of disturbing ancients relics....FIND, REPORT DO NOT DISTURB was the theme. Another warning display about the bears....the Polar Bears. If ever confronted, now I know what to do....Don't turn your back on them, move slowly to increase your distance....and always have friends that run slower that you...oops sorry...find shelter in a car or building.

Cambridge Bay Arrivals Entrance is also the Departures Exit

What really excited me was reading about the history of the hamlet previously known as Coppermine...but we'll discuss that at a later date. Before long we were heading northeast, the ATR giving another smooth ride for the next 400 km leg. These planes are comfortable and smooth, they are abundant in many parts of the world but seem especially suited to the arctic transportation grid. We just get spoiled with those jet flying times. An hour later, we were descending. A smooth landing and back into a new terminal, Welcome to Cambridge Bay...a musk ox mounted by the arrivals door greeted me first...but once I had my luggage together, a gentleman approached. “You Bob?” “Yes” “I'm Harry” “Hi Harry, are you the greeter?”

“Yep, here's the cell phone... you're on call” as he quickly handed me the Blackberry. “Thanks” I said as I took the phone and thought...sometimes things do move quickly here in the north.

A Musk Ox greets you at the door at Cambridge Bay Airport Terminal