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An account of our trip to this fantastic region of Canada, and our encounters with the majestic Polar Bear.

Churchill, the Polar Bear capital of the world

Djb1166
2004-03-11 16:38:12

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was still -11
centigrade though.

With the introductions over it was on with the cold weather gear and out for our first guided walk with Dennis and Dakota,
Mikes dog. Our walk took us down to the coastal area past a set of large Polar Bear tracks. Lemming and Artic Hare had also
left their tracks in the snow. We were amazed when Dennis informed us that the previous year there had been no snow on the
ground until the middle of November. Stopping at various intervals we gradually looped back towards the lodge as the sun
began to set. The light was glorious with everything lit up in reds and golds and animal tracks thrown into sharp relief as
the shadows lengthened.

Back at the lodge the evening kicked off with hot drinks and bear stories from Dennis. Mike joined us and gave a brief
history of the Dymond Lake Lodge operation which started around 30 years ago. The complex has gradually been added to over
the years. Building supplies and equipment were transported to the site each winter when the ice was strong enough to
support the vehicles. During the rest of the year all supplies and visitors are flown in by helicopter or small plane. As
we sat around chatting a shout went up from one of the bedrooms and everyone one gathered around the window as a large male
Polar Bear strolled past the lodge stopping only to sniff the ground where we had been earlier that afternoon! We were
escorted across to the dining lodge at around 7pm for a superb meal and more talk of bears. Following dinner we returned
to the accommodation lodge noting the faint auroral glow in the sky. We sat and watched the auroral display from the warmth
of the lodge late into the night.

Next morning we got up at 7am ready for breakfast at 8am. The sky was heavy with cloud but it was still very cold. The cubs
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