We are now all in Pangnirtung. We woke at 6am to be picked up and ready for our ride into Pangnirtung at 8:30. A cavalry of 10 snowmobiles with komatiks arrived to take us to the 4 km to town. We piled in all our gear and climbed in ourselves and were off. Along the way we stopped at various points to admire the view, to discuss geology, and good fishing spots.
We arrived to town just after 10am and drove to the hotel. Our rooms were ready and people were keen to shower and log onto the wifi to call home and check email.
We met for lunch and it was hard to recognize everyone with clean hair and no hat and goggles. Everyone had big smiles on their faces.
After lunch we were invited to the Hamlet office for an official welcome. The Mayor spoke as did the local Rangers. Many community members and the Jr Rangers were in attendance. We had hot drinks and snacks.
After this we went to the visitor centre for a great culture interpretive workshop. There is a small museum with lots of information on the history of Pangnirtung.
Many of the group invaded the arts and crafts centre and gave lots of money to the community and walked away with many cool locally made arts and crafts.
After dinner we were invited onto the ice where the Rangers had sent up a tent. The Mayor announced on local radio that we would be there at 7:30 and many from the town came out to meet us. The locals brought freshly caught arctic char and seal. It was cut up on the ice and served raw. They also cooked some fish and seal and had some bannok as well.�Everyone enjoyed the local cuisine and chatting with the local people.
Everyone is now back at the lodge in the lounge chatting and enjoying the warm and comfortable setting.
Tomorrow we will learn more about Pangnirting and the Inuit culture and Sunday we will be making our way back home.
TPL Baffin.