Back at Growing Fast Pingo halfway between Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk

Went out north of Inuvik just past Swimming Point (so named as this is where the reindeer herd traditionally crossed the channel on their way to and from summer grazing grounds on Richard Island) about 90kms from town and right near the decommissioned fuel storage depot. Clear day, now wind temp around -30. I had skied out to Growing Fast or Aklisuktuk Pingo last year and likely that was the first time anybody had been there since McKay in 1979, http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/arctic34-3-270.pdf

http://inuvik2013.blogspot.ca/search?q=growing+fast+pingo

So about a year later I skied back over in afternoon light – late start to the day. Good snow conditions other than in the willow which was appalling as usual. On the first hill leading away from the delta, numerous rabbit track were being shadowed by fox tracks and really fresh Lynx tracks paralleling the fox – busy place.

...and the summit, lol

View from the top

Way less snow this year to walking up the pingo itself was way less of thrash with only knee deep snow as opposed to waist deep to contend with. I uncovered the old wooden survey stake and newer metal ones. The broken off wooden post is still lying in situ. Aklisuktuk was casting a long shadow in the setting sun, wind was picking up a bit but nothing serious. Ski back was nice as the sun just set as I got back to the river. I went back through a small side channel to the south to avoid the willows and spooked 2 dozen ptarmigan - lots of game around here which means not many people get out this way.

Back to the truck at -31, saw one other vehicle on the ice road all day.