Natural Habitat’s Aurora Pod is up and running and northern lights magic was happening last night in Churchill over the Hudson Bay! More photos to come this week!
Natural Habitat’s Aurora Pod in Churchill. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.
Raw, a dining experience under the northern lights comes to Churchill this March. Parcs Canada photo.
The RAW mystery continues.Keep checking back to see what culinary experience takes place in Churchill’s northern lights season this March!
Natural Habitat Adventures guide Drew Hamilton reports that northern lights season in Churchill got off to a roaring start this week! Awesome aurora borealis and fine first looks from Natural Habitat’s Aurora pod and the Aurora Domes warmed the hearts and hands of his group of hearty travelers. The season started with -40 degree temps though the groups spirits were sky high as one could imagine. The trip is superbly outfitted with high – tech gear to keep all travelers warm while they patiently and excitedly wait for lights in the northern sky. The advantage to the colder Arctic air is it usually ensures crystal clear skies for exceptional visibility. A spectacular moon and stellar sun dogs each day added “icing” on this past week’s phenomenal start to the season.
Northern lights over Churchill. drew Hamilton photo.
Natural Habitat guide Drew Hamilton with an icy beard. Drew Hamilton photo.
Days were filled with incredible cultural presentations on the history and ecology of Churchill from local native elders Caroline Bjorklund and Myrtle de Meulles as well as Parcs Canada interpreter Duane. Snow sampling out at the Churchill Northern Studies Center with Matt and Igloo building with Harry Tootoo supplemented th esub – Arctic experience quite well. A supreme highlight of the trip was dog sledding with Dave Daly at Wapusk Adventures. The Ididamile is still going strong! What a start to the new season!
Doing the Ididamile with Wapusk Adventures. Drew Hamilton photo.
The dogyard at Wapusk Adventures. Drew Hamilton photo.
A swirl of aurora borealis over Churchill’s boreal forest. Drew Hamilton photo.
Check out this pretty informative video about beluga whales. The narrative is a bit pedantic though filled with tons of facts about the species. This beluga 101 footage and narration is a great primer for anyone considering travelling to Churchill this coming summer. I guarantee you will want to return after one trip to the beluga mecca. The western Hudson Bay is a prime destination for belugas in summer as there are multiple tributary rivers where the whales can travel up-river to warm waters. The Churchill River is teeming with over 2,000 belugas from June to late August though his year some whales lingered until October. The experience of being surrounded by pods of belugas compares to none other!
This beautiful and funny series of photos were captured by photographer Daisy Gilardini/Caters News in Wapusk National Park near Churchill, Manitoba. The park is one of the world’s most popular denning areas for polar bear sows and cubs. Gilardini waited 117 hours (nearly two weeks) in front of a polar bear den to get these images. That’s patience. But well worth the cold and windy wait!
