Churchill is widely known as the premier location to see the King of the Arctic, aka polar bear! Natural Habitat guide Justin Gibson has spent many seasons in Churchill guiding avid travelers on the tundra to get a glimpse of these magnificent creatures. This Churchill webinar goes over all the crucial info needed to see the threatened polar bear species on the shores of the Hudson Bay. Enjoy.
After what seems like weeks of blizzard news from Churchill, the main focus of this time of year has returned with some exquisite and intriguing northern lights images from Natural Habitat Adventures guide Drew Hamilton. Drew and his travelers ventured out on the ice pack of Bird Cove just outside of town to the wreck of the MV Ithaca. This favorite pilgrimage destination allows for incredible photos that highlight the waves of aurora borealis over the frozen Hudson Bay. Enjoy these cool pics and look for more northern lights posts and less snow news! Enjoy.
Looking across ice – packed Bird Cove at the shipwreck Ithaca. Drew Hamilton photo.
The Ithaca shipwreck with northern lights above. Drew Hamilton photo.
Ithaca shipwreck with aurora borealis in the distance. Drew Hamilton photo.
Northern lights above the mast of the Ithaca shipwreck. Drew Hamilton photo.
Fantastic view of the Ithaca with northern lights above. Drew Hamilton photo.
Erie perspective of the Ithaca with the northern lights. Drew Hamilton photo.
Nat Hab travelers next to the Ithaca and northern lights. Drew Hamilton photo.
A freight train loaded with food and supplies pulled into Churchill three weeks late on Monday afternoon. Since March 1st, trains have been unable to travel the heavily snow – drifted train tracks than wind there way to Churchill. Two massive blizzards had virtually shut down the town and depleted stores of food and other crucial necessities ..such as beer.
Train with supplies finally makes it to Churchill. Rhonda Reid photo.
Vintage snow plow on the front of a via train. This is what connected Churchill to the outside world. Rhonda Reid photo.
Cold temperatures like Monday’s -40 C prevail thought the clearing visibility has allowed Omnitrax, owner of the rail line into Churchill, the ability to clear the tracks and allow trains to arrive from the south. Milk, fruit and vegetables were gone and meat of any variety was in short supply. Beer, in the one liquor store in town was down to a few cases.
After Churchill was hit by the third longest – lasting – blizzard in town history, residents began digging out of the massive snowfall that was accompanied by 31 hours of zero visibility and 58 long hours storm conditions.
The landscape in and around town out past the airport and beyond has been described as a moonscape by some. Purely surrealistic conditions!
Blizzard ravished Churchill. Heidi Den – Haan photo.