Hay River and Wood Buffalo National Park

Late Summer in the NWT

Lacey the wonder watchdog

August colors  and calm

Moonrise over Great Slave Lake-Hay River campground about 10pm

Wood Buffalo Habitat-Salt Plains

Golden Eagle Nest-local adaptation

Suggestions of autumn in the leaves

Afternoon reflections on our way home

Our trip via the Waterfall Route (south of the Great Slave Lake) took us to and through Hay River and on to Fort Smith, the southern most community in the Northwest Territories, just above the Alberta border. And not incidentally, along one of the few roads through the Wood Buffalo National Park, a World Heritage Site (and home not only to the bison, but also one of the last known nesting grounds of the endangered whooping crane and the northern most reach of the migratory white pelicans). Perhaps ironically, we saw alot more buffalo up close and personal along the side of the road from Yellowknife to Fort Providence (it borders the Mackenzie Bison Sanctuary) than we saw via the telescopes overlooking the Salt Plains of the National Park...but must admit the buffalo looked more relaxed grazing on the plains in the distance.  No crane or pelican sightings on this trip (we hear that fly-in trips are typically needed to net those), but we did see creative use of the telephone lines by golden eagles, and at least one red fox checking us out along the way.  And more than a hint of the turning season ahead...

Words to live by

Scoping the Buffalo grazing on the Salt Plains

Weekend of Waterfalls -August 2010

One of the Twin Falls-Louisa

In our continuing quest to explore our newest 'neck of the woods', we travelled south from Yellowknife this weekend, through Fort Providence and over to Hay River and Fort Smith, along what is sometimes called the Waterfall Route. Take a peek below to see why.

Lady Evelyn Falls

Favorite Traveling Companion

McNally Creek Gorge

Two for the price of one!

The other twin:  Alexandra

The Long Portage-only way around the Falls

Path through the Boreal forest

Slavey history-past and present paddlers in the region

Tamarack tease-Fall is in the air.....

Rigolet Storytelling & Digital Media: My Dad taught me well

Summer Weekend at Prelude Lake

Autumn is just around the corner...

Lacey and me at the Prelude Lake Campground

Another beautiful weekend in our new temporary home.  We hit the road for one of the popular local lakes off the Igraham Trail and were happy to snag a walk in campground up on the rocks of Prelude Lake. We also got to check out the Prelude Nature Trail in its late summer glory.  Warm and comfy in our 20 year old Meteor Lite tent, enjoying the occasional rain shower overnight.  Here are a few photos from the campsite and nature trail.

Another magical landscape

One view from our campsite

Along the nature trail

Favorite traveling partner

Ephemeral pools abound

Lush growth atop the rocks

Along the trail

Diamond Capital of North America

Polar Diamond-Yellowknife Visitor Center

Yellowknife bills itself  these days as "the Diamond Capital of North America".  This is a relatively new designation for a still relatively young town.  Here is what the official site says about this very out of the ordinary place:

Official Site for City of Yellowknife


If you get a chance, I encourage you to download and take a peek at the 'Blue Book" of the same name, available from the home page above. It's got some stunning images and intriguing text all available free on line.

Another thought-provoking 'take' on recent developments in this old-time mining region (past gold, now diamonds), is the 2003 book I just finished this week by Alaskan Ellen Bielawski. It is called Rogue Diamonds:  The Rush for Northern Riches on Dene Land,  and is now available in paperback.  Dr. Bielawski was involved in the initial negotiations with the government and mining companies on behalf of some of the Dene communities.  Hers is a unique and valuable perspective on this complex yet oh-so-familiar, multi-cultural and socio-economic dance.  I recommend it.

 Rogue Diamonds (2003)

First Weekend in Yellowknife-along the Ingraham Trail August 2010

Travelling Man

Cassidy Point  

Hidden Lake

Clouds rolling in on a Sunday afternoon

Future plans?

Roadside calm beyond the storm

Roadside memorial

Fleeting Summer....autumn just around the bend

Health Promotion-Yukon Style July 2010

Spit and Shine for a Good Cause- Yellowknife August 2010

More curvy cars-a fundraiser for local youth center

The show's most senior entry

Clean lines, owner's pride

First Week in Yellowknife

The new neighborhood trail-Niven Lake

Enjoying the summer sun

Frame LakeTrail-near downtown

The new office:  Institute for Circumpolar Health Research

We've appreciated the warm welcome to our new community, and are still settling into both office and home.  We've got appointments to set up local banking and internet service, and are figuring out the local groceries and services.  Our rental is a 15-20 min walk from the office, and so far the only weather threats are occasional afternoon thunderstorms with very occasional and fleeting hail.  Here are a few pics from the new place(s)....

Home Sweet Home-Yellowknife

Out the office window-August