Day: 113

Strong Ultra Violet Rays

Temperature: 5F

Location: Collette River

Latitude: 68deg 06’ 41’’ N

Longitude: 89deg 18’ 30” W

Distance Traveled: 26 Miles

So far we have covered 1,321 miles, the most of it so far across The Barrens. We followed the Kellett River today, and are now on a short overland. We’ve got about another 25 miles to go, and then we will be on Committee Bay, which is a large bay on the Gulf of Boothia.

We had clear weather for most of the day, and it was about five degrees above zero Fahrenheit. We had really intense ultraviolet rays, I had to cover my face all day today. I found for myself that sun block doesn’t really work, it just rubs off. So today I kept my fur ruff up to protect my forehead and nose, and then I had a neck gaiter covering my mouth and neck. The ultraviolet rays up here, especially in April and May, are very dangerous. Even half an hour of exposure can really fry your skin. The best way to handle it is to just keep your skin totally unexposed.

But it was a good day of travel. The dogs did really well. They were actually warm at lunch time, and we sat in the shade of the sled to get out of the sun. We are now camped on a high almost plateau. It almost looks like the desert southwest here, but with snow. There are mesas in the distance, and a lot of flat country as we are heading toward the ocean.

It is 9:30 at night right now, and we are getting ready to go to bed. It is very light out, the sun set about half an hour ago, but you could read a newspaper very easily right now. We are rapidly approaching 24 hours of sun.