Powell Inlet, Devon Island and Crocker Bay

On Friday September 8th we made our first stop on Devon Island and what a stop it was!  Devon Island is the largest uninhabited island in the world and is Canada’s sixth largest island. And the 27th largest island in the world.  The highest point of the Devon ice cap is 1920 metres and it’s surface resembles that of Mars so closely that it has attracted interest from many scientists.  As we approached our landing site snow dusted the ropes of the mountains and the temperature hovered at a warm 0.  The gentle hills, meadows, mountains and surrounding ocean views were stunning but the best was yer to come.  After a short hike we reached a small bay where an estimated 30 walrus were congregated in the water. We sat and watched them for quite awhile before they decided to take off for a bit so we took in some more of the majestic scenery hiking down to the meadow which sweeps down to the ocean.  Glimpsing that the walrus were returning we did the same and spent a long time capturing what we could both in our mind and on our camera. Thank goodness for telephoto lens!  Was wonderful to hear them as they jostled with each other. To our delight some of them climbed onto the rocks on the shore and you could appreciate their immense size.  They apparently stay in herds for safety from predators such as the polar bears to protect their young which we could pick out as they do not have any tusks as of yet.  What a fantastic experience!

Travelling onward we arrived at Crocker Bay where the Devon Ice Cap meets the ocean.  Forces of gravity and tide cause the glacier to calf sending icebergs into the bay.  The Captain steered the ship all along the glacier and then to the amazement of many right through the ice.  The textures, size and colours of the glacier were beautiful to behold.  There was one calving while we watched and the resulting sound and wave action is real quite something.

Arriving in Powell Inlet

Our first sighting of walrus. Very exciting 

Thankful for telephoto lens

View into the Bay

All types of topography. First real mountains we have seen

Hiked down this lovely meadow. Much marshier than in looks but so beautiful 

The walrus came back to play

The walrus are very communal

As they started to get out of the water you realize just how immense they are

They climbed over each other in their effort to share a very small landing site

Approaching the glacier in Crocker Bay

The thinnest point where it runs into land

The height and textures with the deep blue colours were stunning 

The wave starting after the glacier calved

Getting better at selfies after taking an iPhone photography workshop on board. Susan and I enjoying the glacier

The glacier was huge and extended around the corner

Some of the caves in the glacier look like you could drive a boat right into them though that would be a very foolish and dangerous thing to do 

The Captain of our ship is definitely an expedition type and manoeuvred the ship right through the ice. That is a dirty iceberg to the right, not a rock