More news from the Tundra

Good morning, everyboby!

Lots going on here in Churchill. Yesterday morning we did a live videoconference with a school in North Carolina--it was lots of fun. We also saw a bear roaming around our Buggy that one of our biologist experts estimated was upward of 1000 pounds. He was massive!

We took off in the Tunda Buggy and got a chance to rove up to a smalll area of boreal forest, where 2 of our botanical experts gave us some wonderful information. For example, in order to offset our average indiviual carbon emissions we would each have to plant 8,000 trees- and that would hold us for 80 years before we would have to plant 8,000 more. There are two species of trees we saw: black spruce and tamarack. They exhibit an appearance called "flagging" where the needles only grow on one side of the tree due to the brutal winds blowing in certain directions. There is a type of lichen called caribou moss, which is very soft to the touch, spongy and absorbent, and the Native Americans used it for baby diapers.

We saw lots of ptarmigans in various stages of mottled and white coloration, transitioning to their winter camouflage. They have very feathery legs and feet and they look so funny when they walk! On our way back to the lodge we saw 2 rainbows and I took those as a sign of good fortune.

We have had guest speakers and we are learing so much. One of the coolest things was that I got a chance to drive the Tundra Buggy for a few minutes!!

Last night I awoke in the middle of the night to a clear sky filled with more stars than I have ever seen, and I sat and watched the Northern Lights. It was such a calm and peaceful time. This morning we saw another bear outside our lodge, right underneath us looking up at us-- WOW !!! Today we have another busy day ahead of us and I must go. My best to all!

Kathleen