The first few months in Inuvik have been a mix of figuring out the correct number of layers to wear, who has the cheapest produce in town and learning a new vocabulary of Inuvialuktun. Each day it is imperative to understand the weather. Blizzards creep up suddenly and temperatures can drop below -30C. With ebbing daylight the temperatures continuing to drop and soon we will enter 30 days of no sunrises. (Coincidentally, this year the first day of no sunrise was Andrew’s birthday!)

Sunset over Inuvik homes

Walking by Boot Lake

View south from Boot Lake

It is cold, dark and goods are expensive, which makes many people shudder and question our sanity. This season is also incredibly cozy and warms the soul in different ways. Our evenings and weekends are accompanied by crackling fires, homemade bread, granola and soups, and many good movies, books and conversations.

Robin's Homemade Mexican Tortilla Soup

Stoking the fire

We have a new-found appreciation for what we DO have here. When a musician like Harry Manx comes to Inuvik, everyone goes. Our one café has delicious food and drinks and is packed everyday. When we go out to dinner at the one good restaurant in town, the meal is a savoured treat.

The Igloo Church where Harry Manx performed

We have taken on new roles and found rewarding work and volunteer opportunities.  By Christmas, Robin will have visited four of her six satellite communities as a part of her role as a regional Occupational Therapist.

She is responsible for:
-Aklavik
-Fort Good Hope
-Tuktoyuktuk
-Colville Lake
-Paulatuk
-Sachs Harbor

Aklavik Hoar Frost

Aklavik Hoar Frost

Fort Good Hope B&B

Fort Good Hope B&B

This Red Fox followed Robin and her co-workers around the town

Fall in Tuktoyuktuk

Our landlord, Peter, heats his home entirely with wood and Andrew has been lucky enough to join Peter on occasional trips down the frozen river on snowmobile to gather wood.  There are some decent sized trees that have died and make good tinder.  Also, larger trees from down south float 'up' the river toward the Arctic Ocean.  Hauling them back, cutting them to size and chopping them up keeps the body warm on the cold, windy days.

Andrew has taken on the volunteer role of Trail Maintenance Director for the Inuvik Ski Club.  With his team Andrew, keeps the 10km+ of trails groomed.

This weekend was Andrew's Birthday.  We took our new snowmobile down the river to some small lakes and went snowshoeing/Christmas tree hunting.  We found an awesome little guy and brought him home.  He now sits in our living room, giving of a strong spruce aroma, and fully dressed for the holidays!  To celebrate we brought hot chocolate and Baileys... but Andrew forgot the matches for the stove, so we just had Baileys instead!

Robin with her space suit on

Tree and saw

New sled and tow-sled

Snowshoeing

Tree Loaded and ready to head home

Our Christmas Tree

With the sun set for the year, we bundle up and keep the fire stoked.  In early January the sun will rise again and the town's energy returns.  The sunrise festival, Muskrat Jamboree and G'witchin Days kick off the first months of 2014.  We'll keep you all updated on our Arctic Adventures!  Feel free to leave questions or comments below.