Yesterday we traversed the ‘monkey tail’ just clipping it’s end, heading north from Barrow up 150W. Along the way we experienced a full portfolio of freeze up conditions. On the 27th, steaming westward along the multi-year ice edge there was a swell and pancake ice formation. When we return to the ice edge yesterday it was flat calm and sheets of ice were forming. We entered the tail, to find low coverage of multi-year ice, and plenty of nilas, young grey ice and thin first year ice. The hotch-potch of young ice types telling the story of several days of freezing conditions. We exited the monkey tail, and the wind had kicked up a little, causing pancake formation at the ice edge. I hope these photos convey how beautiful the ice pack was during our traverse.
Right now there is no ice in sight. We are in a hole where first year ice has completely melted out this summer. So time for me to catch up with data entry (yawn!).
Incidentally, can anyone can identify the bird that blew into our ship during the winds two days ago?
~Jenny Hutchings
