08 Sep 2016

Farewell to Wrangel Island

We said our farewells to Wrangel Island this afternoon.  We spent the morning ashore in Doubtful Bay. There we came across three Muskoxen that allowed us to get relatively close and after they moved on passengers were free to spend their last hours as they wished. Some simply sat and contemplated the wealth of experiences we have had, others botanised, others photographed.  Without exception all have been affected in some way by Wrangel… it is impossible not to be. When we reflect on what we have seen and done this expedition it is not just the  numbers and diversity of species, it has been the intimacy of many of those encounters. We have seen an estimated 120 Polar Bears (we are still checking our notebooks), approx. 40 Muskoxen, numerous Walrus, snowy owls, Snow Geese, Arctic Fox, Gray Whale and Lemmings.  No other island on this planet that has the same magic and mystery, Wrangel Island is simply and utterly unique.

We hosted the Rangers and Inspectors from the Island to a special lunch on board before we sailed this afternoon, some of them will be returning to the mainland soon others are looking forward to a special winter here on the Island.  Farewells are always hard, this one was especially hard because for the months and years we have been coming here, these have become more than friends, they are colleagues committed to Conservation in the High Arctic and committed to sharing their Island through advocacy.  We will be back and Wrangel Island has cast its spell over those aboard and holds a special place in our hearts.