Winter

The Churchill Northern Studies Centre sometimes offers classes in Arctic Survival and Igloo Building, where participants will learn the basics of surviving in the far north. In these classes, each participant gets to build her own igloo, under the supervision of an authentic igloomeister. Those who wish to do so can spend the night in the igloos they've built. Unfortunately, this year the class was cancelled due to lack of interest. It has been offered before, and will be again, although probably not in the same month as Easter and Passover.

At present, I am limited to references that might spark an interest in someone inclined to visit during Churchill's most challenging season. The main attraction of Churchill's austere winter is the atmoshperic phenomena. Below are some descriptions offered up by early settlers. Maybe I'll see you there next December.

"In the coldest weather the atmosphere is the most serene. Throughout the day the air is generally filled with icy particles, which are small beyond conception; these are driven about in the direction of the wind, and adhere to every thing which appens to be in the way of their progress. In the evening the stars begin to shine with refulgent lustre; and the contemplative mind is struck with reverence and awe, to see the Aurura Borealis darting with inconceivable velocity to all parts of the heavens. Very few winter nights pass in Hudson's Bay , without this phaenomenom making its appearance; sometimes the irradiations are seen of a very bright red, at other times of a pale milkky colour, undulating with every beauty it is possible to conceive or describe.

"In the winter season, it frequently happens that the air is so full of watery vapours, that the sun will be obscured for several weeks together. This is occasioned by the rime, which ascends from the open sea water, and being condensed by the cold, is driven by the wind to a considerable distance. I have seen the trees &c. fifty miles off to leeward, covered with it.

" During the cold serene weather in the winter, innumerable stars shine forth with inconceivable brilliancy; and, added to the beautiful appearance of the moon, make a most reverential and splendid appearance; Parhelia likewise become visible, which is a sure indication of intense cold; and Paraselenes or mock moons appear, when the vapours rising from open water become condensed by the frost."--Edward Umbreville. The present state of Hudson's Bay: containing a full description of that settlement, and the adjacent country, and likewise of the fur trade with hints for its improvement, &c,&c ed. W. Steward Wallace, The Ryerson Press, Toronto. ( from Encounters on Hudson Bay, Churchill Region by L. Brandson and B. Chartier.) The date of Umberville's comments is given as 1954. (I mention this because his use of language seems somewhat archaic for the mid-20th century and I will wonder (until I verify) if there has been a date typo in the reprint)

The Northern Lights By Samuel Hearne.

Sometimes during winter, the Churchill Northern Studies Centre offers non-credit classes. People interested in unusual weather phenomena should consider visiting the area during winter and experiencing the aurora borealis while actually learning something about it.


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