Auyuittuq National Park

Auyuittuq means the land that never melts, and the park protects a corner of Baffin Island where the Penny Ice Cap sits above granite walls that drop straight into a glacial valley. The Akshayuk Pass runs about a hundred kilometres between two fjords and is the route almost everyone takes, crossing the Arctic Circle partway along, with Mount Asgard's twin flat-topped towers and Mount Thor above it; Thor's west face is the greatest vertical drop known anywhere, twelve hundred metres of rock that overhangs at about fifteen degrees past vertical. There are no trails as such, only cairns and river crossings, and emergency shelters at intervals. Access is by boat from Pangnirtung in summer or snowmobile over sea ice in spring.

History

The park was established in 1972 as Baffin Island National Park, a national park reserve, and in the mid-1970s Parks Canada renamed it, after some debate, to reflect the landscape and the Inuit history of the region: Auyuittuq is Inuktitut for the land that never melts. It became a full national park in 2000 (Wikipedia, Auyuittuq National Park).

What's there

• Mount Thor - the greatest vertical drop on earth, 1200 metres of overhanging rock.
• Mount Asgard - the twin flat-topped granite towers above the pass.
• The Arctic Circle marker - crossed partway along the Akshayuk Pass.
• The Penny Ice Cap - remnant of the ice sheet, above the valley walls.

When to go

Late June to early September for hiking, once the sea ice has gone and the boat transfer runs; April and May for skiing the pass over frozen ground and sea ice, which many find easier than the summer river crossings. Every visitor must complete an orientation at Pangnirtung.

What to expect

This is a full expedition, not a hike: unbridged glacial rivers that rise through the day, no trail, no rescue nearby and polar bears possible at the fjord ends. Everything is carried. Getting to Pangnirtung means flights through Iqaluit at a cost that surprises most people, and weather grounds them for days. Numbers are small for good reason.

Nearby

Pangnirtung is the gateway; Iqaluit is the air hub for all of Baffin.

Key facts