Baffin Island

Inspired by Eric Boomer and Sarah McNair-Landry’s trip to Anijaaq Fjord in 2020, Donette and Todd visited Baffin Island (Nunavut) in August 2022 with two Scottish climbing friends. Utilizing Skip Novak’s Pelagic sailboat, operated by Chris Kobusch (Germany) and Tor Bovim (South Africa), the group sailed from Iqaluit to Akilisaq (Victoria) Bay. There, they did two new routes on the obvious south-facing slab, then moved north into Anijaag Fjord (Lincoln Bay). Over two weeks, the team did nine or so new routes on the south-facing formation to the right (east) of the Sedna Wall. All of the routes climbed were moderate in difficulty (5.6 to 5.9) and one to six pitches in length.

On wet days, numerous hikes were done in the fjord, as well as in Tuniqtaq (Napoleon) Bay and on nearby Qallunaat (Kodlunarn) Island. Fresh polar bear scat and ultimately, a female polar bear with two cubs were seen. Toward the end of the three-week sail, the party crossed Frobisher Bay and reconnoitered the climbing potential near the Aujuittuq (Grinnell) Glacier before returning to Iqaluit. The trip was documented in the 2023 American Alpine Journal.