From the Airplane En Route to Mt. Logan Airstrip, Yukon

48” x 48”

This was an adventure never to be forgotten. The stark, vast, white landscape seemed so uninhabitable, even though a friendly black lab joyously welcomed us with wagging tail and lolling tongue.

Once we had landed at the airstrip site, Tania and I traversed a hike of mildly mountainous terrain close by the camp. I suddenly required a short sit/lie due to significant dizziness caused by high altitude and lack of oxygen (only ME, and not the more youthful Tania!). We were such alpine novices. Once I was able to regroup, we got back to the Camp where there was a delicious lunch awaiting us in the main Quonset hut - hot homemade soup, warm homemade bread - even a tiny vase containing a single live pink flower at the table’s centrepiece. A live flower. How? Where? Average summer temperatures at this altitude hover at -27C. Winter temperatures are in the range of -45C.

What an adventure! Few people ever get this opportunity. To be able to engage with researchers, live among the grizzlies and caribou herds, be so generously welcomed by this learned institution, and to explore the very exciting Yukon Territory while we gather our artistic resources for our return to studio work and city life….an unequalled privilege!

Andy Williams, the pilot, at the Icefield Discovery Camp

This photo is of pilot Andy Williams, who was also the managing force at The Arctic Institute of North America in the several summers when I was there as an artist, and also in the company brilliant young scientists. Andy took two of us up to the landing strip near the top of Mt. Logan, where the Institute had a research base. We were so fortunate to get this fantastic opportunity. A fine lunch of homemade bread and hearty soup were served in the Quonset hut.

Icefield Discovery Camp and Mt. Logan

This is the “airstrip” at the Arctic Institute of North America’s Icefield Discovery Camp. Mt. Logan is of the Saint Elias Range and is the highest mountain in Canada at 19,551 ft. This mountain is the second highest in North America after Mt. Denali.

My artist friend Tania O’Donnell and I were privileged to arrive at the Icefield Discovery Camp in a small plane (Piper Cub??) through the generosity of our host, pilot/owner Andy Williams, who was Manager at that time of The Arctic Institute of North America at the Kluane Lake Research Centre, Mile 1054 Alaska Highway, 160 miles west of Whitehorse. You can check out the Arctic Institute of North America at: https://klrs.ca

The flight itself was scary/awesome for two artists who’d never had the experience of flying in a small plane before. Looking down on too-close mountain peaks and sometimes being navigated through what seemed like too-narrow channels of rocky terrain gave much credit to our pilot.