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Expedition
to the Torngat Mountains
Day
5: Monday, August 13
Holes of blue sky
We decide to make
a quick push for Mont d'Iberville at 8:00 this morning, although
we are greeted by grey, cloudy, drizzly, windy weather...
not the best conditions for a summit attempt. The rocks are
slippery and there are loose talus slopes to traverse. The
icefield is visible from the caribou trail we are following,
but the summit is hidden by low cloud and fog. We continue
nevertheless, and stop for a snack and a rest not too far,
in terms of distance, from the summit - maybe a good hour
and a half away - which remains hidden by cloud. Vinh and
Normand continue up and stop at the beginning of the fin-like
crest that leads to the top of Québec's highest peak.
Bruno and I follow shortly after, leaving Lisette with our
daypacks below. We also stop at the crest.
The conditions are not good enough to push for the summit.
With the strong gusts of wind and the sharp dropoffs on either
side, we decide to head back down. After lagging behind the
other members and losing the caribou trail, Lisette and I
negotiate a precipitous route to the alpine lake below, where
Normand, Bruno and Vinh wait for us. We manage to get down
safely and return to camp, tired, slightly disappointed, but
in good spirits nevertheless. The view from the crest was
incredible: cirques and peaks, fins and craggy cliffsides,
small patches of snow and alpine lakes, all shrouded by a
veil of mist and fog, vaulted by grey clouds with occasional
raggedy holes of blue sky beyond.
As if toying with us, on our way down, the weather cleared
and Mont d'Iberville revealed its craggy glory.
This weather pattern would repeat itself throughout the expedition.
Day
6: An Easy Day
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