Northwest Passage

The Northwest Passage is a sea route through the Arctic Ocean connecting Atlantic and Pacific. It was first traversed in a three-year voyage by Roald Amundsen from 1903-1906 after centuries attempts. The route picks its way through the shallow water hugging the islands in the farthest northern reaches of Canada. While the original voyage involved months of drifting locked in ice, today the waters warm just enough in August & September to sneak through open water without an ice breaker.

Geraldine will follow one of two routes. The traditional route travels between Baffin Island and Greenland. There is a shorter route, but more vulnerable to ice, that crosses the top of Hudson bay and snakes along the west coast of Baffin Island. This second route is dicey as it could be a costly dead-end mistake. On the upside it saves a potential 800 miles. We are not aware of anyone going this way on a east to west passage.


I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go — Genesis 28:15