Late on the 8th clouds gave way to sunshine; nearly calm to a
gentle breeze from west and southwest; temperature, 26.5° to
33.5°; 6 inches of snow on ground. I obtained a distant view of
about 100 Caribou resting near Glacier Pond. Perhaps less than a
quarter of them were old bucks; the remainder, younger bucks,
does, and fawns.
October 9 was largely sunny, with light rain in the evening;
wind light to moderate, southwest to south; temperature, 29° to
38°; ground with a 6-inch snow covering. No Caribou sighted.
Some snow fell on the 10th, though the day was partly sunny;
wind very light, south to west; temperature, 33° to 36°. No
Caribou sighted.
Clouds prevailed on the 11th; wind no more than very light,
westerly; temperature, 33° to 38°; about 4 inches of snow on
ground. Charles reported about a thousand Caribou scattered over
a long hill several miles to the northwest; they were not
traveling.
October 12 was marked by clouds, mist, and rain; wind light to
moderate, southwesterly; temperature, 32° to 40°. No Caribou
sighted.
There was a little sun on the 13th; wind light to moderate, west
to east; temperature, 37° to 45.5°; ground largely bare and
tundra ponds open. In the afternoon we set out for Simons’ Lake,
and camped about 4 miles up the Windy River. No Caribou sighted.
On the 14th we reached the upper end of Simons’ Lake, for a
several days’ stay at a deserted trading-post. There were snow
flurries and a little rain; wind brisk, westerly; temperature,
35° to 36°; ground mostly bare. A band of about 15 Caribou,
a solitary buck, and many tracks and droppings were seen along
the way.
October 15 was partly cloudy; wind very light to light, west to
northwest and east; temperature, 21° to 36°. Four Caribou
sighted.
October 16 was a stormy, cloudy day; wind brisk, easterly;
temperature, 30.5° to 34°. About a dozen Caribou were noted in
the vicinity of Simons’ Lake.
A strong easterly gale during the night, with heavy rain, was
followed during the day of the 17th by steady rain, with
moderate to light easterly or southeasterly wind; temperature,
35° to 38°. A single Caribou seen.
October 18 was partly cloudy; wind brisk to light, westerly;
temperature, 31° to 41°; waters open; some small patches of snow
in sight. Four Caribou (at least two of them bucks) passed by.
The 19th was partly cloudy; nearly calm to moderate wind, west
and northwest; temperature, 30° to 40°. About five or six bucks
(three of them together) appeared, perhaps moving south.
The weather on the 20th was raw, dismal, and gusty; wind brisk,
northwest; temperature, 27° to about 35°; some ice on Simons’
Lake; a little fresh snow on higher hills. No Caribou sighted.
October 21 was somewhat foggy; nearly calm; temperature, 25° to
32°; Simons’ Lake partly frozen; ground generally bare. A lone
fawn was seen as we started on the return trip to the Windy
River post.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
The Barren Ground Caribou of Keewatin — John Shaqi
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