-41°C. Not hot today. Not a good day for heating problems. However, the complete service of the boiler was necessary. Fortunately, once replaced, a few hours later, it started like clockwork. But meanwhile the stove stopped and the temperature quickly became negative in the boat! Cold air was falling so hard down the chimney that we needed several hours and a lot of smoke to get a nice fire again. Relief.
Wednesday night, I was invited to talk about Green Edge to the council meeting in Qikiqtarjuaq, on behalf of the laboratory Takuvik, who we work for since 2013, and who is leading this scientific program for 2015 and 2016. I had fifteen minutes flat, the atmosphere was very solemn, and there has been little debate: the municipality approved the project! An ice camp will be set up for four months in the south of Broughton Island to allow nearly fifty scientists to contribute to a major study of the phytoplankton spring bloom. Everything must be ready for mid-March, busy time!

Researchers are happy that I can do various underwater sampling, I also enjoy gathering with my fellow divers under the ice, picking up clams for us and for some friends (in addition to scientific sampling), and sharing some family time around the diving hole and inside the diver's shack. Good news, after repair, my suit is waterproof again, much appreciated!

Alex Hibbert for whom we dropped a large supply north of Greenland (September 2013), came to Qikiqtarjuaq with two fellow-countrymen and a very ambitious project. Probably too ambitious, as the previous one: the depot was eventually offered to a caribou hunter. This time, they want to ski the Northwest Passage (3200km), without assistance, without resupply. Why? "Because it's harder!" Alex replied when he arrived. A week later, the various trials have questioned everything, it is now to organize resupply, to put harnesses to the dogs, and to try to reach Pond Inlet (800km). A great trip, anyway. Good luck!