The Northwest Passage—and the many expeditions to travel it—have been an ongoing example of the conflict between man and nature. The romance of conquering the north centers around courage and wherewithal, which multiple adventurers have taken with them as they trek north.
Although you might not be venturing quite that far north any time soon, Icewear has our new Arctic Explorer line inspired by the extraordinary history and draw of the Northwest Passage.
The Arctic Explorer line was designed for the most adventurous among us (and you’ll see why below). The gear is colorful, not unlike the dancing Aurora under a clear sky. Exploring the Nordic north can now be done in style and the utmost comfort, whether you’re standing at the foot of a glacier inhaling clean, rich oxygen or sailing around icy lagoons.
So, for all the adventurers out there, we’re here today to tell you more about the Northwest Passage and history of expeditions that inspired our new Icewear line.
Geography of the North West Passage
The North West Passage refers to the 900-mile-long channel traveling from Canada’s Arctic Archipelago (about 500 miles north of the Arctic Circle). It’s a sea route filled with ice that appears to be unnavigable, but in fact the grey-blue slabs of ice are always shifting.
To reach the Norwest Passage, a vessel must embark on a path through tens of thousands of giant icebergs—some up to 300 feet high—drifting slowly between Greenland and Baffin Island. And at the exit from the passage to the Pacific, the polar ice cap presses firmly down on Alaska’s north coast, creating a funnel for massive sheets of ice into the Bering Strait where may ships have failed to pass.
Reykjavik has a quite modest climate due to the warm gulf stream, and Icewear´s Arctic explorer collection is perfect for exploring the city and it´s near surroundings. The quest to pass through the Northwest Passage required more extreme cold weather coats. It has been one of the harshest and most dangerous maritime challenges over time. Nonetheless, or perhaps even because of that, it’s attracted the curiosity and imagination of some of the world’s most daring explorers.
Arctic explorers: those who’ve lived it
Explorations through the Northwest Passage started as early as the 1500s and continued through the 1700s without any success.
From 1776 into 1778, James Cook led one of the best-documented expeditions to the Northwest Passage. Other explorers worth mentioning are the Norwegian Fridtjof Nansen, who ventured north almost a hundred years later. So did Robert McClure, Roald Amundsen and Ann Bancroft. Ann Bancroft was the first woman to ski both the North and South poles, and has also skied and sailed across Antarctica.
Arctic wear from Icewear
Icewear’s Arctic Explorer gear includes extreme cold weather coats, downjackets, sweaters, hats, gloves, headbands and more. All the articles and accessories have an Icelandic flag and “skjaldamerki” national emblem (a coat of arms) in commemoration of the Arctic explorers.
The unique experience of taking in Nordic landscapes in all their beauty is made possible, in part, by the explorer-inspired Arctic expedition coats, sweaters and accessories designed for exactly the adventure you’re after. Be warm, be well, and bundle up!
