Volume 11, 1958 - The Arctic Circle - Home

VOL Xl No.4
THE ARCTIC CIRCULAR
64
and Clements Markham Inlet were examined from the air, and the
valley of Clements Markham Inlet was chosen as a suitable route
for a traverse of the north slope of the United States Range. A
landing was made on a snowfield above the head of Yelverton Bay,
some 130 miles southwest of Clements Markham Inlet, and a
fossil collection was obtained from the gently inclined limestone
and sandstone strata which seem cilaracteristic of the higher
parts of the United States Range.
On May 18 the geological party, with dogs and sledge,
was landed near the head of Clements Markham Inlet to make a
reconnaissance along the main valley and glacier flowing toward
the inlet. Several fossil collections were obtained from folded
limestone and gypisiferous strata and the contact between these
and the more tightly folded Cape Rawson beds was located. A collection
of sheared and distorted fossils from the Cape Rawson beds may
be the first collection to be obtained from this formation. The
main expedition camp on Gilman Glacier was reached on May 30
and travel to the base camp at Lake Hazen was by dog team and
snowmobile.
On June 4 the geological party and Dr. M.S. Maxwell,
the expedition archaeologist, started down Ruggles River for an
extended trip in the vicinity of Lady Franklin Bay. Dr. Maxwell
remained at the site of some ancient Eskimo encampments near
Miller Island while the geologists went on towards Cape Baird on
June 8. The melt also began on this day, and, about five miles
south of Cape Baird, sledging had to be abandoned for travel by
foot on land. The highly folded, fossiliferous rocks at Cape
Baird were examined and a collection of petrified wood was obtained
from the locality discovered in 1882 by Sgt. David L. Brainard of
the Greely expedition. On June 18, using dogs with packs, a
traverse was made inland On Judge Daly Promontory, starting
from the shore of Archer Fiord, about thirty miles from Cape
Baird. The first rush of meltwater had receded by this time,
the streams were easily crossed, and a major stream was
followed southward well into the promontory. The geologists then
returned by the same route to the archaeologist's camp. On the
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25th the whole party sledged across the water-covered fiord ice
to Sun Bay. As the ice of Ruggles River seemed an uncertain
route for return at this stage of the melt season the sledge,
I
specimens, and heavy equipment were cached. The party moved
up Black Rock Vale on June 27, and reached Lake Hazen the
following day. A party from the bas e camp later welcomed the
travellers at a rendez vous and all returned to the main camp by
Bombardier snowmobile on June 29.