Yol xxYr - The Arctic Circle

MM{BERS' NEIIdS
I\4r. E. Whallev reports that "the Ottavsa and l4ontreal Sections of the
Alpine Ch:lc of Canada held a ski-nm:ntaineering expedition to tJ:e
notntains a:ror:nd Stsuart Valley, about. 50 rnilei weit of Clyde, in
Baffin Island. I\ilrne of the nxu-rrtains aror:nd had been climbed, and we
clirrbed 21, including the spectacr:1ar spire, longstaff Peak, during
ttrree weeks i-:r }hy-Jr:ne 1977. Ttre expeditions consisted of 14 persons'
organized and led by K" O'Cor:nell and E. Whalley". i\4r" Whalley continues:
"In August 1976 I was in Malcinson In1et, Ellesnere Island,
clinbing the rnor:ntains - the f-irsL climbing party in the area".
T\arentlz-seven sites in Canada's high i\rctic, each caref-uIly studied'
defineo and rnapped, have been presented for goverrnent protection as
ecological reserves" tlnder tkre world International Biological Progrant
(IBP), these sites have been identified as being appropriate for
ecological resenres and in need of protection. Maniz c-ontain endangered
aninal pcpulations, un-ique plant associations, br--e,ling areas or
critical ranges for animals or natura-l- featr:res. None of the sites
has yet ga-ined tlre status of a protected area" In an eff,crt to bring
attention to the IBP sites, rAn Arctic Oasis' has been developed by
ttre National M:sei:rn of Natural Sciences (NMNS) . The o