Churchill Birds: Photographer's Guidelines

June 20-28, 2003

Clothing

The weather in Churchill is quite variable in June. The "average" temperature is around 40-50º F., but can vary from the seventies to below freezing. (In 1999, we experienced a record high temperature of 83!) In addition, rapid changes in temperature and weather can occur when the wind shifts; winds blowing off the ice on Hudson Bay are very chilled. The average rainfall in June is less than two inches. Even on sunny days, the preponderance of open water makes for a very damp environment.

Current Churchill Forecast

Historical Weather Data for Churchill

It is possible that the Churchill River will still be choked with ice at the beginning of our trip, and that wildflowers will be blooming on the tundra by the end. Summer happens fast in the Arctic! It can also be interrupted by a blizzard. When the temperatures rise, mosquitoes abound, and mosquito protection is a necessity (see below). A cold north wind may cause them to disappear the next day, and the following day they may return in force.

Conditions such as these are best met by dressing in layers. For example, rather than bringing a down parka for the coldest days, wear a Gore-Tex or similar outer shell with long underwear and a fleece jacket underneath, and strip off layers as it warms.

I advise you to avoid all cotton clothes while we are out in the field. Cotton is easily soaked, takes forever to dry, and will leave you seriously chilled when the wind blows. There are a number of synthetic materials and clothing designed for outdoor sports; a good hiking or mountaineering store can assist you. Similarly, synthetic fleece garments are more versatile and much faster-drying than wool.

You will not need shorts or short-sleeved shirts as outerwear, since on warm days the mosquitoes will be out. Long-sleeved shirts and long pants made from the new high-tech fabrics by companies such as The North Face are versatile, quick-drying, and good for layering. Synthetic hiking pants with generous pockets and reinforced knees are useful.

We will be traveling in a spacious van with plenty of room for gear and clothing, and will usually be no more than 5-20 minutes from the vehicle. It is not practical to photograph in heavy rain. But it’s useful for you (and your equipment) to be able to endure brief showers. We will still go out in the van on rainy days, because the weather can quickly clear.

Here are some suggested items:

• Gore-Tex or other breathable rain shell/windbreaker with hood - roomy enough to layer underneath
• light-weight windbreaker (one that can be stuffed into your pack or camera bag is handy)
• breathable rain/wind pants (loose enough to fit over your pants and long johns)
• long underwear tops and bottoms – I personally like Patagonia’s Capilene Mid-Weight long johns and zip T-necks; I also used Expedition Weight on the coldest days
• warm fleece ski cap
• lighter-weight hat (a soft brim makes life easier when using your viewfinder)
• warm gloves – those made for photography with rubberized dots on the fingers for gripping are particularly nice
• fleece jacket
• synthetic long-sleeve shirt, e.g. The North Face TekWare, loose-fitting for layering over long underwear
• synthetic hiking pants