Our last morning on the ice. Of course, while I'm excited to be heading home to see Maria and the kids, I can't help but feel a little sad about nearing the conclusion of another Level 1 Polar Training Course on Lake Winnipeg.
It's fun for me to share my knowledge and teach others about the subtle nuances of polar travel. Equally rewarding is to see the process of each student going from complete novice (often, but not all) to very competent and comfortable in such an extreme environment. There are so many details to understand and apply to be safe out here and I worry that students will grasp not be able these concepts. Yet they do (it's not rocket science after all). There is still more to learn, obviously, but from here on out, I feel confident in sending each person off on their own adventure. In fact, one of my students from last year is en route to Winnipeg as I write this to complete his own solo expedition in the North Basin a part of the lake that dwarfs the southern bays in which we travel. Good luck Brad!
This year, we had very cold windchills - in the minus 40's setting up camp was brutal. It was nearly a white out as well as we skied west toward the middle of the lake.
The wind dropped as we melted snow for breakfast and packed up camp. By the time we were skiing it was down to a light breeze at our backs. The surface had hardened considerably and we were able to ski along at a relatively fast pace with minimal effort. I reflected on how big an impact fresh snow has on this type of travel. It doesn't take much blowing or new snow to adversely affect your forward progress. While I've always known this, I was reminded of it with the stark reality of not being able to make enough miles in Antarctica nearly two months ago now.
With the wind at our back we took leisurely breaks and even stopped for a few extra photo ops and a drone flight. We kept a steady pace and were able to cover our greatest distance of the trip. We all remarked how comfortable it was to set up camp on a calm but cold Lake Winnipeg. Everyone had been tested - more than they expected, but all were impressed with their newfound abilities to stay comfortable no matter the conditions.
I was worn out with the effort and solitude after Antarctica, but feel reinvigorated after my time here on Winnipeg. In our normal every day life, we go from here to there seemingly every second, but the opportunity to slow down... To be a small figure in a huge landscape... To travel across big spaces in a deliberate and purposeful manner is a unique and special opportunity in today's world. I look forward to coming back and rediscovering the cold next year with a new group of future polar adventures.
Luckily, summer will be short lived.
So do yourself a favor and always remember that, 'It's Cool to be Cold' and 'Think Snow'!
Image: Me and my shadow times six.
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<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="auto" style="word-spacing:1px;color:rgb(69,69,69)"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);font-size:1rem">[s]</span></div><span style="font-size:1rem;word-spacing:1px;color:rgb(69,69,69);background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><div dir="auto">[c1]p:50 43.6771N:96 28.9122W</div></span><div dir="auto" style="word-spacing:1px;color:rgb(69,69,69)"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);font-size:1rem">[t]Level 1 Polar Training - Day 7<br>[l]Lake Winnipeg, Manitoba <br>[a]Eric Larsen<br>[b]Our last morning on the ice. Of course, while I'm excited to be heading home to see Maria and the kids, I can't help but feel a little sad about nearing the conclusion of another Level 1 Polar Training Course on Lake Winnipeg. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="word-spacing:1px;color:rgb(69,69,69)"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);font-size:1rem"><br></span></div><div style=""><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><font color="#454545"><span style="font-size:1rem;word-spacing:1px">It's fun for me to share my knowledge and teach others about the subtle nuances of polar travel. Equally rewarding is to see the process of each student going from complete novice (often, but not all) to very </span><span style="font-size:16px;word-spacing:1px">competent and comfortable in such an extreme environment. There are so many details to understand and apply to be safe out here and I worry that students will grasp not be able these concepts. Yet they do (it's not rocket science after all). There is still more to learn, obviously, but from here on out, I feel confident in sending each person off on their own adventure. In fact, one of my students from last year is en route to Winnipeg as I write this to complete his own solo expedition in the North Basin a part of the lake that dwarfs the southern bays in which we travel. Good luck Brad! </span></font></span></div><div style=""><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><font color="#454545"><span style="font-size:16px;word-spacing:1px"><br></span></font></span></div><div style=""><span style="font-size:16px;word-spacing:1px;color:rgb(69,69,69);background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)">This year, we had very cold windchills - in the minus 40's setting up camp was brutal. It was nearly a white out as well as we skied west toward the middle of the lake. </span><br></div><div style=""><span style="font-size:16px;word-spacing:1px;color:rgb(69,69,69);background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><br></span></div><div style=""><font color="#454545"><span style="font-size:16px;word-spacing:1px">The wind dropped as we melted snow for breakfast and packed up camp. By the time we were skiing it was down to a light breeze at our backs. The surface had hardened considerably and we were able to ski along at a relatively fast pace with minimal effort. I reflected on how big an impact fresh snow has on this type of travel. It doesn't take much blowing or new snow to adversely affect your forward progress. While I've always known this, I was reminded of it with the stark reality of not being able to make enough miles in Antarctica nearly two months ago now. </span></font></div><div style=""><font color="#454545"><span style="font-size:16px;word-spacing:1px"><br></span></font></div><div style=""><font color="#454545"><span style="font-size:16px;word-spacing:1px">With the wind at our back we took leisurely breaks and even stopped for a few extra photo ops and a drone flight. We kept a steady pace and were able to cover our greatest distance of the trip. We all remarked how comfortable it was to set up camp on a calm but cold Lake Winnipeg. Everyone had been tested - more than they expected, but all were impressed with their newfound abilities to stay comfortable no matter the conditions. </span></font></div><div style=""><br></div><div style=""><font color="#454545"><span style="font-size:16px;word-spacing:1px">I was worn out with the effort and solitude after Antarctica, but feel reinvigorated after my time here on Winnipeg. In our normal every day life, we go from here to there seemingly every second, but the opportunity to slow down... To be a small figure in a huge landscape... To travel across big spaces in a deliberate and purposeful manner is a unique and special opportunity in today's world. I look forward to coming back and rediscovering the cold next year with a new group of future polar adventures. </span></font></div><div style=""><font color="#454545"><span style="font-size:16px;word-spacing:1px"><br></span></font></div><div style=""><font color="#454545"><span style="font-size:16px;word-spacing:1px">Luckily, summer will be short lived. </span></font></div><div style=""><span style="font-size:16px;word-spacing:1px;color:rgb(69,69,69)"><br></span></div><div style=""><span style="font-size:16px;word-spacing:1px;color:rgb(69,69,69)">So do yourself a favor and always remember that, 'It's Cool to be Cold' and 'Think Snow'! </span><br></div><div style=""><font color="#454545"><span style="font-size:16px;word-spacing:1px"><br></span></font></div><div style=""><font color="#454545"><span style="font-size:16px;word-spacing:1px">Image: Me and my shadow times six. </span></font></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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