The Blizzard up North Continues....

Well yesterday was another day spent in Yellowknife, as the blizzard up North at Resolute prevented us flying again.... Tension builds, but in some way I was happy to have another unplanned rest day, and my toe is now significantly better for it.

At this stage we are still hopeful that this delay in getting to Resolute will not delay our Expedition start date, however the reality is that we probably will be delayed. With 6 expeditions leaving, we are scheduled last to be flown up to the start point, so we will just have to wait and see. I have used this time to rest, read and get my mind 'locked onto' the task ahead.... The only time I get a bit of a wobbly is immediately on waking in the morning to a vivid, peephole picture through my sleeping bag hood of my -55 Deg C 'room', that ice encrusted tent and us packed like sardines, with 'another' 10 hour march day ahead. It only takes a few seconds and this uninviting image is replaced with a picture of me out there a very special world of sea ice, and in a mental solitude that for me is the ultimate meditation. I can't wait to 'get simple' again, and remove the last layers of everyday life clutter, exposing the very core of me.

At 9 am on Friday morning it is looking very hopeful that we will now fly to Resolute at 4pm this afternoon. It's still not 100% certain though, and I'll keep you updated!

Last night, while having my REAL last beer in my 'favourite' Yellowknife club, I had an interesting interaction with a middle aged, local Dene woman. (The Dene people being the local Aborigines, the land based version of the Inuits, who live off the sea.) She was interested in why I was in Yellowknife and clearly saw me as a misfit in the local community. On hearing I was walking to the North Pole, she almost dismissed this as 'just a tourist thing', saying I should be doing it the 'Inuit Way'. On questioning her what that was, she was disparaging implying that with modern equipment and technology we were 'cheating', saying the Inuits don't need half the gear, and it's all handmade, not bought from fancy outdoor stores. I didn't rise to the bait that could have gone down a more fundamental and emotive discussion, and the discussion turned to how I was going to struggle, as I am almost the physiologically opposite of an Inuit! Hmmm, lovely stuff to hear a few days before leaving for the North Pole, where the physiologically closer one is to an Inuit the easier it will be! Basically she was saying that I was tall, had long fingers, and toes, lower fat content, and overall a huge surface area to keep warm. The critical part being the short toes and fingers, which is where the larger heat losses take place! Add to that having spent almost 50 years in warm, humid climates, the reality of what she was saying really hit home.........Oh well, it wasn't like it was the first time I had thought about my 'physiological fit', and actually that is part of the challenge I have signed up for! I do feel (and talk myself into believing) that my physical and sporting background has provided me with a physiological advantage for pulling a sled over tough terrain. The important thing for me, is that I BELIEVE I have a strength that outweighs my weaknesses....The mind games hey!

Hopefully next Posting for Resolute..... I am now REALLY excited!