March 31, 2014
Day 17
Another cold morning and another day on the ice. Most of the day I teetered between total focus on the task at hand and feeling completely overwhelmed.
I'm glad I named my sled the H.M.S. Merritt because any time I see it sitting alone - in between one of our relays - it brings a smile to my face.
On a positive note, we didn't have to wait at any stop lights!
We struggled from the start just trying to find and kind of route through the pressure. We're in older multi year ice that is easily three feet thick and cracked, fractured, rafted, jammed, stacked, and where its not one of those things its drifted.
We're traveled perpendicular to the drifts which makes the whole process that much more difficult.
We found our way out - somehow then wound west on trying to follow a snaking open area (for 100 meters). So much of the ice and drifts we simply can't traverse.
Near the end of the day, we seemed to reach a dead end. A huge pressure ridge twice as tall as Ryan (over 12' in places) blocked our only way. So with no other option, heaved the sleds over one at a time - me pulling at the top and Ryan pushing below. Coming down the other side was so steep that Ryan belayed each sled while I added additional resistance. Its dangerous work and Ryan nearly got a finger seriously smashed.
On positive note number two, if we weren't in a battle for our basic survival, I could really enjoy this place. Ice chunks so blue and in every size and shape you can imagine. Totally amazing!
Obviously, if you're reading this post you are finding it online somewhere but did you also know you can follow on Yonder - its a way cool app and if you're into sharing your adventure stoke with others, download it today!
Image: Ryan and our sleds at the big pressure ridge.
I'm glad I named my sled the H.M.S. Merritt because any time I see it sitting alone - in between one of our relays - it brings a smile to my face.
On a positive note, we didn't have to wait at any stop lights!
We struggled from the start just trying to find and kind of route through the pressure. We're in older multi year ice that is easily three feet thick and cracked, fractured, rafted, jammed, stacked, and where its not one of those things its drifted.
We're traveled perpendicular to the drifts which makes the whole process that much more difficult.
We found our way out - somehow then wound west on trying to follow a snaking open area (for 100 meters). So much of the ice and drifts we simply can't traverse.
Near the end of the day, we seemed to reach a dead end. A huge pressure ridge twice as tall as Ryan (over 12' in places) blocked our only way. So with no other option, heaved the sleds over one at a time - me pulling at the top and Ryan pushing below. Coming down the other side was so steep that Ryan belayed each sled while I added additional resistance. Its dangerous work and Ryan nearly got a finger seriously smashed.
On positive note number two, if we weren't in a battle for our basic survival, I could really enjoy this place. Ice chunks so blue and in every size and shape you can imagine. Totally amazing!
Obviously, if you're reading this post you are finding it online somewhere but did you also know you can follow on Yonder - its a way cool app and if you're into sharing your adventure stoke with others, download it today!
Image: Ryan and our sleds at the big pressure ridge.