Its hard to believe we arrived in Churchill, Manitoba only three days ago as so much has happened - especially today. I am here leading my Level 3 polar training course for two clients Andrew Lock and Neil Ward - although it is difficult for me to call either of these men clients as they are already more than accomplished adventurers and mountaineers.

Andrew was the first Australian to climb all 14 8,000 meter peaks and all but one without supplemental oxygen. Neil is a Himalayan veteran as well and has also rowed across the Atlantic Ocean several times. Needless to say, they are quick learners.

The goal of the Level 3 course is to expose people to all of the hazards you might encounter on the Arctic Ocean which isn't much of a problem here since Hudson Bay is technically the Arctic Ocean.

Today, we had a regular polar potpourri of adventures. The night prior we camped on the ice adjacent to the Prince of Wales Fort originally built in the early 1700's. After packing up camp we skied up to the fort to check it out. Most surprising to us were the very large polar bear tracks that meandered through the fort then headed into town. Everyone in town had told us that there weren't any bears around but maybe they meant except this one.

We skied out the mouth of the Churchill River toward the floe edge and open water. From the walls of the fort we could see the 'smoke' of water vapor rising from the warm water. We skied for nearly two hours while the ice got progressively and progressively thinner until eventually we were skiing on 'rubber' ice that bent underneath our skis. While I could see the floe edge, the ice was too thin to traverse.

Instead, we found another the ice section (it wasn't hard they were everywhere) where both Neil and Andrew donned big orange gumby-like dry suits and practiced swimming and lead crossing.

After over an hour of swimming, we packed up and headed east in search of pressured ice.

All in all it was a pretty fun day and much a typical polar expedition day - starting out one way, then ending quite another way.

I was ghastly sick for the past three days and am only know am beginning to feel somewhat human with a decent amount of energy - which is a huge relief. Guiding here takes all of my energy and focus as so many things can go wrong. Luckily Neil and Andrew are more than solid.

Of course, my 'systems' are well-oiled and being on the ice is, in one sense, like coming home.