November 2, 2007
Stiff Upper Arctic Lip
Remember Mark Wood from England who visited northern Minnesota in July? Well, now I am in England visiting him.
Mark was in Minnesota to interview for the North Pole leg of the Save the Poles expedition (and is now an integral member of the team). Now, the roles are reversed. I am in England to help Mark Launch his new polar expedition company called Snowball Expeditions.
Just the party and slide show tonight is going to be an exciting adventure. That's right - a slide show. Let me just digress a bit and tell you a little bit about Polar expeditioning in the UK. You see, in the UK, exploration is part of their national identity. People like Ernest Schackleton, Henry Hudson, John Franklin are iconic of British perseverance. You know, the whole stiff upper lip, stoic, no emotion thing.
Even Robert Scott who died in Antarctica is considered a national hero for his ability to withstand pain and suffering at all costs. Of course, he did die in Antarctica 11 miles away from a supply depot in a whiteout. I guess paying, in the end, the ultimate cost.
Now don't get me wrong. The Brits are tough. And it is definitely exciting to be a part of Mark's new adventures. Others are excited as well. And the weekend's events will feature all sorts of Polar greats.
Oh yea, about the picture... can you tell which one is Mark?
Mark was in Minnesota to interview for the North Pole leg of the Save the Poles expedition (and is now an integral member of the team). Now, the roles are reversed. I am in England to help Mark Launch his new polar expedition company called Snowball Expeditions.
Just the party and slide show tonight is going to be an exciting adventure. That's right - a slide show. Let me just digress a bit and tell you a little bit about Polar expeditioning in the UK. You see, in the UK, exploration is part of their national identity. People like Ernest Schackleton, Henry Hudson, John Franklin are iconic of British perseverance. You know, the whole stiff upper lip, stoic, no emotion thing.
Even Robert Scott who died in Antarctica is considered a national hero for his ability to withstand pain and suffering at all costs. Of course, he did die in Antarctica 11 miles away from a supply depot in a whiteout. I guess paying, in the end, the ultimate cost.
Now don't get me wrong. The Brits are tough. And it is definitely exciting to be a part of Mark's new adventures. Others are excited as well. And the weekend's events will feature all sorts of Polar greats.
Oh yea, about the picture... can you tell which one is Mark?