Arctic Awe 2023 | Beginnings...

"All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware."

I love Day 1 of any journey. So much hope and excitement, mixed in with anxiety for the unknown. Yet beautifully filled with a sense of relief to finally be implementing instead of planning. Last year on this day, five dog teams and 9 humans set out north from Qaanaaq on the start of a big expedition. Our goal was to have our trio get dropped off at the Kane Basin so we could ski onto Ellesmere Island to Grise Fiord for a resupply then onward to Baffin Island. We ultimately had to turn around, but the experience we had will forever be treasured. Today, I begin travels toward the start of a new journey... one that begins in Grise Fiord - last year's mid-point resupply. Who would have known that life would unfold into this. Amazing!

Lonnie & me driving our dog team and the komatik we built up the glacier onto the Greenland ice cap. An exhilarating moment. Photo by Jayme Dittmar.