Daily photo from Greenland
Okay, so this is me going out on the ice with a local hunter. It’s also one of those experiences that has seriously influenced a lot of my writing. If you’ve come across the bits where Maratse uses the wooden part of the ice staff to test the thickness of the ice, rather than the metal adze, then know that it was this day in February when I watched Hans do just that.
The plan was to check the longline. I agreed to help, not knowing that the ice was really thin in places, barely formed. It was so thin we left the dogs behind, tethered to a thick floe.
Yep, one could say my life was worth less than the dogs. ;-)
Of course, the sledge spread the weight, whereas a dog’s paw might go through the ice. My toes did, more than once. And I’ve never gripped anything quite so tightly as I did that sledge.
Hans walked ahead of me, testing the ice with the soft end of the stick.
It went through the ice like a hot knife through butter.
I held my breath.
Hans adjusted course.
These photos are misleading, as once we got past the sastrugi (the lumpy and bumpy bits you can see) the ice was like sugar glazing, and mostly transparent. I learned to slide the soles of my feet across it, rather than press my toes or heels upon it.
There was some stretch in the ice and it was quite fascinating, in a morbidly ‘I’m going to die’ kind of way.
We walked a couple of kilometres out to get around and ‘box’ the bad ice.
Oh, and the temperature was in the high minus 20s.
If ever there was a moment when Maratse was ‘born’ then this was it. But it would take me several years to realise it. ;-)
Need to escape the ice? Karl’s got a new Kickstarter!
My good friend and author Karl Drinkwater has a Kickstarter close to finishing. If you’re looking for some great Sci-Fi then be sure to check out the fabulous hardbacks Karl has created. It’s also possible to pick up Karl’s eBooks, including Afua that we penned together. Here’s the link.
Great story! I was CHILLED , expecting the worst!! 😱