The World of Nanook of the North
June 28th, 2011
Rose from sleep again this morning at 0730 with the public address wishing me a good morning and giving our coordinates with us being at 87 degrees North. The weather outside our cabin was foggy with a light drizzle of rain and a temperature of 0 degrees Celsius.
Breakfast like all meal times offers up not only fine dining but as well the company of fellow passengers. Like the multiple choices of what delectable food to feed on, we also have multiple passengers to converse with. Passengers are progressively changing from acquaintance to friends. One no longer is solely identified by their country of origins but with a name and being a whole person with whom much fulfilling, fun, and interesting conversations are to be had. This travel has assembled folks from all over the world and along with the daily lectures that educate us on the arctic, I likewise am learning from conversations and friendships with fellow passengers. Sharing this trip with others has allowed me to validate my experience on board and as well has drawn in new perspectives and insights that I otherwise might not have had.
I grew up fascinated by the documentary film “Nanook of the North”. It caught my imagination as a child and while I’ve grown up and learned to use the term Inuit over Eskimo, the film still holds my attention and lures me to its bygone era. I was pleased to be able to take in a discussion on the film given by Quark’s historian Bob and to then view the film in the ships library. What a thrill to one minute watch “Nanook for the North” and then be able to grab my tea and rise on deck to see, feel, and smell the world of Nanook. From deck, that black and white film suddenly turned into a vivid scene of colorful blue hues of ice, dark blue leads of water, and gray tinted skies. I caught myself day dreaming as I looked onto the seascape of ice and imagining Nanook in the distance on his knees patiently waiting with harpoon in hand for a ringed seal to rise from its breathing hole. I got absorbed into the world of Nanook, in disbelief now that the view before me could be of the same planet that contained the asphalt jungle that I had left prior to this expedition.
Waiting to take a tour of our ship, 50 years of Victory, I am looking forward to seeing it’s under belly with its engine rooms to learn more on how it is that this ship is able to help us attain our goal of reaching the North Pole.
We humans have come a long way in our means of polar travel. Polar bears and walruses that we have seen along the way have not changed through the course of recent history. They through the years though have seen man venture into their world in evolving vessels. From animal skin kayaks to ships of wood, iron, and steel, we have been able to push further North and with more ease. I’m reminded of past explorers like Robert Peary who sacrificed 8 toes due to frost bite in trying to obtain the prize of first to the North Pole. Others yet lost their lives in that same pursuit.
With our nuclear powered icebreaker we are currently at 88 degrees 20 minutes North with 100 miles to go before arriving at the North Pole.
The Seascape now has turned to constant pack ice with few if any open leads. The ice is thicker (3 meters) and the pressure ridges higher. The going isn’t easy as evident by the constant shaking and bumping of the ship from contact with the ice. The monitor and table on which I’m typing is likewise effected, shaking and trembling, making it difficult to enter this blog.
The North Pole is still a prize and one to be earned. All on board through the choices and efforts that they have made in life have positioned themselves to be on board. The prize is within reach. We hope to arrive 90 degree North late tonight or early in the morning. In this world, next morning while some may wake up on the wrong side of the bed, I may just wake up on top of the world.
Cheers,
Giovanni Savaglio
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