'After some food, sleep and a hair-raising drive through the city my group hauled our things out of the schools trailer and into the airport. We were in Petrozavodsk, a small city in northwestern Russia 16,000 kilometres from my home in Tasmania. We were about to take a helicopter trip to the remote virgin forests in the north of the continent where we would be dropped off in the wilderness for 2 weeks of self-sufficiency. Before we could leave, it was apparently absolutely necessary we pass through the security system. I walked through the 'detector' with my 3 knifes, scissors, axe and saw. I have no idea what the security were looking for as I laid my substantial haul of weapons on the table - they didn't bat an eyelid'
This year has seem some substantial changes sweep through my life not the least of which have been coming to terms with minus 30 degrees Celsius, snow drifts taller than my house and moving over half way across the globe!
In 2003 I was offered a place as one of 16 people around the world on the International Wilderness Guide Course in Finland. I felt honoured and very excited at the prospect of taking up the challenge of expeditions in the arctic, solo skiing in Lapland, trekking in Russia and canoeing through Canada. The aim of the course is to develop an international co-operation network for the development of guiding around the globe. Along with 11 Finns, 3 Russians and a French girl we plan and carry out expeditions and study the essentials of International Guiding.
Our first expedition in October to the remote Vodlozero Park in North-western Russia was a huge learning experience for me. Russia is an incredible place where rules seem to go out the window, it is offensive to wear a seatbelt and people are incredibly generous and friendly. From our base in Petrozavodsk we took an old army helicopter 300 kilometres north to Varispelda, an isolated small community on the north shore of Lake Vodlozero and trekked for 12 days through untouched virgin forests.
This first expedition set the pace for what has been a busy 5 months. Besides a hiking trip far north of the Arctic Circle and learning to move about on those slippery things called skis, I have spent a month working in a small husky farm in eastern Finland. This time inevitably involved driving a large amount of very loud, very eager husky dogs very fast through small forest trails on a creaking wooden sled. I watched Finland transform into a glistening white wonderland and felt winter pinch at my skin. Which bring me to another important part of Finland: Sauna. There is no better way for winter to pinch that skin then when leaping from sauna to the snow and back again. The Finns really do roll in the snow. And it really is invigorating. But I would describe the feeling as less of a pinch and more of a punch!
In March, after 2 week's snowmobile training, our group will depart for England for a kayaking and canoeing course. Having kayaked in England in March before, I am not looking forward with great pleasure to the inevitable 'ice-cream headaches' that accompany Eskimo rolling in the icy water! When we return to Finland in spring we will head to Lapland again for a 9-day solo ski trek. This expedition I have been looking forward to with the most anticipation; for the challenge of spending so many days alone in the forest. I just have to watch out for newly awakening bears. In June we will be canoeing in the renowned Bowron Lakes area in Canada, and then to the Baltic Sea, for our final trip of flora and fauna study.
Between expeditions my time is taken up with business studies, assignments, nature knowledge and practical training. The funny thing is that my spare time also consists of much of the same! I am also kept busy with updating my website and writing reports of my adventures back home to sponsors, community projects, family and friends. I have also been giving presentations on Tasmania to just about anybody who will listen and have found the Finns to show a great deal of interest in our beautiful state.
2003 has presented me with some very big emotional and physical challenges; the new culture I am living in constantly surprises, delights and at times frustrates me as my learning curve bends around itself. There are times when I am sitting in a flimsy Finnish shelter, wind howling, minus 30, I am willing the feeling back into my fingers as I try desperately to get a fire going with frozen wet wood, and for a second I wonder what on earth I am doing here. Yet, it is those very times that I came for and thrive on. And now I'm hoping for more.
