Far Afield - Explorers Club · The Explorers Club – Canadian Chapter 2 Hello Canadian Explorers, The century-old Explorers Club remains a small and unique group of accomplished

The Explorers Club – Canadian Chapter 1 www.explorersclub.ca

News for the CaNadiaN Chapter

Vol. 5 No. 1 Summer 2013

Far Afield

Photo by George Kourounis. See page 19 for an explanation.


Hello Canadian Explorers,

The century-old Explorers Club remains a small and unique group of accomplished individuals. TEC is a meeting place for men and women who are compelled to explore the boundaries of this planet both scientifically and artistically, and to publish the results. Few organizations can concentrate so much exploration and scientific experience in a room, as this one.

In that vein, I would strongly encourage all of you to participate in your local events, and meet some of your brother and sisters. You’ll not regret the experience. This summer the Alberta-NWT region will be holding their annual field trip at Settler, the Ontario-Nunavut Region is holding monthly speakers’ dinners in Toronto, and our Atlantic-Quebec region will be reinstituting a program with the help of their capable new regional director, Dale Dunlop MI’08. And this September the legendary Salt Spring Symposium will be held on the West Coast.

The best TEC has to offer can be found in these gatherings. In both the presentations, and face-to-face conversations, I am continually amazed at the passion and professionalism our members display in their work and lives. The speakers often provide a deeper understanding of why we are driven to explore, and why we’d be so much poorer if we didn’t. Invariably I find parallels in our lives, make new friends, and learn our members’ works are frequently the result of an inner dedication or resolve that spans decades despite financial and physical hardships.

So let’s get out there and get inspired - both into the field, and to our meetings. You’ll be glad you did.

One final note.....if you have colleagues or friends whom you wish to sponsor, your regional directors and I have done this many times before, and we can help guide you through the process as a new sponsor. Just send us an email and we’ll walk you through it.

John PollackChairCanadian Chapter

Message from the Chapter Chair John Pollack FI’06


An ode to OutpostOutpost is Canada’s award-winning outdoor-adventure magazine. We’re very fortunate to have a close relationship for several reasons. One is that they generously provide us with complimentary issues. Another is that it provides fabulous exposure for The Explorers Club and the Canadian Chapter. And a third is that their Field Notes section provides us with a special forum to present our individual exploration interests. Each column profiles the field work, research, study, science and adventure of one of our members.I’ve been a writer since 1972 when I was a radio producer, and a freelance writer since 1973 when I had my first travel article published. Since then – I’ve been gainfully unemployed since 1977 – I’ve published hundreds of articles on a wide range of subjects in both magazines and newspapers, as well as screenplays, stage productions, some television and books. In that 40 years I’ve seen the market for writers not so much shrink as shrivel. I liken today’s writers’ reality to a mud hole on the African savannah where once a lake teemed with life. A few muddy fish flop about and those are the surviving writers, too stubborn or stupid to leave and get a real job.

The print world is disappearing like a steadily moving tsunami. To mix metaphors, it’s blown up and shredded, a TnT reality –Twitter and texting. Newsweek has gone digital. Publishing companies are closing their doors. The newspaper you read with morning coffee is a fraction of its size even 10 years ago, if it’s even still around. I was talking to an old friend, a long time, highly respected reporter on the Vancouver Sun, in late April and she said she and several other reporters had just been offered early retirement packages. The freelance world I swam in so fluidly in the 1970s and 1980s – I more than paid for my first trip around the world stringing travel in 1978 and 1979 – is gone with the monsoon. Getting copy in subscription print is damned difficult these days.

And that’s what makes Outpost so special. Here we have a quality outdoor adventure magazine with its arms wide open to us. No, it doesn’t pay (that’s the fair trade off we have with them) but that hasn’t stopped me and many others in the Chapter from taking advantage of this fabulous open door to publicize our particular areas of exploration. And to reach a national readership.

What I’m saying is: use it. Don’t end up lamenting like local Toontown gal Joni did years ago, about not knowing what you got ’til it’s gone….

So, if like to share your exploration passion with the wider world, contact Editor Deborah Sanborn at [email protected] and run your idea by her. She has a very positive, open personality and is very approachable and she’ll be especially happy to hear from you, being a member, even if you haven’t been published before and don’t feel confident. Don’t worry – she’ll guide and help mold your article. That’s why she’s the editor. The word count is a generous 1,100 to 1,400.

Do it! as Jerry Rubin once said with raised fist. And that really dates me.

Communications DirectorJason Schoonover FE’86


Communications and connectingFor my director’s report this edition of the Far Afield, I was inspired to consider a theme of ‘communication’ in The Explorers Club. An example of exemplary communication to TEC Canada is in the on-going, always informative weekly blogs that Jason Schooner FE’86 puts together for the up-to-the-minute electronic distribution into our e-mail inboxes. I am grateful for his ability to keep us all updated with newsy bits about national and local goings-on of interest. There’s communication that for sure helps to keep us connected. In a recent blog, Jason wrote of the Public Communications Award of the Canadian Archaeological Association for a book about discovery of the Yukon steamship wreck, A.J. Goddard, recently awarded to co-authors John Pollack FI’06, Lindsay Thomas and Doug Davidge. Uncovering the fate of the old riverboat shows the how research like this can unveil stories about life in the recent past. Archeology doesn’t have to be ancient. Communication about this type of exploration helps us all realize how fast and how far things have changed in the last hundred years. And hasn’t the Canadian astronaut Chris Hatfield

Photo by Rosemarie Keough

Photo by Rosemarie Keough

Regional Director BC / YukonMary Morris FI’10


Exploring close to home last weekend at Sidney Spit near Victoria. Photo by Mary Morris.

demonstrated to us all the power of modern high tech story-telling and communication; from the truly out of this world and making the most of today’s social media technology. The pictures of the patterns and places back on Earth he shared were amazing. And in person, communication about our work and explorations is often through public talks and lectures. Volcanologist Cathy Hickson FI’05 was speaking recently at University of Vancouver Island in Nanaimo on Vulcan’s Fire - Taming the Fury. Maeva Gauthier SM’09 spoke at the Victoria Natural History Society Marine Night at the end of April, and presented on her Arctic film-making workshops along the north slope of Alaska (see last winter’s issue of Far Afield). Friends from other previous student gatherings Maeva has hosted were there, showing the networking effect of bringing people together to communicate and share about their work.Just back from a voyage along the wild coast of Africa, Pat and Rosemarie hosted the Salt Spring Island Folk Dance Festival, a celebration of ethnic dance, music, food, and costume. In addition to participants to the festival from as far as Bulgaria and England, the event was attended by several Explorers too (Ron Zuber, Cathy Hickson, Glenn Helmlinger, Jessica Lansfield). Although we haven’t had “official” TEC gatherings since last Far Afield, we do keep crossing paths with Explorers and folks we’ve met at Explorers events; and to me that’s one of the main strengths of club, the networking that goes on between like minds. Our Canadian member of the Board in NY, Jim Delgado FN’87 said he’s interested in “advocating for exploration as a means by which all in society can connect with the worlds we as explorers are fortunate enough to visit” Personally I am starting off on a busy summer of exploring the coasts of BC and far reaches of Alaska…dream jobs for a coastal ecologist. Looking forward to seeing many of you at the Salt Spring gathering in early September.


The annual Prairie/NWT region field trip took place on June 8. Twelve participants will take an Alberta Prairie Railway Steam train from Stettler Alberta to Big Valley. The round trip will be 140 miles. Look forward to the story in the next issue of Far Afield.

Nothing to report from the Atlantic Canada and Quebec Region. As a new director, I’m getting to know my members and embarking on a recruitment drive.

Regional Director Prairie / NWTMurray Larson FI’05

Regional Director Atlantic CanadaDale Dunlop MI’08

Photos courtesy Alberta Prairie Railway Excursion


Regional Director Ontario / NunavutElaine Wyatt MI’05

It’s been a busy six months. We’ve gathered for dinner on the second Friday of every month, even during one of the worst storms of the winter. Our monthly presentations have covered high altitude adventuring, superstorms and avalanches, mapping Napoleon’s battlefields, Napoleon’s 1798 expedition to Egypt and the underwater caves of the Yucatan.

Boundless crew Steven Bray (producer), Jordan Eady (director of photography) and Simon Donato. Dos Equis sponsored the evening. Photo by Luis Moreira, Breathe Magazine.

Film festival keynote speaker Bill Lishman spoke about his life as a sculptor, pilot, eco-activist, designer and polar adventurer. Photo by Barbara Mitchell.

Our annual film festival took place on March 22 and 23, opening with two episodes of Simon Donato’s new television program Boundless. I was in Zimbabwe during the weekend of the festival, but I’d like to share the experiences of those who did attend.From Simon Donato FI’09: “On Friday night we hit a homerun. The venue was fantastic and the event very well received. It was a great night with a solid and enthusiastic crowd.”From Barbara Mitchell: “Everything was perfect. The food, the service, the films and the efficiency of the Club’s staff. It was a marvel to behold. We came close to challenging the fire regulation for Friday night, but we were thrilled to have such a large crowd.” From Carol Anderson: “Saturday was filled with an amazing and tantalizing array of subjects. We had about a dozen films ranging from archaeology and ancient cultures to near-death experiences and leaping frogs. There was a discussion with the filmmakers followed by dinner with artist and aviator Bill Lishman, an engaging speaker who spoke about his life and his work.” More than 100 people were in the Club on Friday evening with Dos Equis supplying the beer and making it possible for Simon to join us. We had just over 60 people on Saturday. We attracted the attention of the media this year. Mark Terry FI’08 spoke about the festival on Arthur Yeung’s radio program Frameline.


Professor Eduard G. Reinhardt FI’ 04 is in the School of Geography and Earth Sciences at McMaster University in Hamilton. His research interests vary widely from isotope geochemistry to quaternary geology. His present interest in underwater cave exploration centering on geoarchaeology is fascinating. He writes: “In November 2005, I became interested in the aquatic caves of the Yucatan Peninsula while attending a presentation on the Cenotes of Mexico at the Kingston, Ontario Dive Show. I had never considered studying caves, but during the presentation I realized their potential for containing important geological and archaeological evidence. Some of the longest underwater caves are found in the Yucatan, with the Ox Bel Ha being in excess of 242 km. Now the caves are

Eduard G. Reinhardt FI’04

beautiful subterranean landscapes with gin clear waters, but they were once dry passages and labyrinths that entrapped unwary humans and now extinct animals.” “Few scientists visit aquatic caves because of the specialized training required for diving in the flooded cave passages with no direct access to the surface. In February 2006, I took my first cave diving course with Global Underwater Explorers in Mexico. I began diving in 1989 and I was a proficient diver, but found cave diver training challenging. I then had to ‘undo’ many bad habits that I had picked-up through the years. Learning precise positional and buoyancy control is a critical part of cave diving as well as precise dive planning with redundant equipment is required which is not part of recreational open water diving classes.”“For the research, we teamed up with members of the Mexico Cave Exploration Project who have explored and mapped the cave systems in the Tulum area of the Mayan Riviera and who are our main resource of information on the caves. They also provide logistical support and help with project planning and execution. We are also working with Projecto Espeleológico de Tulum

Outstanding Canadian members – Eduard G. Reinhardt FI’04Nat Rutter EF’78


and the Hoyo Negro Project, which is a late Pleistocene site containing human and mega fauna skeletons. The caves in the Yucatan are important since they contain intact skeletons of early humans and extinct mega fauna, large animals such as elephant-like gomphotheres and ground sloths.”The humans and animals were lured into the dry caves in search of water and/or carrion, or fell into the numerous sinkholes becoming entrapped and dying. We are using sediment cores, microfossils (foraminifera and the camoebians) and radiocarbon dating to understand when and why animals and humans may have entered the cave. As sea-level rose during the Holocene, the caves flooded preserving near intact skeletons that would ordinarily not survive in the highly weathered soils of the Yucatan. Several caves in the area have yielded human bones with the Naharon skeleton being the most studied and the oldest example (circa 14 ka). The ages of the skeletons and the anatomical features are important for understanding the timing of early migrations to the Americas across the Bering Land Bridge. In Hoyo Negro we have a human skeleton that was discovered in association with extinct mega fauna such as gomphotheres, and ground sloths, but also saber tooth cats etc. which is unique. Dating results for the human and animal skeletons are pending, but we anticipate a late Pleistocene age.” “My research using sediment cores reconstructs the cave environment and tries to determine when cave passages were closed with rising groundwater level. Rising ground water levels associated with Holocene sea-level rise would have cut-off cave passages at different times preventing animal and human access but we have little data on when this occurred and its effect on cave site formation and the accumulation of bones. The present groundwater is not entirely fresh in all parts of the Yucatan, so there are questions on its potability and whether animals and humans were lured into the cave for drinking water. Cave sediment cores and their microfossil content will provide important details on groundwater salinity in the past.”“Yucatan caves represent a new frontier in Quaternary science that has remained largely unstudied due to inaccessibility, but as more cave passages are explored the discoveries will increase. Venturing into an underwater cave not visited for millennia is awe inspiring, but requires specialized training to make sure you know the way out! “

We are in transition for the next student rep. Contact me at [email protected] if you’re interested in being involved or creating a local student chapter to organize activities. Don’t forget to take photos on your next field trip to share your experience with the Canadian chapter. It is always great to hear what all the students are doing out there.

Student representativeMaeva Gauthier SM’08


100 miles of wild: North Dakota Badlands transectField report for Flag Expedition 112By Simon Donato FI’09North Dakota is a vast and wild state that is currently facing a significant land use challenge. Until recently, the State was best known for its wide-open spaces, ranching and agriculture. The internationally famous Badlands of North Dakota, which is part of an erosional system stretching from Alberta to Kansas, inspired President Theodore Roosevelt, who was made an honorary member of TEC in 1916, to create the National Park System. The state has the 4th lowest population density in the U.S. with less than 10 people per square mile. North Dakota has a long history of progressive, independent, self-sufficiency and is the homeland of several Native American Tribes that still live there today. TEC Flag (112) Expedition: 100 Miles of Wild:The North Dakota Badlands Transect, had a simple aim: discover first-hand the condition of the “wilderness” that inspired Roosevelt’s effort to preserve wilderness for all Americans and the World.North Dakota is in the midst of an unprecedented oil-boom that has led to a rapid increase in road-construction, drilling, pipelines, and infrastructure throughout the oil-rich Bakken Formation, which underlies much of Western North Dakota and the badlands. The new oil boom has brought with it new technologies, and oil extraction is now accomplished by drilling lengthy horizontal wells, and then fracturing the shale formation (fracking) to release trapped oil. The rapid pace development for this massive industry has caused an astonishing expansion of drilling pads and roads into the wild interior of North Dakota. Questions about the environmental impact abound, and there is concern about potentially hazardous frack fluid entering the aquifers relied on for drinking water, cattle, and agriculture. While the oil-companies adhere to the state and federal regulations on development, the growth and rapid advance of the drilling front is at a scale that is difficult for anyone to perceive and understand. This has created significant polarity amongst North Dakota residents – some opposed to the rapid growth, others in support of it, all deeply affected by it. In late April 2013, Adventure Science launched the 100 Miles of Wild: North Dakota Badlands Transect, the first project of its kind across the rugged badlands. Rather than take the established Maah-Daah-Hey Trail, the team navigated primarily off-trail through areas of interest along a 100-mile transect. To tie itself to the history of the region, the trek started at Killdeer Mountain, a sacred location and site of a large battle between U.S. and Sioux Forces in 1864, headed to Theodore Roosevelt’s Elkhorn Ranch, and concluded in the Theodore Roosevelt Park (South Unit) in Medora, ND.

Photo by Simon Donato FI‘09

Explorer Reports & Updates


Three teams of two traveled on foot to seldom-visited, isolated places within the Badlands. The teams quickly discovered why off-trail areas of the Badlands (once referred to as “Hell with the fires gone out”) are seldom visited. The challenges were many, with sub-zero temperatures, challenging navigation through confusing, rough terrain, and very limited water sources. In addition, the teams found that there was a significant amount of elevation gain daily - with several teams recording well over 3000 feet of elevation gain in a 15-22 mile day. In the past, these challenges, combined with terrain unsuitable for horseback travel, and the sparse occupation of the area generally kept people out. Motorized vehicle travel is prohibited in much of the Federal land. The



inhospitable remoteness of the Badlands has left the wilderness largely undocumented and unexplored, which coupled with the certainty of development of this area, made it an intriguing area to explore. A team of eight Canadian and US members including athletes, academics, support, and medical participated in the project. The expedition format had a team walking a main line daily, and two higher speed teams explored areas adjacent to the mainline in looping transects we called “wings”. This allowed for greater overall coverage, as the wings extended into some very remote areas. Overall, 270 miles were covered on foot during the 10-day project, resulting in numerous findings and observations. Here is a brief summary:

WildernessIt is still a rugged area, with very challenging terrain, and difficult navigation. Definitely not a place for the unprepared. It is no longer Teddy’s contiguous wilderness however - it is very fragmented through development (ranching, roads, oil pads) and although wild areas are still abundant, they are not well linked in many cases.

Explorer Reports & Updates continued


OilOil pads/wells were visible in most areas we travelled through. In many cases we passed by/through pads, in others, they could be seen on the horizon. Flares were also seen although not common in the region we were hiking. We were pleasantly surprised that the oil pads were generally clean, quiet, and lacked strong petroleum/sulphur odours (although this was Photo by Simon Donato FI‘09

not always the case). Litter was minimal, although run-off seemed to be an issue on some pads. In addition, teams were equipped with H2S gas monitors due to purported risk, but no teams reported any seeps - natural or on a well-pad.

WildlifeWe spotted a wide variety of wildlife, both live, dead, and through tracks. Deer (mule and white tail), pronghorn, big horn sheep, coyote, bobcat (tracks), cougar (tracks), bear (scat). A number of birds were identified, including blue birds and a golden eagle. In the TRNP South Unit we spotted wild horses, bison, prairie dogs, deer, pronghorns, etc.

CulturalA number of archaeological sites and pre-historic bone beds were discovered. Cultural items found include an ancient spear point, and a flint scraper. Bone beds containing horse and bison remains were documented at several locations. We found numerous historic farming implements as well. All sites were marked by GPS and photographed. No collections or excavations occurred in the field.

General thoughtsAs the boom continues and oil development spreads, it is necessary to plan for conservation of these areas, to ensure that these wild areas are developed in a way to minimize the effects upon the landscape and the wildlife. This requires proactive planning and vigilance. In light of the fragmented nature of these wild areas, the creation of a wild/wildlife corridor would be beneficial to unify and preserve these regional assets. The effects of grazing/over grazing are highly visible on the landscape, in some ways more than the oil development, which has a relatively small footprint in the area we visited. Overall, I am very pleased with what we accomplished. It was a first for the region and the data will help provide a baseline for future development to compare against. It was easy to see how this landscape inspired Roosevelt. It is harsh, yet beautiful. One has to respect and understand it to survive however, and it is certainly no place for the ill prepared. More info can be found on www.adventurescience.ca/100milesofwild or www.facebook.com/adventurescience

Explorer Reports & Updates (cont’d)


painting expeditions. “Great Glacier” will become one of the largest landscape paintings ever created from the Canadian Arctic.For his outstanding achievements in both cinematography and on canvas, Cory’s Into The Arctic II was nominated for Best Performing Arts / Arts Documentary at the inaugural 2013 Canadian Screen Awards, formerly the Geminis. It is Cory’s hope

Cory Trepanier returns to the wilderness to capture Canada’s true wildArtist, adventurer and filmmaker Cory Trépanier has explored and painted some of the wildest places on earth. Now, he is returning to Canada’s most remote and spectacular National Parks in a multi-year wilderness legacy project entitled TrueWild.For 30 days, Cory will immerse himself in the wild mountains, ice fields, rivers and lakes of massive parks like Kluane, Nahanni, Pukaskwa and the Torngat Mountains National Parks to capture the most sublime vistas that Canada has to offer. With only a thin veil of nylon for covering each night, Cory will trek into remote and challenging wilderness locations carrying his easel, canvas, oil paints, camping and filming gear. While physically exhausting, upon return to his Caledon studio Cory will be faced the greatest challenge… choosing which of many overwhelming vistas will become his 8-10 foot legacy painting. Cory knows how hard this final task will be... he’s done it before.Trépanier’s 15-foot wide panoramic masterpiece “Great Glacier” (featured below) is part of his Into The Arctic Collection, a series of legacy paintings and documentary films airing on CBC Documentary Channel and HIFI (High Fidelity HDTV) that followed the story of his Arctic

Cory Trepanier

Cory Trepanier at work in Caledon.



that the raw beauty of Canada’s true wilderness will connect with and inspire others. TrueWild will be a cinematic and artistic “oeuvre” of Canada’s spectacular National Parks.“History is filled with artists that have impacted their culture,” says Trépanier. “To encounter them, one has only to look in museums around the world, where past civilizations are remembered through their paintings, sculptures, writings and architecture.” He cites Ansel Adams, Thomas Moran, A.Y. Jackson and Bill Mason as inspirations for his work. “Their artistic vision reached beyond their work, inspiring generations with the wilderness they portrayed on canvas, in photographs and on film.”These artists used their art to help protect the lands they were passionate about. In some cases, their influence was instrumental in the development of new parks, for the protection and enjoyment of all.” It is in this spirit that Cory is returning to the wilderness. The TrueWild project will launch mid-July 2013.To visit Cory’s incredible home gallery and studio and see his to see his works, visit www.trepanieroriginals.com. Follow TrueWild at www.truewild.ca

Taste of frozen tears on Antarctic polar plateauBy Carmen WuAustin Mardon CorMem’86 was only 24 years old when he went on the International Meteorite Recovery Expedition in Antarctica in 1986. Sponsored by NASA and the National Science Foundation, Austin traveled along with five other remarkable scientists for seven weeks where they examined meteorite impacts 170 km from the South Pole. Austin suggested the use of remote sensing to locate meteorites, and covering 1,100 km of land near Beardmore Glacier, they

Photo courtesy of Austin Mardon

discovered over 700 meteorites. From his work in the field he received the US Congressional Antarctic Service medal two years later. However, despite his remarkable work on the frozen ice cap, he was left both physically and mentally scarred. Austin was never athletic to begin with, and the physical stress from the expedition exhausted him. With winds of up to 120 mph, the frigid air seared his lungs causing permanent damage to them. Frostbite developed on his hand and feet, obtaining substantial nerve damage to both. He was told within 10 years he would need to amputate his legs, but was instead left with a limp he carries to this day. These near death experiences left him unstable



and emotionally damaged coming out of the journey. The extreme environmental exposure was shell shocking for him, finding the constant state of life and death straining, which ultimately shattered his mind. Post-traumatic stress plagued him, so severe that when he finally finished the trek and arrived home he could not count above seven. He descended into alcoholism to which he quickly recovered, but the bitterly cold trip triggered the onslaught of his schizophrenia, changing his life forever. Despite these harrowing events and the emergence of his schizophrenia, he continues to write about meteorites, although at a now diminished rate. Forced to abandon field work because of the devastating after effects of the trip, Austin has focused on manuscripts and literary work where he has made major contributions through the history of Alberta. He has also published through various journals, such as the Journal of Science and Technology as well as the journal for Nature. Twenty years after the expedition, Austin was inducted into the International Academy of Astronautics for his work in the field in addition to having over 200 publications and 50 books. “Discovery is documentation,” Colonel John Roscoe, a former Fellow of the Explorer’s Club, once stated, and this is how Austin continues to explore the academic world as he remains seated at his desk.

Hudson Bay – Epicentre of North American explorationBy Johann Sigurdson MI’12The Icelandic Sagas clearly tell us there were adventurers coming to North America 500 years before Columbus. This was proven at L’anse Aux Meadows in 1965 by a stubborn Norwegian by the name of Helge Ingstad .He and his wife Ann found definitive proof that Norse explorers had spent time there in 1000 AD.You would think that this would have sparked a search in North America for other sites, and some time was spent on the east coast, but it appears that academia has erected many barriers to independent thinking. Enter the independent thinking, intrepid Icelandic descendants who are organizing the Fara Heim Expedition.“Fara Heim” means “Going Home “in Icelandic / Old Norse.My colleague David Collette and I are determined to look where we think Norse exploration would have naturally occurred but where no one has spent much time looking, around Hudson Bay. The resource rich Bay is a short sail west of the Greenland settlement which had upwards of 5,000 and 10,000 inhabitants until about 1400 AD when they mysteriously disappeared. We are following the theory that many of them may have travelled to Hudson Bay in the several centuries after first establishing camps in Newfoundland.To expand our research efforts and increase our local knowledge we spent two weeks at the deltas of the Nelson River and Hayes River looking at the effects of changes in topography, isostatic rebound ,erosion and siltation at these major waterways that figured so importantly in Canadian history for over 1,000 years. We sailed in a boat very similar in size to a Norse “Faering” that may have been used to penetrate the interior of North America. This expedition has helped us to establish the search protocols we will adopt in our continuing quest for clues to ancient Norse presence in this historical hotspot. We camped in places that have definitive “recorded” history since the 1500s and absorbed the same sights, sounds, smells and 16-foot



tides of earlier explorers. We encountered polar bears, seals, whales, wolves and caribou as if there had been no changes for 1,000 years and tried to imagine where we would have spent time if we had been on location in those early centuries.An interesting result of our research uncovered a fascinating story known as the 1697 Battle of Hudson Bay. This was the largest naval battle ever fought in the Canadian Arctic and occurred in Manitoba between three English ships and one French ship captained by Pierre De Moynes D’Iberville. Outnumbered and outgunned D’Iberville sailed his 50-gun 200-ft. ship the Pelican against overwhelming odds and not only survived but sank the English man of war, captured the next largest gunship, lost his own ship and barely made it to shore in a raging blizzard. He went on to capture York Factory which the French held for 16 years.As a test of techniques for our ongoing search for Norse exploration 1,000 years ago, we are going to attempt to locate the two combatant ships the English Hampshire and the French Pelican. We are very fortunate to have the Hudson Bay Company Archives located in Winnipeg and access to the detailed diaries of eye witnesses which describe the battle including wind and weather. One we believe is in the water and the other; because of isostatic rebound, is onshore guarded by polar bears. We are organizing a two-week expedition based at York factory in late August 2013.We have positioned an expedition sailboat on Lake Winnipeg for the summer of 2013 to allow us to train crew and test equipment for our Hudson Bay expeditions. Some historians believe the Norse penetrated into the centre of the continent by following what would become the most important trade route for centuries, the Nelson River, which would provide access to Lake Winnipeg, western Canada and the northern USA. We will be looking at sites on Lake Winnipeg that may hold some clues to these concepts. Much of Lake Winnipeg’s north basin has extensive shoreline and many islands that are seldom visited and certainly by no one interested in visitors almost 700 years ago.For more information please go to www.faraheim.com to personally join us in the field with our quest or keep up with regular updates online.

Trent University archaeologists find ancient jade spoon in BelizeSignificant discovery helps explain purpose of Olmec spoonsArchaeologists from Trent University have discovered a rare jade artefact, one of the first of its kind to be found in an archaeological dig, while excavating the ancient Maya city of Ka’Kabish in Belize.The six centimetre jade object, known as an Olmec spoon, was unearthed in June 2012 from a 2,700 year old grave beneath the Ka’Kabish plaza along with 16 other jade artefacts. Similar objects have been recovered in Mesoamerica, but this is one of the first times an Olmec spoon has been found in a secure archaeological site.“Examples of these objects exist in museums, but they are largely from private collections, meaning they lack the archaeological details necessary for us to understand how and when these pieces were used,” said Helen Haines FI’10, assistant professor of Anthropology at Trent University and Ka’Kabish research project director. “These objects are rare to begin with and this is one of only two of this type that have been found undisturbed.”



Professor Haines said her team’s discovery will help answer questions about how Olmec spoons were used. “We found the object buried with dozens of marine shell beads so, in this case, we know it was worn on a necklace,” she said.The purpose of Olmec spoons is unknown. Researchers have speculated that they were used for snuffing hallucinogens, bloodletting or even weaving. Based on the location of the grave and the number of jade artefacts recovered, Prof. Haines believes the person buried there could be one of the city’s founders.

Western Yunnan biodiversity expeditionLee Harding FI’12 During February and March 2013, my brother Jeffrey Harding of Oregon, Han Liangxian of the Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, and I went to western Yunnan, China. My goal was primarily to see rare primates and assess their conservation status; Jeff’s objective was birds; and Han wanted to revisit some of his old bird and mammal study areas from decades past. This is a region of ethnic minorities: we visited the Dai autonomous county of Xishuangbanna on the border with the Lao Peoples’ Democratic Republic; the Bai autonomous counties from Dali and Cang Shan across the Lancang (Mekong) and Nu (Salween) Rivers to the Gaoligong Mountains along the Burmese border; Lijiang, centre of the Naxi culture and trading centre since ancient times from which horse and mule trains went south with silk and west with tea; and the Tibetan areas from Tiger Leaping Gorge on the Changjiang (Yangze) River to Zhongdian and Pudacuo National Park. We saw and photographed Eastern Hoolock Gibbons, Yunnan Snub-nosed Monkeys, Stump-tailed Macaques, and many other mammals; and we saw about 240 bird species. Prof. Han and I will jointly author a short paper for a scientific journal, reporting unique observations and photographs of the Yunnan Giant Flying-Squirrel. It is so poorly known to scientists that even its taxonomy is uncertain, and very few people—let alone scientists—have ever seen one in the wild. While I was nursing an injured foot, Jeff and Han got excellent photographs of an interesting mouse. A mouse may not excite everyone, but it turned out to be an extremely rare species that was first described in 1987 and is known only from Ruili County on the Burmese border—but they saw it in Deqin Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture nearly 500 km away! Their record will greatly extend the known distribution of this mouse. The photos of this species, as well as the giant flying-squirrel, other squirrels, gibbons and monkeys will be placed in the Mammal Image Library of the American Society of Mammalogists for the benefit of science and education in natural history.

Photo courtesy of Trent University



Among the 240 or so bird species that we saw were several whose distributions are poorly known and taxonomy uncertain. Our photographic records of these will aid in the scientific knowledge, and several have already been accepted by the Bird Forum, a UK-based citizen-science organization that hosts such records. Our bird records have also been provided to eBird, another citizen-science organization that helps researchers map bird distribution around the world. My main avian target was the Black-necked Crane, which we saw on the edge of the Tibetan Plateau, and celebrated with a yak meat hotpot and yak-butter tea.A few photos are posted at www.picasaweb.google.com/Lee.Coquitlam/. We arranged logistics through WildChina.com, which provided a local guide and driver for each of the regions we visited. WildChina’s arrangements for guides, drivers, accommodations, flights and vehicles were perfect, and left us free for dawn to dusk biologizing each day and some nights.”

Exploring the health of the world’s rivers: China Mark Angelo FI’09 We had an amazing journey through the Pearl River watershed. We started our trip along the Li River south of Guilin. This area has long been one of my favorite parts of China; the karst landscape is inspiring and the river is beautiful (and still in pretty good shape in its upper reaches). But, as with many rivers, as it moves downstream, it picks up an increasing amount of pollutants and contaminants. While it starts off as one of China’s cleaner waterways, by the time it merges with the Pearl River, it becomes one of the country’s most polluted. Our film will clearly illustrate that progression. As we traveled, we discussed a number of issues centering on both water pollution, and water scarcity. Also, a substantial percentage of China’s rural population utilize water that has been contaminated by either human or industrial waste. Consequently, in many of the areas we visited, gastrointestinal cancer is the number one killer in the countryside.As we approached the mouth of the Pearl River, the industrial pollution affecting the river became severe. And while the lower Pearl River continues to be referred to as the “life-blood of the world’s factory floor” (in and around Guangzhou), the river is in dire shape. It’s significantly impacted by sewage and various kinds of manufacturing plants, producing everything from cell phones and computers - to toys and textiles (the latter being a major contributor to the problem).In the end, we managed to get some very effective footage during this part of our journey. Our crew now travels to Indonesia to visit the Citarum River, one of the world’s most polluted waterways. Once that trip is over, our entire crew will head back to Canada.After traveling around the world filming the past year, we’ll soon commence with the post production phase of the film. Our goal is to have the production completed by the end of the year. We also have to be in New York for a final interview around September 12. Our crew will arrive there a few days prior. We can deliver the flag back to you personally the afternoon of September 13 if that’s convenient with you.Producer Roger Williams, Director David McIlvride and I greatly appreciate the support of the Explorers Club and look forward to sharing the film with you. As both U.S. and international release details for the film become finalized, I’ll definitely keep you posted.Thanks again to Constance Difede, EC Vice President of Flag & Honours, and the committee for your valued support. All the best over the summer.”



The Awards and Honours Committee includes the following Canadian Chapter members: Denis St-Onge (Chair), Lee Treloar MI’09 and Simon Donato FI’09. Joe Frey was the first Chair of the Committee; Denis has been a member of the Committee since 2007, when it was established following the creation of the Stefansson Medal by John Geiger FI’04, Lee was appointed in 2011 and Simon in 2012.

This year the task of the Awards and Honours Committee was somewhat more onerous than it has been in past years because we received six nominations for the Stefansson Medal. Some were better prepared than others and as Chair I would like to remind members nominating someone, that one-liners explaining why someone should receive such a prestigious honour is really not enough. A detailed recommendation accompanied by a CV if necessary would be more appropriate.After several cross-country contacts of one type or another, the committee decided the following:

The Stefansson MedalThe purpose of The Stefansson Medal is to honour outstanding contributions to the cause of exploration and/or field sciences in Canada or internationally by exceptionally meritorious Canadian members of the Explorers Club. This year the Medal goes to Jason Schoonover FI’86 for his outstanding service as communication director, literary contributions and leadership of wilderness exploration by canoe.

The Citation of MeritThe Citation of Merit is awarded annually to recognize an outstanding feat of exploration or services to the Canadian Chapter of The Explorers Club. This year Citation of Merit is awarded to Jeff Wilner MI’01 for his steadfast contributions and support of the activities of the Ontario/Nunavut Region of the Canadian Chapter.

The Committee wishes to remind nominators that nominations will stand for three years unless the person is nominated again. Having served on the committee for six years and designed the various certificates, I wish to step down.

Awards & HonoursCommittee Chair Denis St-Onge, O.C. FI’05

Cover photo: Tremendous lightning from a storm near Crowell, Texas This composite image shows about 30 minutes of lightning from a single storm combined in one image to highlight the area of the storm that was producing the most lightning. Both cloud-to-ground and cloud-to-cloud lightning can be seen. The image was taken during my annual storm chase in the central U.S. in May and June. In addition to spectacular lightning, we also documented dramatic storm structure, softball-sized hail stones, which our windshields did not like at all, and numerous significant tornadoes. One of the tornadoes was 4.2 km wide with wind speeds of 476 km/hr. It is considered to be the largest tornado ever recorded.George Kourounis


Congratulations to Cory Trepanier MI’09. Into The Arctic II was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award (formerly the Geminis) in the Best Performing Arts/Arts Documentary category. The winner was announced February 27, and the two-hour special ran March 3 on CBC.

~~~~~~Earlier this year, George Kourounis FI’09 documented avalanches in southern B.C. for the Weather Network. One of the highlights was being able to broadcast an avalanche live on the TV network, a first in Canada if not the world. He was also able to position a camera housing directly in the path of an approaching avalanche and have it take a direct hit. The tricky part was getting the camera safely into the danger zone, aimed and then out as quickly as possible. To see a very scary few seconds when George had to quickly get out of the way of a very large avalanche, go to YouTube and search “outrunning an avalanche kourounis”.

~~~~~~In March Chapter Chair John Pollack FI’06 and Sean Adams ran trials with a new compact Starfish 452F sidescan sonar unit on Kootenay Lake in preparation for an April project at Skagway, Alaska. The US/Canadian team included the National Park Service, the State of Alaska, the National Marine Sanctuaries Foundation, the Yukon Transportation Museum, and the Institute of Nautical Archaeology. John also used a GoPro camera to videotape the hull of the 1896 sternwheel steamboat, Kokanee. To see the video, go to YouTube and search “sternwheeler Kokanee”.

~~~~~~A special issue of Archaeology magazine is now on newsstands across North America. This issue covers significant shipwreck projects world-wide, and features an introduction by Dr. Jim Delgado FN’87, recipient of the 2012 Stefansson Medal. One of the articles covers the Yukon River Steamboat Survey – a decade-long project initiated and led by John Pollack FI’06. John, his co-leader Dr. Robyn Woodward of Simon Fraser University, and Doug Davidge of the Yukon Transportation Museum, collect information since 2005 from more than two dozen Gold Rush era shipwrecks and hulks in the Yukon River drainage. The Yukon project is officially supported by the Institute for Nautical Archaeology.

~~~~~~ Peter Rowe’s FI’08 new memoir Adventures in Filmmaking was published in April, and now is available as a paperback and ebook at amazon.ca, ibooks, Barnes & Noble, and Kindle and Kobo, and also at numerous bookstores including Canadian Outdoor Equipment Co., Vistek and TIFF Bell Lightbox. Communications Director Jason Schoonover FE‘86 is quoted on the back cover saying “There’s times I thought I was having an acid flashback...other times I almost fell off my chair laughing. Thoroughly entertaining. I couldn’t put it down.” Numerous Explorers Club members attended the book launch, held in Toronto on June 12.

~~~~~~In April Peter Rowe FI’08, along with student member and daughter Brianna Rowe S’11 and twelve other climbers, all under the age of 25, hiked the 3,976 meter peak Mt. Acatenango in Guatemala to film the active Mt. Fuego beside it. Rowe was filming for his new documentary Angry Planet-Volcanoes. He carried a drone helicopter camera to the summit to fly it into the crater, but discovered an unexpected problem, the air was too thin and the drone couldn’t get enough lift. He did successfully deploy the drone on the lower elevation, also active Pacaya

In Other News


volcano. Final filming for the new show will be in Cappadocia, Turkey, in September.~~~~~~

Peter Rowe FI’08 and past Canadian Chapter Chair Joe Frey travelled with Parks Canada Senior Underwater Archeologists Jonathon Moore and Ryan Harris and skipper Chriss Luden to the site of the two 1812 warships USS Hamilton and USS Scourge sunk deep in Lake Ontario north of Port Dalhousie. On this first expedition to examine the wrecks since 2009, the sidescan sonar pulled up clear images of the two vessels, both still intact and upright, though now largely covered with Quagga mussels. Rowe is making a film about the two ships, while Frey is writing about them for the web-magazine Life as a Human.

~~~~~~Jason Schoonover FE’86 sends in the following: “A personal milestone I’d like to share with you. In 1985 while on assignment for Thai Tourism in The Golden Triangle, I bought a ring necklace off an old hill tribe woman, having no thought what that would begin – the largest ethnological collection I ever pieced together. I thought the 177-piece Sri Lankan Devil Dance mask collection that went to the Sankokan Museum in Tenri Nara, Japan, was big. Last Monday, after 28 years in the making, I finished packing a Hmong hill tribe textile, jewelry and tool collection of 547 artefacts (pairs counting as one), including 11 display ready costumes, with 614 pages of documentation in 17,701 words, the whole weighing 110 pounds. This collection is the result of innumerable expeditions and which resulted in a flag plaque hanging on the wall to my right. There is no doubt in my mind this will be the biggest collection of my life. It will most probably go to a Canadian museum. As I write this, I’m enjoying a dram of Shackleton’s MacKinlay Rare Old Highland which I save for explorer’s visits or very special occasions – and this is the first time I’ve opened it for the latter.”

~~~~~~Lindsay Thomas, Doug Davidge and John Pollack FI’06 have been awarded the 2013 Public Communications Award by the Canadian Archaeological Association for their short book The Wreck of the A .J. Goddard, a small iconic sternwheel steamboat lost in a storm on Lake Laberge in 1901 and discovered 107 years later. This prefabricated vessel was hauled in pieces over the mountain passes above Skagway, Alaska and assembled in the headwaters of the Yukon River drainage. It was discovered intact and upright on the bottom, containing the crewmen’s clothing, shoes, tools, kitchen, an early phonograph and records. Pollack obtained a National Geographic/Waitt Foundation grant to conduct the first dives and map of the vessel. He is the Project Director of the INA’s Yukon River Steamboat Survey, and has added over sixteen Yukon steamships to Canada’s national archaeological inventory.

Welcome to the Club! Philip Bell FI’13 (sponsored by Philip Currie FI’02 and Eva Koppelhus FI’02), Clive Coy FI’13 (sponsored Philip Currie and Eva Koppelhus), Daniel Wood FI’13 (sponsored by Philip Currie and Jason Schoonover FE’86), Tim Bulman FI’13 (sponsored by Don Walsh and James Cameron), Brent Cooke FI’13 (sponsored by Jeffrey Whiting FI’11 and Robert Butler FI’08), Guy Druce FI’13 (sponsored by Harry Bohm FI’11 and John Pollack FI’06), Myles Lamont S’13 (sponsored by Robert Butler and Guy Druce FI’13), Leonard Stanmore MI’13 (sponsored by Julius Kaplan and Robert Tallent).

In Other News (cont’d)


Robert Harold Chadwick (Bob) Wright ME’79Explorer, philanthropistNovember 28, 1930 – April 17, 2013By Rosemarie Keough

Passages

The Churchill River: Missinipe to the Reindeer confluenceJuly 20 to August 4, 2013This is a magnificent trip on the historic main highway of the fur trade, passing by the oldest dwelling (Stanley Mission) in Saskatchewan and by famous Frog Portage. The Churchill is the mother river of northern Saskatchewan and wild and beautiful and all the explorers from Sir John Franklin to Alexander Mackenzie, Simon Fraser, Peter Fidler and David Thompson have paddled these waters. We’ll be taking several days off to kick back, especially at incredible Kettle Falls.From my flag application: In the fall of 1796 David “The Great Mapmaker” Thompson and his boss in the Hudson Bay Company, Malcolm Ross, with three canoes left Fairford House at the confluence of the Reindeer and Churchill rivers and paddled north up the former, hoping to find a viable route to the rich Lake Athabasca fur country. After being stymied by low water between Reindeer and Wollaston Lakes they were forced to build Bedford House at the western side of enormous Reindeer Lake and wait out the winter. It must have been a tough, cramped and unhappy one for David because he reached the end of his patience with Ross and the HBC who wanted to limit his explorations, for in May he snowshoed the 80 miles down the lake to the mouth of the Reindeer River and to Alexander Fraser’s rival Northwest Company House and jumped ship. It was the most momentous decision David Thompson ever made. He subsequently continued on to map a million and half square miles of northern Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest in a career that took in an incredible 50,000

Calendar of Events

Explorers Club member Bob Wright ME’79 died on April 17, age 82, of heart issues. Up to a few days before, he was still working eight to 10 hours at his business, which he controlled with an iron fist. Pat and I last visited with Bob and his wife Yun at their home in Victoria, must have been last summer just before we departed for the Northwest Passage. Bob was our friend and fellow explorer. He founded Oak Bay Marine Group in Victoria, British Columbia in 1962 with little capital but lots of determination, energy and vision. In 2007 he donated $11 million to the University of Victoria; one million is an endowment for the Bob Wright Scholar which provides a scholarship to deserving young researchers. Explorers Club member Maeva Gauthier SM’09 was the first recipient. The university’s Bob Wright Center for Ocean, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences was built with $10 million. Bob was very proud of his association with The Explorers Club. He will be missed.


miles of paddling, making him the greatest of the terrestrial mapmakers and explorers. Doug Chisholm and I have located, from an old Peter Fidler map, the Ross built Fairford House at the Confluence. More importantly, we discovered a long lost Peter Fidler hand-drawn map in the HBC archives in Winnipeg (which their archivist overlooked) of equally long lost Bedford House. On Google Earth we have nailed down the location within a 100-yard radius. The flag expedition will be in two parts: 1) The end of June (weather determining our exact dates) Doug and I will fly to the Bedford location in his Cessna 185 floatplane with gear for several days, and; 2) a canoe brigade I am leading down the Churchill from July 20 to August 4, which includes members Cathy Hickson FI’05 and Capt. Norm Baker, will explore the confluence to locate the remains of Fairford House. Doug will fly in to assist in the search. (Fraser House is lost under the town of Southend.)Distance: 85 miles. 8.5 miles a day when paddling, 4 days off (and a fifth if we can get ahead, as we most often do.) Portages: Approximately 8. Cost estimate: Less than $500 a week out of Toontown (which compares to $350 a day commercially). For the photo report of this trip which I did in 2010 please go to http://www.jasonschoonover.com/kayak and see Expedition Five.

Salt Spring SymposiumSeptember 5 to 8, 2013The Salt Spring Symposium is a highly stimulating four-day retreat for 50 explorers, hosted by Explorers Club Director-at-Large Rosemarie Keough FI’02 and EC Fellow Pat Keough FI’02 at their Salt Spring Island home in British Columbia. This is the ninth symposium. The discussions, the synergies, the fellowship are ever so engaging and satisfying. All activities take place at the Keough home, with short outings for a breath of air on our 65 scenic acres. Everyone is expected to arrive in time to share dinner on Thursday, and to enjoy one another’s company through to Sunday mid-afternoon. Also everyone contributes in several ways: presenting a lecture or leading a discussion, bringing along special foods, assisting with the cooking and dishwashing. Yes, we all take turns in the kitchen and the conversations are great! For the nine meals, snacks, and a great many incidentals, participants contribute an average of $180 each (cash or food or combination). We don’t want cost to be limiting, and thus those Explorers for whom this amount is too much, need only contribute what is comfortable. Those Explorers who consider themselves above average might consider contributing a somewhat higher amount. As registration for this event is limited to 50 participants, I need to know if you intend for sure to come or if you are a maybe. Already, 18 Explorers have registered. When you confirm your interest in attending, let me know if you would like to give a presentation and the title/topic. While September is a long way away, if you’ve not been here before, you may wonder about accommodation for the three nights:• a limited number of explorers will be offered complimentary accommodation at our home and

with another of our neighbours. I will be in touch with those for whom this is applicable.• your own arrangements with people you know on Salt Spring; the yacht harbour; or at a B&B.

I recommend Cusheon Cove Guest House on the ocean along the same road as our home: www.cusheoncoveguesthouse.com. I also recommend the lakefront cabins at Cusheon Lake Resort, a 10-minute drive from our home: www.cusheonlake.com And for one couple, Dancing LIght Cottage which is a three-minute drive: www.dancinglightcottage.com.


Far Afield Schedule

Issue Submission deadline Publication date Winter December 15 January Summer May 15 June

For Sale: MOTOROLA 9500 SATELLITE TELEPHONE. This is an older unit but lightweight and current with the Iridium System. Well suited for northern latitudes and more reliable than Globalstar. Telephone comes with two batteries, 110 v charger, Pelican 1200 case and two batteries. $400 CAD plus postage. Contact [email protected].

Classified ads are limited to 50 words and are free for Explorers Club members. These classifieds are limited to non commercial usage and are aimed at helping TEC members share resources, communications and contacts.

Wanted: Contributors to Far Afield. We’re looking for keen and interested volunteers to help edit and write columns. Please contact Wilson West at [email protected].

Wanted: Expedition photos for the front cover of Far Afield. Please contact Wilson West at [email protected].

Classified Ads

• if you bring your own camping gear, two neighbours have offered flat ground in a quiet location for you to pitch your tent, no or minimal charge

Please note, participation is for the entire weekend, Thursday evening through Sunday afternoon. Out of courtesy to speakers on Friday and Sunday mornings, priority for registration is given to those who are able to commit to the full retreat. Contact Rosemarie Keough FI’02 at [email protected]

Documents

Far Afield - Explorers Club · The Explorers Club – Canadian Chapter 2 Hello Canadian Explorers, The century-old Explorers Club remains a small and unique group of accomplished