The Principle of Acclimatization
On the arctic coast, dog sledding is one of the only ways to move from location to location. There are no airports, heli-pads or runways. In the more unexplored areas, there aren't even roads to lend familiarity to a would be traveler. Only the most adventurous and elite can see unphotographs glaciers, icebergs and wild penguins.
The trip begins by rolling out a general map of the vast terrain. Getting a general idea of where you want to begin and where you might want to end up. From there, you navigate your route using your compass, charting the individual coordinates that tie together your journey.
Once you have your longitudinal and lattitudinal coordinates, you pull out your topographical maps which show the mountains, valleys, rivers and other elevations. By checking out your landmarks, you can better figure out the temperatures and elements to prepare for. You also know which tools to pack to climb the mountains, sled through the valleys and gaff over the frozen rivers. By getting a good visual representation of what you about to explore, you instinctively know how to approach the next step: acclimatizing yourself to the elements.
The principle of acclimatization simply means the ability to get used to where you are. On your arctic adventure, you will spend the first day flying to the place where you are to begin. On the evening of the first day, you spend the night in a tent to acclimatize your body to the environment. When the human brain first encounters a new climate, it searches to build balance or homeostasis. It will adjust things like metabolism, heart rate, pulse and sensory awareness all in an elegant unconscious way leaving you to consciously enjoy your beginning journey. The brain likes to know that the surroundings are not a total mystery, and also likes to acclimate itself to its location by remembering where it came from and where it will go.
That's where the topographical map comes in. The brain knows what to expect and how to adjust according. When you mapped out your terrain, your brain remembered and acclimatized accordingly that first night of your trip.
The second day, you begin to pack only to find that all the tools you need are there. In fact, you packed some that you aren't sure, but have a instinct that you'll use. And you are off on your journey.
You start by knowing what to expect, where you will be able to stop and rest and where you will push on. Each day after is the same, you are prepared and ready for anything that comes your way. In fact, you reach your completion of the trip faster and more efficiently than most because you planned for everything you encountered. Even those tools that you didn't know you would need, helped you out in a surprise moments that you hadn't consciously planned for. But, your unconscious took care of you.
You look back over your trip knowing that you missed some sights you would liked to have seen. So, because you've now finished the trip with a few days to spare, you go back for a more detailed look, take more pictures and spend some time enjoying sights that no one on earth has ever seen in detail before you.
When returning to base camp, you complete your journal by drawing a map of where you've been and where you'd like to go next trip.
Good luck, and...
Common Sense
[This message has been edited by CommonSense (edited November 08, 2002).]
