Under a Cold North Sky - a book of snow and ice

 

Long dark winter months, with an absence of the usual diversions.

Trying to keep busy. These have not been easy days for many. A short interlude for Christmas, and then back to very quiet times.

Covid days.

Time to make a book. Always a happy diversion.

This one was created for the Instagram #areyoubookenough challenge on the topic of frozen. The challenge was started in 2017 by the book artist Sarah Maker, and brings together book artists from all around the world.

I have many images of snow and ice, and many happy memories of trips north, so the topic of 'frozen' had instant appeal.

A dive into my hard drive seemed like a good a place to start.

I searched for 'ice' and 'snow'. Up popped many images that are long forgotten.

Images from Iceland, Greenland, Finland, Yukon and Norway.  Some of the places that I am missing the most.




Firstly, a small fragment of ice from Disko Bay. Ice that has made its way down a glacier, and then broken into fragments as it fall into the icy water of Disko Bay; an iceberg graveyard.

Greenlandic ice fragment

Crystals of watery ice from a glacier.

glacial ice formation

Broken ice from a grassy puddle. This from Lofoten, where I was attracted by the texture of the snow crushed grass.

Grassy ice puddle

There are tiny fragments, and wide views. It is the juxtaposition of scale that I enjoyed when making this book.

Lofoten mountains

Initially I  printed out many small images.
I  then experimented with different combinations and juxtapositions.
Some images were rejected, as they didn't work with the others, or were just too ambiguous.

Icy reflections from Disko Bay were tempting to include, but the water was not actually frozen, so these were rejected.

Icy water in Disko Bay

 

 

 

 

 

 

mini prints for layout experiments

 

 

For the start of the book I chose images of snow falling at night, and a lump of ice. The raw elements of icy landscapes.

I remember vividly standing under a lampost in Finland capturing snow falling in the early evening, the snow lit by the artificial light; blowing around wildly in the wind.

falling snow

glacial ice

Then I moved through gradually larger landscapes, trying to find pairings that complemented each other.

Grass and ice.

Black on white, white on black.

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A 'landscape' of ice crystals on snow beside a tree in a field.


The images are printed on bamboo paper 110gsm, made into a concertina. The hard cover is covered with a Lotka polka dot paper in black and white. Lotka paper is Nepalese, and is easy to fold around the cover of a book.

'Under a Cold North Sky' - concertina book

'Under a Cold North Sky' - front cover

I don't know when spontaneous travel will be possible again. My plans to return northwards in February are very likely to be thwarted.

But as soon as I am able, I will be heading in that direction once more.

 

You can see a slideshow of all the images here

Back in the land of the beaver with some sled dogs in the Yukon

 trees felled by beavers

My other half (OH) tells me that I haven't written my blog for 4 weeks.

I blame it on winter viruses, Christmas, travel, lack of good wifi and the weather.

Mostly the weather.

Too nice to sit indoors and write. Outside the sun has been shining and the snow thick on the ground.

I am back in Canada to visit family, with a short trip to the Yukon thrown in for good measure.

Why the Yukon?


Because other half ( OH) wanted to go on a sled dog ride.

I was more than happy to go along with this plan, for nothing makes me happier than a cold wilderness environment and the chance for some photography.

The only problem here right now is that they are having a heat wave. It is up to 5C by day, which melts all the snow on the trees and makes for icy conditions. The winter wonderland is less wonderful without the icing on the trees, but spectacular all the same.

It should be around -24Cc or lower. Cold enough to need serious winter clothing. We had to put our gloves on for photos on the first day in order to look authentically cold.

Yukon scenery

Yukon pond

Yukon colours in winter

bumguts cache beside Annie lake

drilling through the ice on Annie Lake

ice hole for fishing 

The quiet is impressive here.... still enough to hear your own heart beat.

 stepping out on Annie Lake

Having seen some spectacular scenery, tested the thickness of the ice on the lake by drilling a hole, and eaten some delicious bison sausages cooked over a camp fire beside the river (thanks to the incredibly hospitable Werner from taste of yukon) we got to the serious business of the dog sled ride.

We were taken to Alayuk Adventures ; a dog sled centre near Whitehorse.

First impressions were not good..... there appeared to be blood on the ground, which later revealed itself  to be dog broth.

Before we could ride the dogs all needed to be harnessed up.

coaxing the dogs from their kennels

Some of the dogs needed a little coaxing out of their kennels.

Wilma waiting patiently

sled dog

sled dog with shoes

learning how to control the sled with foot controls

the kennels

The ride was exhilarating.

Through the woods where it was cold enough to see snow on all the branches, and across a small lake.

We were wearing so many clothes that photography was practically impossible during the ride.

I should have had a go-pro attached to my hat, but I don't possess one.

What they don't tell you before you start is that the dogs relieve themselves whilst running. The passenger in the sled gets a delightful odour and a full view of this activity, and the snow is littered with brown and yellow stains.

I made a really bad video with no sound, which gives a passenger's eye view of the ride. OH is in front of me; you can see his rear end.

We stopped for a brief rest, and the dogs played momentarily.

Some of the dogs have sensitive feet and wear socks to protect them against the cold and burns.

dog socks...waiting to go

dog socks after the run

After the run the dogs are given nutritious red broth.

time for dog broth

The owners of Alayuk train their dogs for the 1000 mile Iditarod race across Alaska. It takes 9 to 12 days to race a sled with up to 14 dogs under incredibly harsh conditions. A ton of dog food is shipped to the checkpoints in advance of the race.

Alayuk

This is a very different way of life for people passionate about animals and nature.

I have nothing but admiration for their determination and dedication to this harsh way of life.

real paradise - aurora borealis and reindeer in Lapland

aurora borealis, Nellim, Finland

As previously mentioned, I prefer cold places to hot.

Something to do with the comfort of hiking boots and thermals reminding me that I am about to go on an adventure.

A long awaited trip to Finnish Lapland with friends.

Snow, wilderness, reindeer, and if we were really lucky the aurora borealis.

We were really lucky.

aurora borealis, Lapland

aurora borealis

For once I was really glad that I had taken my tripod on my trip. Camera exposures to catch stars and the northern lights are a few seconds long, and hand holding the camera is not an option. When the aurora starts 'dancing' in the sky you know you are really, really fortunate.

The days are very short at this time of year. Sunrise and sunset only four hours apart, with a lovely blue twilight that lasts for some time before and after. The sun did not emerge above the horizon during our visit, but just moved slowly around below the top of the hills.

We did a bit of ice fishing on Inari Lake. I don't think anyone really expected to catch a fish.

The best bit is drilling a hole. The ice was about 70cm thick.

The fishing rod was tiny.

Fishing had the potential to be a very cold, zen-like experience.

It is a very popular sport in the summer when the lake is swarming with mosquitos and the bears are awake in the forest.

Reindeer are plentiful. Most are in the wild until rounded up for stock taking.

Reindeer herders know their own stock from the markings cut on the reindeers' ears.

They have a book of ear markings.

reindeer with ear marking

lunch of reindeer stir fry

a reindeer passes by our picnic spot

Some facilities were a little chilly.

snowy seat

instructions best avoided

the scenery was everything that I had hoped

Lake Inari

trees in the snow

sunrise

I took many, many photos of trees, and if we hadn't been so busy fishing, snow shoeing and aurora watching I would have taken many more.

A place of peace and beauty. 

 

trees at dawn