Talk Without Speaking

Last night I dreamt that we were already in Auyuittuq, already on our trip. In my dream I felt like I was really there although, in my dream, much of the landscape was heavily forested and the *real* Auyuittuq is well above the tree line.

I remember Catherine being there and us walking down through this (heavily forested) muddy slope. The past broke, one path sliding high on a ledge and one path sinking deeper into the bowl. Both paths lead, to the left, around a bend and when we can finally peek around we see the Akshayuk valley which stretches on forever. In my dreams it is supernaturally majestic and vast; far more so that it can ever be in real life - or perhaps not?

I wake up this morning excited (although I’m also, at this moment, sick as a dog with a cold) and alternating between wishing that the three remaining months were up and that we were on our way and thinking about the daunting task of organizing everything before we go. Some very kind folk from a hiking/outdoors club in Kelowna responded to my post to the MEC Gear Swap site regarding bear barrels and let me know that two of their members hiked in Auyuiittuq last summer. Despite one of them getting severe hypothermia, they both had a great time and made it back safe and sound. Their advice to us was to take verything that we might conceivably need along with us - according to them a nail file was $25 in Pangnirtung.