My plan to attempt the voyage again in the 2001-2002 winter season was shut down due to a lost passport. A poor way to lose an expedition season; but, I've since applied for a new passport and will simply ride the tide of daily life until this coming winter (2002-2003).

While I was in Portland, stewing over the passport debacle, Paolo Mantovani, an Italian mountain guide, beat me to the icecap and made the first solo winter crossing, from North to South. I will go this coming winter, regardless, to make an East-West crossing. This dream has been with me for years. When I think of being out there alone again, in the dark, on the ice, I am always re-energized with excitement. For the moment, I train, mentally and physically, by running in Portland's Forest Park from 5am to 7:30am, dragging a log with my sled harness on occasion, and going to the gym and sauna at Portland State University, where I teach.

The following photos show some of my training: click to enlarge. You can also monitor my training here.

		4:45am: BEEEP BEEEP BEEEP...load up the pack, stumble out into the pre-dawn darkness, trot to Forest Park... 6:00am: With 6 miles completed, I arrive and greet 'Mr. Log', my 250lb buddy. Drag for some time. 8:00am: home after a further 6 miles running and two walking, for a 14-mile morning including log-dragging, pullups and other miscellaneous tasks...Time to go to work.

At every workout, I think of the bizarre world of wind, cold, darkness and ice, the world of the icecap, and I revitalize my commitment to try again.

Therefore I'll be headed to Iceland again in December 2002; you can keep up with the news via the 'Tracking' page, linked above, and the SoloIce home page.