Despite the beauty and power of winter months at the cabin, breaking the occasional monotony became necessary for our mental well-being. No matter how active you are, the isolation and silence combined with 20 hours of darkness has a way of getting into your head. It was during such times we would pack up and leave the cabin. For us these trips were akin to a space walk, stepping away from the comfort and safety of the cabins and venturing into the unknown in an unforgivable and inhospitable environment.

Scott picking out a potential route. (image 1 of 18)

Scott picking out a potential route. (image 1 of 18)

Reviewing the map on the Churchill River. (image 2 of 18)

Reviewing the map on the Churchill River. (image 2 of 18)

Taking a break along the bank of the Churchill River. (image 3 of 18)

Taking a break along the bank of the Churchill River. (image 3 of 18)

cold. (image 4 of 18)

cold. (image 4 of 18)

Ptarmigan for dinner. This was an extremely hard day. Lot of "post holing" through a crusty layer of ice then into deep snow beneath. When pulling your snow shoe up it would hang on the crusty ice shelf. After seeing these ptarmigan we decided to cal

Ptarmigan for dinner. This was an extremely hard day. Lot of "post holing" through a crusty layer of ice then into deep snow beneath. When pulling your snow shoe up it would hang on the crusty ice shelf. After seeing these ptarmigan we decided to call it a day. Certainly one of the top meals we had (perhaps the suffering made it that much better). (image 5 of 18)

Scott punching through the trees. (image 6 of 18)

Scott punching through the trees. (image 6 of 18)

Headed upstream from the cabin with the goal of exploring off the edge of our map. We had a couple very close calls during this trip. (image 7 of 18)

Headed upstream from the cabin with the goal of exploring off the edge of our map. We had a couple very close calls during this trip. (image 7 of 18)

One of my all time favorite photos. Everything about it screams "hard work" in no mans land. At this point we're currently 25 miles up stream from the safety of the cabins. (image 8 of 18)

One of my all time favorite photos. Everything about it screams "hard work" in no mans land. At this point we're currently 25 miles up stream from the safety of the cabins. (image 8 of 18)

Early morning tent break down. (image 9 of 18)

Early morning tent break down. (image 9 of 18)

A tiny spec of a human hugging the left bank. (image 10 of 18)

A tiny spec of a human hugging the left bank. (image 10 of 18)

On the Churchill river, the only real elevation we encountered. You can see me doing a "Rocky" pose in the upper left of this image. (image 11 of 18)

On the Churchill river, the only real elevation we encountered. You can see me doing a "Rocky" pose in the upper left of this image. (image 11 of 18)

We took the hard way up and the fun way down (image 12 of 18).

We took the hard way up and the fun way down (image 12 of 18).

Wipe Out (image 13 of 18)

Wipe Out (image 13 of 18)

Trying to hydrate in bitter cold temps (image 14 of 18)

Trying to hydrate in bitter cold temps (image 14 of 18)

Couldn't be happier (image 15 of 18)

Couldn't be happier (image 15 of 18)

Sketchy skiing near open water (image 16 of 18)

Sketchy skiing near open water (image 16 of 18)

Ran out of white gas on our last night of this trip. We built a huge fire to try and warm up but to no avail. Wasn't bad once we got in our bags but the following morning was brutal (image 17 or 18)

Ran out of white gas on our last night of this trip. We built a huge fire to try and warm up but to no avail. Wasn't bad once we got in our bags but the following morning was brutal (image 17 or 18)

VERY sketchy skiing (image 18 of 18)

VERY sketchy skiing (image 18 of 18)