If you ever wondered what it takes to become a cave diver, this podcast reveals your next steps. Before considering cave diver training, you will need to complete some prerequisites....
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In the spring of 2000, the largest recorded iceberg in history calved away from the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica. It was the size of Jamaica and was the largest moving object ever seen on our planet. Using rebreathers for the first time in Antarctica, Paul Heinerth, Wes Skiles and I made the first cave dives inside an iceberg. We completed our scientific documentation by flying a helicopter and landing on top of the B-15 iceberg. For that mission, I prepared the survival gear for Wes and our chopper pilot Laurie Prouting. I packed emergency first aid gear, space blankets…
On May 13, 2019, the Royal Canadian Geographical Society had good reason to celebrate. We officially opened the new Center for Geography and Exploration at 50 Sussex Drive in Ottawa....
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As Explorer in Residence for the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, I get to travel across Canada to speak to school kids. Sometimes I am presenting to a gymnasium full of...
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The earliest visitors to Florida knew it was a special place. Over 12,000 years ago, Paleo-Indians, perhaps following a mastodon loping through the savannah, were drawn to bountiful turquoise water holes in the woods. In those days, glaciers to the north had not yet melted, and the Florida peninsula was much more extensive and drier than it is today. Surface waters like rivers and lakes were scarce and the indigenous people survived by finding places where nourishing waters welled up from underground. Like an oasis in the desert, springs were sanctuaries, attracting humans and animals to share their sustaining bounty….
When I was looking for a diving partner in the Northwest Territories, I simply did a Google search and found an interesting local access cable TV show called "Shit I...
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As an explorer of the water world, there is nothing I love more than finding a beautiful lake and going for a swim or a dive. I’ll picnic by the water and revel in the discovery of a sweet berry patch on a warm summer day. Wild blueberries contain the energy of the sun. They make me feel powerful. Here in this Treaty 11 Territory of Canada, the traditional territory of the Akaitcho and Tlicho Agreement People, the Native Dene describe at least 10,000 years of history. Their connection to the land is undeniable. On first inspection, this place looks…
J.R.R. Tolkien coined the phrase, “not all those who wander are lost.” There is probably no better description of my life. I was once gifted with a beautiful bracelet with...
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I have spent a lifetime traveling the globe on expeditions and filming projects. This is installment two of my top 100 travel tips to make your journey more relaxed and earth-friendly. 1. Small Footprint – Rolling your clothes and socks saves space. 2. Compress It – Use silicone compression sacs and dry bags to further squeeze the air out of your clothes and maximize packing space. 3. Electronics – Get a cable bag to organize your charging and computer cables. 4. Storage – If you are going to shoot a lot of photos, take a hard drive for backup and…
Jill Heinerth has been a member of Mountain Equipment Coop for all of her adult life. In this podcast episode, she takes us on a shopping trip to the MEC store...
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