The Beginning of the End

Let's go back to the start. Although, looking back, it seems like the end, my journey to Antarctica was far from that. My journey to try and conquer the ruthless Arctic was the first of many of my daring adventures.

Almost the instant I climbed down from my helicopter and made my first footprint in the tightly packed snow, the ground under me collapsed. I heard a rumble and I could feel the snow under my feet giving way. Thank goodness for the rope ladder that was still hanging down from the helicopter. In a rush of panic, I wrenched my gloved hand from my pocket and grabbed the rope. It took me a while and a lot of effort to pull myself up, but I eventually made it safely back on board. A great chasm lay below, that nearly took me as it's victim.
Once back in the cockpit, the pilot chided me, saying I was crazy, out of my mind and I should not be doing this. However, my mind was made up - I wanted to be the king of this vast landscape!

Using better detective work this time, we found a safe spot for me to land. My journey commenced.

Locking my snowshoes into place on my feet and making sure I had all my necessary supplies in my backpack, I started walking. It wasn't long before I was wishing I was back in Room 143, at my Peruvian hotel. The wind constantly tried to penetrate my heavy, fur coat, but I was protected - for now.

Quite unexpectedly, a new predator emerged. An odd pack of wolves came out of nowhere and were running straight towards me, kicking up snow in their path. Hastily, I searched through my backpack, and found a walkie-talkie. "Help!" I yelled into it, h oping the helicopter would hear me. The walkie talkie sizzled and I got slightly electrocuted. What was I to do now?

The wolves were getting closer. "Stay alert," I told myself. "Don't let them circle you." I searched my backpack for a weapon as I continued to reassure myself. This time, I found a newspaper headlined "Hillary Clinton Scandal." It would have to do. I rolled the paper up to prevent the pages flying everywhere in the wind.

It turned out I would not need the newspaper - the wolves had stopped running, and were all looking up into the air. I looked up too, and was glad to see the helicopter. The buzz of the blades seemed to scare the wolves off, as they ran away. I climbed up the rope ladder for what seemed like the upteenth time.
"You're lucky to be alive you know," the pilot commented. Bitterly, I replied, "I can't do this anymore. I do not feel like risking my life again today. I think I am going to cheat. Take me in as far as this machine can go pilot! I will plant a Canadian flag in the spot we land," (I grabbed a flag from my pack), "and we'll pretend my journey was long and perilous. We'll pretend that I conquered the Arctic. Deal?"
"Deal," the pilot said with a grin.
"By the way," I said with an afterthought. "Thanks for saving my life down there."

Despite having to live with the fact that I cheated on my journey, my risky adventure still got my adrenaline flowing and made me want to experience that rush again. So, longing for another risky adventure, I decided I would conquer Mount Kiliminjaro next! Clearly, you'd feel the same, had you been there.