“A STRONG WINTER STORM APPROACHING FROM THE WEST WILL BRING BLIZZARD CONDITIONS INTO CHURCHILL, MANITOBA…SNOW AND STRONG SOUTH WINDS ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT ACROSS NORTHERN MANITOBA AS AS A POWERFUL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM APPROACHES FROM THE WEST. CONDITIONS WILL DETERIORATE NEAR NOON FRIDAY AS A POWERFUL COLD FRONT ROARS THROUGH THE AREA, WITH NORTHWESTERLY WINDS GUSTING TO 80 KM/H, NEAR-ZERO VISIBILITY IN SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW, AND TEMPERATURES PLUNGING CLOSE TO THE -20 MARK IN JUST A FEW HOURS. THE BLIZZARD WILL END FRIDAY NIGHT.” — weather forecast from Environment Canada.

Welcome to the world of polar bear photography! The plan is that our chartered plane will outrun the blizzard and hopefully get us into Churchill tomorrow morning before the storm shuts down the airport. A dramatic beginning to what promises to be an exciting week.

Reports are that this is shaping up to be the best polar bear seasons in years. The bears are gathering in large numbers in the remote area where we’ll be based. There have also been several sightings of the beautiful Arctic fox, an animal that I’ve always wanted to photograph. At our hotel tonight, spirits are high and adrenalin is flowing. Photographers LOVE polar bears and tomorrow we’ll be among them.

There is no internet where I’m going, so I won’t be able to post any further updates or photos until I return to Winnipeg on November 12th. See you then!

India