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Article: Arctic Blast; For a couple of months in Churchill, Manitoba, the polar bears come calling
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- September 13, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2009 The Washington Post. This material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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Early morning on the shores of Canada's Hudson Bay.
The gently rising sun cast just enough light and shadow to create
confusion. Two nights earlier, the first snowfall of the season had
blanketed the region in a thick, soft white shroud; one night later,
fierce winds had blown much of that away, leaving only patches off
which the low light ricocheted blindingly.
Every pale patch on the ground was a polar bear hunched in the
willows, sheltering from the wind. Until it wasn't: Upon closer
inspection, each suspect reverted to being snow, a rock, a trick of
the light.
I was a guest on Buggy One, a kind of mobile research station on
monster truck wheels (a stripped-down version of the buggies ...