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We highly recommend this book to anyone who loves adventure and a quick but fascinating read. The books, being out of print, were used and ordered here at Amazon; they were inexpensive, promptly delivered, and in excellent shape, like new - and to our great surprise - were signed by Thayer and "Charlie", her guardian angel dog. Our Book Club selected this Memoir of Helen Thayer's solo trek for our March selection in keeping with National Women's History Month. It was absolutely a great find; an exceptionally interesting read.
And, wow what a dog.not used to humans.not a pet, but a bear dog. That's what Helen Thayer said when the natives told her she needed a dog team for protection against polar bears. All of her books are great reads and this one is at the top of the list. Luckily they bonded quickly and he not only saved her life more than once, he also became her beloved friend. They said you won't hear the bears when they sneak up on your tent at night. She said she'd take just one and that one was Charlie.
Clearly she could not have hoped to succeed without such detailed and thoughtful preparation. I have not actually read this book, but today I listened to the author present the story in person while showing some of the pictures that she took during the journey. It is heartwarming to hear of the bond that developed between Thayer and Charlie as one sustained the other through the various hardships they encountered. This story certainly inspired my respect and admiration, not only for the power of the mind to carry us beyond perceived limitations, but also in response to the human-canine connection which was pivotal to the successful completion of the journey. It is nothing short of remarkable to witness the sheer determination that made her success possible.Of course, determination was less than half the battle. Thayer explained that it took her two years of meticulous planning and rigorous training to prepare for every possible contingency she might encounter on the journey.
After reading it, I ordered a total of 10 copies as presents for relatives and friends. A great book. It is so exciting that it is very difficult to put it down.
Great book. It is also a wonderful tale about Charlie--about the intelligence of dogs we people would see more often if we just give them a chance to be themselves. She did it only with Charlie, the polar bear wonder dog, given (sold) to her by the Inuit who were sure she wouldn't survive without a dog team who knew how to fend off polar bears. The story is an outstanding tale of what she learned about herself and how she and Charlie so totally bonded, mutually dependent on each other.
She includes photos from her journey, which also are amazing. This is an outstanding book for anyone of any age and hopefully will help more people understand the criticality and fragility of Nature, and the importance of treating animals (in this case, dogs) with true respect, care, compassion, and love. It also is an excellent book to get people thinking about themselves and their thoughts. An exciting, excellent book. Some of the lessons Helen learned, for example, included early on learning to say "no" as well as the importance of remaining positive and in control even when Nature seemed to be in control via a strong storm whirling around her for several days at a time. Helen Thayer set off in her 50s to walk to the magnetic North Pole.
The book clearly shows the intelligence not just of Charlie, but also of the various polar bears Helena encountered (and successfully avoided attack from, without killing them). I highly recommend this for everyone. She finally agreed to taking one dog, who became her true partner in the journey (and afterward). Helen prepared well and clearly fully respects Nature in all senses.
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