SAMAYA x MIGUEL BARRALES LEAL

 

 

Miguel Barrales Leal and Jules Rasumny, both experienced in polar expeditions, set themselves the challenge of crossing Iceland on foot, in winter and entirely self-supported. Carrying over 60 kilograms each, they pulled their pulks for hundreds of kilometers, braving the harshness of the wind, cold, and snow.

 

"In February 2024, we embarked on our journey to Iceland. The choice of destination was carefully considered and naturally followed the continuity of our project on polar environments. Our goal was to progress and document our learning of these hostile environments over several years. After an enriching first experience in Sarek National Park, we decided to move on to the next step by exploring Iceland.

 

Conditions in Iceland differed greatly from those in Sarek; the Icelandic climate proved to be much more unpredictable and changeable, with significant temperature fluctuations. We had prepared in advance and felt ready to face these conditions. Nevertheless, it remained quite challenging on a daily basis.

 

Fortunately, the landscapes were surprisingly beautiful, with an environment of mid-mountain ranges that looked alpine and mineral, very far from what we can find at home. Every day, we moved through this majestic setting. Our days were entirely dictated by our progress along our route, influenced by weather conditions and the need to melt snow to obtain water, which took us more than three hours a day.

 

The unforeseen events we encountered were an integral part of the expedition. In my opinion, that's what makes these experiences so rich. However, these situations can also have consequences on the success of a project. When I talk about success, I am referring to achieving the goal we set for ourselves. Overall, I think that simply experiencing the expedition helps us grow and know ourselves better. That is the essential part. Achieving goals, while important, remains secondary. It is more simply a matter of ego.

 

For my part, the emotional aspect plays a very important role, much more so than the physical one. In this type of trip, you have to constantly juggle a range of emotions, some of them very intense. It is difficult to describe what you feel... By turns, morale is at its peak, you feel like you have wings, and you move forward quickly. Then comes a moment of doubt, where you imagine the worst. Fear sometimes arises at those moments.

 

Solitude is also present. Even when there are two of us, the natural elements, or sometimes simply the distance between us, prevent us from communicating. We are in a bubble, alone. It is one of the parts I like the most. Today, in our daily lives, we are never alone. Physically perhaps, but we always have a multitude of external elements that catch up with us.

 

Doubts also arise when using the equipment. Particularly the bivouac gear, which is our only shelter, our sole refuge against the elements. Choosing your equipment well is paramount. Sleeping under our Samaya BASECAMP was reassuring, and we could fully rest. The bivouac was an essential aspect of our expedition. With only one tent to shelter us, it was crucial to trust our equipment. Every evening, after a day of adventure, we set up our camp in picturesque locations, often at the foot of mountains or near frozen lakes. This tent became our home in the heart of the Icelandic wilderness. We rested physically and mentally under its walls, recharging for the challenges of the next day. The bivouac routine also allowed us to strengthen our bonds, sharing moments of conviviality and solidarity under the Icelandic stars.

 

Despite the difficult weather conditions, we were lucky enough to observe an incredible aurora borealis. The wind was blowing hard and the temperature was freezing. But suddenly, the sky lit up with bright, shimmering colors. The northern lights danced above us, painting the night sky with shades of green, purple, and red. It was a moment of pure magic and wonder, which made our adventure even more special. At that moment, the harshness of the environment was as if erased.

 

Knowing how to give up is also part of the journey. This lesson is associated with a particularly difficult moment for us. Making the decision to turn back is not easy. We had initially planned to continue our cross-country skiing journey despite the uncertain weather conditions, but our pulks began to break and the weather deteriorated rapidly. Finally, it became clear that continuing on our path would be too dangerous.

 

This decision was extremely difficult to make. Not only had we invested a lot of time, energy, and resources into this expedition, but we had also set ourselves personal goals that we hoped to achieve. It was a real blow.

 

However, despite this disappointment, we quickly realized that it did not mean the end of our adventure. We decided to return to civilization to review our plan and wait for more favorable weather conditions. This experience taught us the importance of caution and flexibility in an inhospitable environment. We also learned to be humble in the face of nature and to recognize our own limits.

 

Although we did not reach our initial goal, this expedition brought us valuable lessons and priceless experience. We returned home knowing that we had made the right decision, and we have started planning our next attempt with even more determination and wisdom."