“Wishing for Nature to be Something it Isn't”

This quarter’s Tell us Something was recorded on October 10th, 2013 at the Top Hat Lounge in Missoula, MT. The theme was “Be Careful What You Wish For”.

Jon Turk shares his story “Wishing for Nature to be Something it Isn’t”. On a 1500 mile kayak expedition near Ellesmere Island Jon Turk wished for warmth when it was -20 degrees. Gradually it became warmer. But not warm enough. Jon makes his wishes more specific and continues to wish for more warmth. And more warmth.

Jon Turk received his Ph.D. in chemistry in 1971 and wrote the first environmental science textbook in North America, but left academia to engage in extreme expeditions in remote parts of the world. Jon’s two-year kayak passage across the North Pacific Rim was named by Paddler Magazine as one of the ten greatest sea kayaking expeditions of all times.  His circumnavigation of Ellesmere with Erik Boomer was nominated by National Geographic as one of the top ten adventures of 2011 and awarded “Expedition of the Year” by Canoe and Kayak Magazine.  Jon chronicles his journeys and mental and spiritual passages in a trilogy of three books:  Cold Oceans, In The Wake of the Jomon, and The Raven’s Gift.

Learn more about Jon and his adventures over at jonturk.net.