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Rumbo a la aventura polar
El cielo seguía pintado de rojo, tintando la tundra
plana; el mar aparecía sin ser congelado todavía, razón
por la cual los osos esperaban a que se formara la ban-
quisa para poder caminar sobre ese mar solidificado y
atrapar las focas, que son la base de su alimentación
y fuente de grasa.
En esa temporada se acercaban al litoral, listos
para cazar, después de haber vivido de poca carne de
animales de tierra y frutas. Los bancos de hielo eran la
salvación porque en éstos, las focas se suben a des-
cansar y es cuando el oso las puede atrapar.
Las vistas eran insuperables, un desierto blanco
alumbrado por una luz tenue que venía del sur y de re-
pente vi mi primer oso, que caminaba entre un conjun-
to de pinos bajitos y arbustos, un animal gigantesco
con su pelo medio amarillento que volaba con el aire.
Nos acercamos lo suficiente para verlo bien sin
asustarlo, nos miraba con desconfianza, sus ojos bri-
llaban. ¡Qué belleza y sorprendente encuentro! Nunca
se me va a olvidar esa impresión y pasamos la mañana
recorriendo la tundra en el helicóptero, descubriendo
un navío encallado y oxidado en las aguas heladas de
la bahía de Hudson.
Towards the polar adventure
The sky was still painted red, dying the flat
tundra; the sea would still be unfrozen yet, reason
for which the bears would wait until the banquisa
would from in order to walk under that solidified sea
and catch the seals, which are the base of its diet and
fat source.
During this seasontheywouldget close to the lit-
toral, ready to hunt, after having lived on little meat
from land animals and fruit. The ice banks were their
salvation since in these, the seals go to rest and it is
then when the bear may catch them.
The views were unsurpassable, a white desert
lighten by a soft light that came fro the south and
suddenly I spotted my first bear, who walked among
a group of short pines and bushes, a gigantic animal
with his half yellowish fur that would fly with the air.
We got close enough to see him well without
scaring him off, he would stare at us with distrust,
and his eyes would glitter. What a beautiful and
amazing encounter! I’ll never forget that impression
and we spent the morning touring the tundra in the
helicopter, discovering a stranded and rusty ship in
the icy waters of the Hudson Bay.
