1776 steps in exactly 15 minutes with no breaks - not bad for my first-ever CN Tower Climb, if I do say :)
The experience was quite surreal - the staircase itself is within the hollow tapering shaft of the tower, which rises to dizzying heights as the air cools and thins around and within it... There were people hyperventilating at every landing, but the willpower and medical support was there for everyone to reach the top. That's what it was all about: making that extra effort to go the distance the hard way, the more fulfilling, self-sufficient way. This is the attitude we all need to change bad habits (like riding elevators, cars and airplanes) and live sustainably on this planet: we have the power within ourselves to climb tall obstacles.
I met so many wonderful people who care for Arctic wildlife in particular, and for Planet Earth in general. For a sense of how huge this event was, check out WWF-Canada's Flickr stream - whoa!
Here are some of my favourite pics from the day, but first a link to Tara Wood's video, in which I have fun doing pre-climb jumping jacks with Mix 99.9 radio producer Planet Maurie :)
The bear hugs make it all worthwhile :)
Special thanks to Maggie Macdonald & Keith Stewart, WWF's Good Life bloggers, for all their support and for introducing me to the WFF staff!
photography by Linda Lee © cc 2.0
I have eaten whales larger than this Zip Car before! Save the whales! Save them for me!
What an honour meeting Pete Ewins (above, in green shirt), Director of Species Conservation at WWF Canada! He had just returned from Churchill, Manitoba, one of my favourite spots. Hey, Pete - how come I'm not tagged as part of your amazing Polar Bear Tracking project!? I love following the journeys of Nukilik, Ikkuma, Qanniq, Nanurluk and Anaana on your interactive map, but how will they know when I'm heading for a night out on the town in Toronto!?
That's WWF-Canada President and CEO Mike Russill with CFRB radio and as always my favourite Panda pal!
photography by Ken Mak © cc 2.0
now after climbing the tower, a little massage with my homebear K-raat...
That's a woman from Tourism Ontario in the background (above). She wanted to know my favourite spots in the province, and much to my surprise had never heard of 'em: Winisk, Atawapiskat, Fort Severn... Hey, don't promote Ontario's northern ocean coast as an eco-tourism destination - more fish for me!
That's ace videographer Eoin Harris taking a break from editing concerts for MTV to film my upcoming music video - stay tuned it's coming soon!
"We're not worthy!" Now about this WWF Panda. Let me just say that this bear is a professional, taking the role of mascot very seriously - always does what the headset bodyguards say, and in between staged photo-ops mimes improvisingly and happily with humans young and old alike, spreading cheer all around. AWESOME! But... Will. Not. Say. A. Word. I think Panda was even offended that I tried to strike up a conversation. You see, as an independent bear, not associated with any particular organization or brand, I am free to speak my mind in engaging conversation with members of the public, or throat sing at the moon with other animals, or growl back at aggressive tourists - all without having to worry about any sponsoring company lawyers. And I can take my gloves or even my head off without fear of traumatizing children for life with the inference that Santa doesn't live at the North Pole. Another benefit of not being mute: when a baby bear in disguise as a human child accuses me of being a human adult dressed as a polar bear, I can let 'em know I smell the fur under their skin! Grrrrr!!!!
Getting ready for "Bearobics"...
photography by Karey Shinn ©
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