Across Ice and Dreams: Ash Routen’s Journey from Lake Baikal to the Arctic Plateaus

Imagine standing atop a vast sheet of ancient ice, the horizon stretching endlessly before you. Underfoot, the ice creaks and groans, alive with mysterious booms and deep cracks, while distant mountains paint the edges of your world. This is Lake Baikal in winter — a place where Ash Routen, a doctor, adventure writer, and polar traveler, lived out a dream fueled by stories of exploration and hardship.

Ash didn’t grow up chasing first ascents or grandiose titles. His journey began simply, rooted in childhood hikes through the New Forest and rekindled years later when a friend gifted him a weathered copy of Alone on the Ice by David Roberts. That book, chronicling the unimaginable survival story of Douglas Mawson, whispered something dormant awake — a yearning for real adventure, tested by cold, distance, and time.

From the mirror-like frozen vastness of Lake Baikal to the soft, undulating snowscapes of Norway’s Finnmark Plateau, Ash’s expeditions are less about speed and records, and more about immersion. About finding awe in the crunch of snow underfoot, the shifting blues of Arctic skies, and the steady, meditative rhythm of pulling a heavy sled through silence.

Today, Ash shares stories through writing for outlets like National Geographic UK and ExplorersWeb, reaching across the globe to encourage others — not to conquer landscapes, but to experience them. His tales are stitched not with bravado, but with curiosity, humility, and the profound reminder that you don’t have to leave your job or abandon your life to chase your own frozen horizons.

Adventure, Ash reminds us, is less about grand gestures and more about the decision to start. Even when the ice groans beneath your boots, even when the dream feels almost too big to hold.

Watch The Episode With Ash Routen

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Listen To The Episode With Ash Routen

Key Episode Takeaways

• Adventure can start small – You don’t need to quit your job or have sponsors to chase meaningful exploration.
• Preparation matters more than peak fitness – In the Arctic, good systems, mindset, and gear management are survival essentials.
• Polar landscapes offer accessible extremes – Remote, magical landscapes like Norway’s Finnmark Plateau offer Arctic experiences without technical mountaineering barriers.
• Writing can grow from experience – Sharing your story often begins with a single blog post or small magazine piece.
• Personal dreams are valid adventures – Success isn’t measured only by world records, but by the courage to pursue what stirs your soul.

Memorable Quotes

• “The ice is a living, breathing entity — it crunches beneath your feet, it booms and cracks, and it plays on your mind.” – Ash describing the eerie, powerful life of Lake Baikal.
• “You realize you’re not on solid ground. And that changes everything.” – On the mental challenge of walking over frozen water.
• “Adventure doesn’t have to mean full-time explorer — it can fit around real lives.” – Reflecting the ethos of balancing career, family, and outdoor passion.
• “Good self-care is the backbone of expedition success — not bravado, but blister tape and patience.” – Ash on what truly makes or breaks polar journeys.
• “If you’re waiting for the perfect moment, it may never come. Start anyway.” – Ash’s quiet encouragement to future adventurers.

Facts

• Lake Baikal is the world’s largest freshwater lake by volume, containing roughly 20% of the planet’s unfrozen surface freshwater.
• Finnmark Plateau (Finnmarksvidda) in Norway experiences temperatures colder than parts of Antarctica during the Arctic winter.
• Douglas Mawson’s solo trek is often called the most harrowing survival journey in polar history, inspiring Ash’s own adventures.
• The Antarctic Treaty expires in 2041, potentially opening Antarctica to exploitation unless renewed.
• Snowshoeing across ice caused Ash severe blisters — highlighting that simple footwear choices can make or break an expedition.

Ideas

• Mentorship matters – Find someone who’s done what you dream about and don’t be afraid to reach out for advice.
• Polar travel can be accessible – Arctic environments like Norway or Lapland offer wildness without technical mountaineering.
• Good admin beats brute fitness – Managing hydration, feet, layering, and self-care day after day is the real expedition skill.
• Simple storytelling has power – Even writing short posts about personal adventures can inspire others and open unexpected doors.
• Preserve what matters – Awareness of treaties like the Antarctic Treaty is vital for the future of exploration and science.

Call to Adventure

Ash’s challenge is simple yet powerful: Just start.
Find a mentor. Plan your small expedition. Chase the landscapes that call to you — whether it’s snowfields, trails, or coastlines. You don’t need to quit your job, become famous, or set a record.
The world is out there, waiting.

Pay It Forward

Ash encourages all adventurers to learn about the Antarctic Treaty — the crucial international agreement protecting Antarctica from exploitation.
It expires in 2041, and its renewal will shape the future of the last great untouched wilderness.
Spend two minutes today researching how you can support awareness and advocacy for its protection.

References & Recommendations

• Ash Routen – Adventure writer and polar traveler
• Lake Baikal – Siberian lake traversed by Ash
• Douglas Mawson – Polar explorer who inspired Ash
• ExplorersWeb – Adventure journalism site featuring Ash’s writing
• Antarctic Treaty System – Information about the 2041 expiration

Before You Go

Thank you for joining us on this journey across frozen lakes and Arctic skies with Ash Routen.
If this story sparked even a flicker of your adventurous spirit, we invite you to follow, subscribe, and share Adventure Diaries with a friend.
Because somewhere out there, your own extraordinary adventure is waiting for you.