The Other Side of the Ice: One Family's Treacherous Journey Negotiating the Northwest Passage

by Sprague Theobald, Allan Kreda

A sailor and his family's harrowing and inspiring story of their attempt to sail the treacherous Northwest Passage.Sprague Theobald, an award-winning documentary filmmaker and expert sailor with over 40,000 offshore miles under his belt, always considered the Northwest Passage--the sea route connecting the Atlantic to the Pacific--the ultimate uncharted territory. Since Roald Amundsen completed the first successful crossing of the fabled Northwest Passage in 1906, only twenty-four pleasure craft have followed in his wake. Many more people have gone into space than have traversed the Passage, and a staggering number have died trying. From his home port of Newport, Rhode Island, through the Passage and around Alaska to Seattle, it would be an 8,500-mile trek filled with constant danger from ice, polar bears, and severe weather. What Theobald couldn't have known was just how life-changing his journey through the Passage would be. Reuniting his children and stepchildren after a bad divorce more than fifteen years earlier, the family embarks with unanswered questions, untold hurts, and unspoken mistrusts hanging over their heads. Unrelenting cold, hungry polar bears, and a haunting landscape littered with sobering artifacts from the tragic Franklin Expedition of 1845, as well as personality clashes that threaten to tear the crew apart, make The Other Side of the Ice a harrowing story of survival, adventure, and, ultimately, redemption.TO WATCH THE OFFICIAL HD TEASER FOR "The Other Side of The Ice" (book and documentary) PLEASE GO TO SPRAGUETHEOBALD.COM50 color illustrations

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir, Adventure, Book Club, Audiobook, History

225 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 20, 2012

About the author

From sailing to film making, screenwriting, and broadcast journalism, I have enjoyed carving out an exciting career pursuing my passions. I am proud to have received national and international recognition for my writing, producing, cinematography, and editing.
Highlights of my background include:
► Emmy Award for my America's Cup documentary, "The 25th Defense: The End of an Era." As a documentarian, I worked with my production company, Hole in the Wall Productions, to capture breathtaking footage from Alaska to Zanzibar.
► My second book, "The Other Side of the Ice' details my life-changing his journey through the Northwest Passage with my family. Unrelenting cold, hungry polar bears, and a haunting landscape littered with sobering artifacts from the tragic Franklin Expedition of 1845, as well as personality clashes that threaten to tear the crew apart, make "The Other Side of the Ice" a harrowing story of survival, adventure, and, ultimately, redemption. I am proud that my documentary by the same name earned me a second Emmy Award.
► My writing and commentary have been published in The New York Times as well as many major national and international yachting magazines.
► Staff writer for several seasons for two of the Showtime Network’s episodic shows. I also worked as screenwriter in Los Angeles. In addition, I had the opportunity to work both in front of and behind the camera as a broadcast journalist/producer for eight years at an NBC affiliate.
► My sailing résumé includes twelve-meter racing in the America’s Cup arena, several transatlantic races, one of which was the Two Man Transatlantic Race, a complete circumnavigation of North America, and more than 40,000 offshore miles.
Home - Sprague Theobald

Reviews

[Marsha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hope he is a better filmmaker than author. Tortured is the word that comes to mind. So he sets off to cross the Northwest Passage with his 28-year old former step-son, 25-year old former step-daughter and her no-good boyfriend, and his 21-year old son, who is a half-brother to the aforementioned former step children. Apparently, he inexplicably divorced everyone's mother 15 years ago (do the math on how old the kids were), and hasn't had a relationship with them since (except maybe the son). So what better way to re-kindle the former-step-family bond than to take a 5-month cruise into the arctic circle on deadliest voyage of them all? So, in with the travelogue, we get his angst, his inner turmoil, his darkest moments. Honk-shoo! The bears, walruses and Inuits provided a few moments of - interest - in all that ice and over-analysis of how tired everyone was.

Lesson learned - first of all, never name a child you love Chauncey, Dominique, Sefton or Sprague! And second, if you have a serious familial disruption, think of something other than the Arctic Circle as the place for a family reconciliation trip!

And I am still wondering - did Dominique reconcile with the no-good boyfriend? Even though she adds a postscript to the story, she doesn't answer the most obvious question of all.

[Diana-Michaela Shaffner · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book written in the first person by Sprague reads much like a captain's log or a diary. The author consistently presents three different challenges throughout the book. These are his financial problems, personality issues with the crew on board who are mostly his family, and weather problems. At times these become quite repetitive. However, it is interesting to be able to dwell inside Sprague's mind and see the events through his eyes and thought process.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun read. I enjoyed the adventure story and the family story. My biggest gripe was not having a map of their route to follow along in the Kindle edition. Some pictures would have been nice, too. I also really enjoyed the history of the previous expeditions trying to cross the passage. I will definitely watch the movie at some point.

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah, it was ok. The story was very repetitive. Concerns about his kids, concerns about expenses, concerns about misbehaving staff, concerns about others' drinking, concerns about ice ripping a hole in the boat (always unfounded), and concerns about everyone else not being concerned enough. Not quite the adventure tale I was hoping for.

[Janet · Rating 1 out of 5]

There was so much of the story "dedicated" to the troubles of the individuals who were on this trip that I just couldn't get into it. I finished it but didn't enjoy it at all.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

While Mr. Theobald lacks the sophistication of a Sebastian Junger (a professional journalist), his story is compelling and often captivating as he narrates the journey. It was his desire to kumbaya at the end that I found self-indulgent and tempered my enthusiasm for the story. He grabbed me at hello and left me waiting for a taxi.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

If ever I think I have it hard…


It’s the summer of 2009. Sprague Theobald, a filmmaker and expert sailor, decides it’s time to do something interesting with his life. Hmmm…What to do? What to do? O, why not take an 8,500-mile danger-filled trek across the Northwest Passage in a 57-foot boat? This happens to be one of the most treacherous trips a sailor can take, one that few have had the audacity to take, much less survive. I think knowing this alone would make the decision for me. Stay home. Watch the Discovery Channel. Not so for Sprague.

Why would anyone want to go out on a limb financially to take a trip on frigid, hostile, faraway seas? Were there no warning bells? Does this man have no fear?

From the minute I opened The Other Side of the Ice, I couldn’t put it down. Sometimes it reads like a captain’s log, but this captain is awake to many levels of experience. He offers a rich chronicle of life on the edge, physical, emotional and spiritual. It’s not enough that he runs out of money before casting off, but he and his crew of estranged family members are dogged by white-knuckle storms, hidden icebergs, broken satellite connections, fog, hungry polar bears, underwater rocks, freezing water, ice floes and faulty equipment. Against the backdrop of profound arctic beauty, interspersed with fond reminiscences of the past, forging through impassable frozen bays, the crew deals with physical ailments, being lost, cabin fever, exhaustion, triumph, self-doubt and sibling tension that exceeds the limits of each other’s patience.

This is truly a unique, compelling memoir of transcendence through a life lived fully. I've ordered the movie!

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an adventure! I love books about climbs on Mt Everest, living in Africa, or traveling along famous routes I will never see. Such is this description of this family's travel along the Northwest Passage, from Atlantic to Pacific in a relatively small boat. The description of the terrain. the villages, the storms, the tactics needed to maneuver a boat through ice, etc. held me through the entire book. I think I was a bit disappointed in how the author related many of the arguments and people being people throughout the book. But I suppose that kind of interaction is to be expected in close quarters in dangerous waters. Although the author had the aspiration to do the Northwest Passage since he was much younger, and although he was able to prepare the boat and take care of enlisting crew members, in the end he seemed to worry constantly throughout the trip about everything. But again, I suppose if I was traveling with my children in some uncharted waters at the mercy of the elements, I would worry too! A recommended read!

[Shareen Wornson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was not well written, but not all memoirs are. The content should have been interesting - a man and his somewhat estranged children take on a nautical journey that has probably never been successfully completed. But, I found the author to be "whiny" and a lot of the book to be negative in the sense that he never seemed to truly embrace the journey. He was full of doubt and doom and gloom whether it was about financing the trip, his physical state, or the impossiblity of the trip itself. I would like to have heard more about the journey itself and the developing relationships between him and his children than to hear the negative stream of consciousness going through his mind the entire time.

[Carol Burrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it but I enjoy books about adventures by foot, bike, boat, etc. If you don't like that kind of story, don't start it. It was repetitive at times but that kind of story tends to be. I was very worried for them when they were completely closed in on every side by giant sheets of ice or could have been chased by huge polar bears. I didn't have very good maps of the Arctic (who does?)but loved following them the best I could. There was also a lot about family dynamics throughout the story. It was told by Sprague, the author and father or step father of most of the crew. I liked him a lot and admired his insight and interpersonal sklls used in his relationships with them. I'd love to follow his documentaries. If you like man vs nature stories, you will love this one.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read because of the location and awesome journey, but the book is full of complaints about the crew. While extended periods of time in close quarters under stressful conditions is a legitimate problem, it was disappointing that what felt like 50-70% of the book was about these interactions and the strife aboard the ship. The author was also very prone to exaggeration, including a scene where they enter an area of sea ice, and fear for their lives in a sort of panic---but then no mention is made of navigation or even a word saying, we got out safely--clearly this instance was an area of extremely sparse ice that provided a chance to emphasize how traumatic the first time in the ice was.

[Rdonn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed in this book. The emphasis seemed to be on mending relations with his family which had been broken years before. He united his son, step son and daughter, a friend, etc. to do the Northwest Passage. I got extremely tired of his lamenting what was he doing putting his loved ones in such danger. Honestly, he had to know as this Passage has led to the deaths of so many people! I also felt the whole trip was a photo op. They experienced great beauty, and life-threatening situations, but for me it fell flat I didn't think the writing was good either. Glad to discuss it at book club tonight. I may be in the minority - we'll see!

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't on the edge of my seat like I usually am with survival stories, but maybe that's because this was more adventure than survival. I knew the people were in grave danger but somehow didn't feel it. I get impatient with sentimentality, so I skimmed over some of the parts about being together as a family. I'm not one of the critics who think they shouldn't have risked their lives; it sounds like it was a good adventure, and they made intelligent decisions which prevented this from being as hair-raising as some survival tales.

[M.G. Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book! I could hardly put this one down. Such a great adventure filled with peril, passion, plotting and a few Polar bears. The authors did a good job telling how the adventure through the Northwest Passage was planned and executed not leaving out any gritty details of life aboard an Arctic expedition boat that tried the mettle and patience of the leader and crew. I was on edge the entire trip rooting for the adventurers to make it safely through their journey it was that well told.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was ok. The adventure genre is my favorite, but this one just didn't stand up to the standard that I am used to. The author, who was the captain of the ship, was constantly negative and sick and mad. IN the end, the point became that the difficult times on the boat became good time for his family to bond, but it just seemed weird to me. It was a very quick read, but a little bit too pessimistic for my taste. I like my adventure books to be inspirational rather than pessimistic.

[Brain Faires · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book. It followed a man and his journey through the northwest passage. Along the way he tells of his journey and how his family and crew did on the boat. It even talks about when they were shooting film for the documentary they were making. Overall I liked the book but It was hard to in some parts due to the nautical terminology. I would recommend this book to anyone who knows about and wants to read about a family's adventure.

[Kerry · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book.

To me, it was too much about Sprague and his issues than about the adventure of the voyage. There was too much drama with his crew and his finances and his personal issues.

I wanted more in-depth about the scenery and the details of the voyage instead of the fights and what a great job his daughter did fixing food.

I'm sure there are better books to read about the Northwest Passage.

[Lani · Rating 2 out of 5]

Angst Overload

I really had to.struggle to.get through this angst laden book. The author's representation of the dangers and the descriptions of his angst are repeatedly represented throughout this book to the point of being hackneyed and boring. To my thinking not a good read.

[Patricia Locati · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read few documentaries ... I prefer other genres ... but this book was recommended to me ... so I took it on. It took about a week to finish ... I thoroughly enjoyed the journey of this family through the famed Northwest Passage on a 57' trawler. It was a well written, well told story of this family's journey.

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

From "my side of the ice" (my couch) this was an exciting, can't put it down read. I can't imagine really doing something like this. I appreciated the author's honesty about the difficulties faced and especially the effect the journey had in bringing him closer to his children.

[Rebecca Wilkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read

a very well written account of a family's courage & bravery. A bit too much "global warming" theory. The only thing sad about the victory of this harrowing trip was the complete disregard of God's hand in their survival.

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really enjoyable read, I felt as if I was on the journey with them! I was fortunate to have almost finished the book when PBS aired a documentary about the Erickson expedition, two British ships that left Britain in 1845 to navigate the same Northwest Passage and were lost. Very Interesting!

[Emilie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Book! Authors writing style pulls you in and makes you feel like you are right there on the boat with him!

[Too Many Toys · Rating 3 out of 5]

More story, less drama. First, this was an interesting story and I expect the movie might actually be better. My chief criticism of the book was that the author came off as an overly introspective drama queen and that came through in the writing. There was much more discussion of how he (not the rest of the cast) felt about what was happening rather than what was actually happening. The incessant over analysis of the motivations and outcomes got very tiresome for me (and I expect the crew that had to experience it). It is difficult to tell whether events actually unfolded this way or the author added all of the extra drama to make the story interesting. Regardless, this chronicles a great accomplishment and is worth a read. For me, it would probably be in the middle of my reading stack and one that I would wait for until it is available used for .01.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the experiences written in an engaging fashion but a little heavy on the family problems.
Left me wondering who would bother doing this trip instead of circumventing the globe as we currently have two friends doing for an adventure. Both parties are putting themselves in danger but at least one will not be frozen in ice.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

the journey was incredible but all the personal information kinda ruined it for me. TMI for someone else's family

[Steven Howell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Try as I might the book did not draw me in.

[Karlijn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Eileen White · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great adventure saga - but the family story was a bit too drawn-out, almost seemed to be filler for length. A better map with more of the anchorages noted would have been an excellent addition.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

This undertaking didn't sound fun or fulfilling on any level. You are left wondering why this particular group of people would have even pursued such an endeavor. Unlike most true life adventure stories that are often romanticized, this is not, and I appreciated the honesty and realistic descriptions of the successive and typical problems. Anyone contemplating such a journey probably ought to read this book first.

There are interesting bits, and I was impressed with the technical know-how of the individuals and, despite the several mechanical malfunctions, amazed the boat's structure persevered through such harsh conditions. But all and all this was one miserable trip. The continuing personality conflicts, fears, irritations, health concerns, and enormous expense that occurred early and continued on negate any feeling of adventurous spirit. The total dependence on electronics, especially with the computer crapping out the first day (yikes) and that the internet communications didn't seem to always work, make one think twice about doing this. Call me naïve, but is there no system of checkpoints up there? The trip was completed, but it did not appear. Some had the mental fortitude and frame of mind to cope well with such an expedition. I wondered about what seemed like a lack of backup rescue strategies, particularly with Sprague's angst about his family's welfare. Also, with a crew of only five, more emphasis on cross training each other on their various functions would have seemed advisable; maybe they actually did that, but all mostly appeared to keep to their particular assignments. Among other things, a primary reason not to go sightseeing in such environments would be polar bears where you'd have to be a flawless good shot to even have a remote chance of winning an encounter with one (do firearms work dependably in freezing conditions?).

I was surprised all the crew returned to complete the trip after the two week break and admire their resolve. I'm left with wanting to know if Dominque hooked up again with the boyfriend, what the other parents thought of their kids being involved in this, if the toe problem got cured, and what became of the Bagan, does his son still have it, was it moved out of Seattle and to where. It sounds like Sprague gave up boating entirely after this trip, I'm curious if that is true.