Learning About Ice Pressure Ridges

The ice pressure ridge is a figure that gestures towards the agencies of the land itself. Where sea-ice meets the shore, or where ice sheets are pushed into each other by their underlying currents, they are forced upwards. Where the ice sheets are forced upwards they shape jagged lines of icy structures across the landscape. When encountering such an ice pressure ridges you have to trail alongside them to find an appropriate point of crossing.

The figure of the Ice-pressure ridge emerged for the author as result of their own on-the-land experiences when they were taken out on the land by their Inuit research collaborators. Although the principle of redirection, and trailing along such ice pressure ridges is therefore literal, its figurative practice also applies to other events, like Covid-19 or delays due to the weather. Each of these events are the material results of responsive agencies that push you of track on your journey, as if you would encounter an ice pressure ridge on your way.

Like invitations such ridges may constitute multiple events or encounters. And they often lead to unanticipated insights and outcomes. Keep following the ridge, until you can return to the cut you came from.