Four Degrees Celsius

The MacAlpine search and rescue was one of the most expensive successful search and rescues in the twentieth centur y. [This] book brings the reader into an intimate association with the imperilled men marooned in the Arctic in 1929, like no other written work I have read on the subject. A great read! -- Clark Seaborn This is a well-crafted story that captures the heart and the imagination. It portrays in colourful detail the hardships suffered by both the lost members of the MacAlpine Party and the group of dedicated searchers. The author has presented a picture of the sheer determination of Cruickshank and the pilots and air engineers who overcame almost insurmountable odds to safely bring home all of the missing adventurers. What could have been a tragedy was instead a triumph, and credit must be given to the Inuit who contributed generously and unselfishly wherever they were needed. If you enjoy a tale designed to keep you glued to your seat from beginning to end, this book is for you. -- Rex Terpening Kerry has used the diaries of her grandfather Andy Cruickshank, one of the search pilots, and Richard Pearce, one of the survivors of the MacAlpine Expedition, to bring a human dimension to the technical aspects of the 1929 aerial search and rescue as well as some new information. What is already a riveting story is all the more fascinating when Kerry brings to light that lessons learned from the survivors were applied in the NASA space program. -- Shirley Render Combining entries from her grandfather's diary with other reports and sources from the MacAlpine expedition, Karram's book tells a tale of misadventure and recovery that is worth reading. * Altitude magazine * This narrative history has much to recommend it, and readers will be carried along by Karram's writing, as well as the book's excellent structure and pacing. In Four Degrees Celsius, Karram has not only documented part of her family's history in thrilling detail, but an important chapter in Canada's aviation heritage. * What's Up magazine *

Kerry Karram just recently found Andy Cruickshank's diary tucked inside a worn, yellowed envelope. Using her grandfather Andy's journal she chronicles the most extensive aviation search and rescue in Canadian history. Four Degrees Celsius reflects her deep interest in Canadian history, and her love for the North. She lives in North Vancouver.