This Ontario Man Nearly Died in an Arctic Race at 62. It Changed His Life Forever

After nearly freezing to death and experiencing snow blindness in Canada’s Arctic, Raymond Aaron doesn’t sweat the small stuff anymore. Now 79, the well-known author and public speaker in 2007 participated in the Polar Race, a biennial race from Resolute, Nunavut, to the North Magnetic Pole. It was a gruelling 17 days, 20 hours, 43 minutes, and 51 seconds that he’ll never forget, but it was also an experience of a lifetime for the then 62-year-old—one that he is “wildly, wildly happy” to have been a part of. The 12-hour days of skiing in minus 40-degree weather while pulling a sled loaded with 100 pounds (45 kilos) of supplies not only helped Mr. Aaron to get into the best physical shape of his life, but it also radically changed his outlook....