|
|
Arctic wrap-up: Ultimate North team speeding up
Apr 5, 2005 11: 39 EST
Tom Avery’s team is gaining speed at every hour. The guys - and their well trained dogs - are getting closer to prove that Peary’s feat was amazing but not impossible. They are covering ever longer distances in extreme cold conditions.
On the contrary Siberian spring is providing much more enjoyable temperatures to Mikael and Johan, out again after some days of rest in Kolymskaya.
Siberia is exactly the place Troy and Dixie would like to get to -currents permitting- across the frozen Bering Strait.
NP teams from Canada
Tom Avery’s Ultimate North Expedition
Despite sat phone failures, Tom is managing to report punctually on the team’s progress. His last dispatch was up earlier today, and it is good news indeed:
“Our speed has picked up over the last two days and I am pleased to report that we have now arrived at Borup Camp where we have picked up our second resupply. An Argos beacon was placed with the depot which has been emitting a signal every few hours showing the depot's exact location. George and I climbed a nearby pressure ridge and scanned the horizon with the binoculars and spotted it in the middle of a pan, less than a mile from the exact spot that Peary's second support party turned around in 1909.”
“After an hour negotiating pressure ridges in the morning, the rest of yesterday turned out to be exceptional. In the afternoon we came across a refrozen pond that allowed us to travel at a very fast pace. We were all counting our lucky stars that we weren't here when this place was open water, which could have held us up for a long time.”
“We have been very lucky with the conditions so far. The unusual cold – even for the Arctic Ocean - has kept the pack ice locked together and almost every single lead we have come to has been frozen solid. Otherwise I don't even want to feel this cold again!”
“When we began planning this expedition two years ago, our itinerary allowed us just 17 days to reach Borup Camp. These 138 miles represent the most difficult part of the entire route and it has been known for expeditions to take three weeks just to cross their first degree at 84 degrees north. So to be here at Borup Camp, a full day and a half ahead of schedule is beyond our wildest expectations.”
“When you think that Peary started his journey with 133 dogs, who could share the work of breaking the trail through the endless pressure ridges, the fact that our 16 dogs have got as far as they have, in such good time, is quite phenomenal. They remain strong and in good health, and whilst they are tired by the time we make camp, to them this expedition is just one big game and they seem to be having a great time.”
“So tomorrow we start the next leg of the journey to Marvin Camp, 75 miles to the north of us.”
Team’s position today, April 5th : 85° 22.36' N, 70° 10.87' W.
Other expeditions from Canada
Bering Strait crossing
This is Troy’s last, reported today:
“It seemed colder to both of us this morning. We started out in search of the elusive NW current that would help us get to Siberia. We continued to confront similar conditions as yesterday. Bad, convoluted ice, small open leads, slush. Difficult going but we always managed to find a way through the maze.”
“We saw our first walrus. Huge creature just hanging out in a pool of water. Very close to him we saw polar bear tracks as well. BIG tracks, several days old. This guy was traveling north. For the moment we are drifting back to where we came from, losing the mileage we gained today. Tomorrow will be another day."
Siberia expeditions
Mikael and Johan
“We've done 45 kms during two days and have pitched the tent at N 68°33'13.1 and E 159°50'40.2. The sun is shining and there's not a cloud on the sky to be seen.”
“It's wonderful to be out here right now! The sun is blazing down on the tent and making it warm and cozy. Living in a tent right now is such a difference from earlier experiences we've had this winter. Right now we fully enjoy this free and fresh life. Earlier we were freezing cold all the time.”
”Just a minute ago a car stopped on the road, not far from the tent, and one of our friends from Kolymskaya came up to the tent to ask how we were. He then handed over two cold beers and some fresh grapes before continuing back home. And earlier today a truck stopped to give us a bottle of vodka and invite us to his home in Magadan. Amazing, how can people be so friendly?”
Svalbard expeditions
Finnish to Svalbard
Location: 79.18.89 N, 17.00.19 E
“The morning broke discouragingly. Sami showed his toe and it didn't look good. It had begun to get darker. Quickly we made up our minds and called for a helicopter to get him. No goal is worth loosing a toe. Luckily the weather was good and the helicopter arrived in two hours and Sami left with his sledge. We heard from the Sysselmannen staff that they had to pick up a guy from another team yesterday. Maybe from that Belgian team we met earlier.”
“When the helicopter left we were gloomy but we had to go on. This day's task was to ascent 500m following a narrow couloir. It was hard, even though there was crusted snow. At the top of the couloir we set camp, so tired we were. We have lots of expectations for tomorrow: Conditions are fine and downhill will begin.”
Siberia Expedition’s dispatches | Vancouver to Moscow | Ultimate North Tom Avery cybercast in Peary's footsteps | Bering Strait crossing | Finnish to Svalbard | Young Seok-Park NP (Korean) | Polar Challenge’s NP last degree expedition
Image of Ultimate North dog-sledging team sent over Contact 3.0 on March, 28th courtesy of Tom Avery/Barclays Capital Ultimate North expedition.
|
|
Feature Stories |
|
Latest News |
more news |
 |
North Pole Russia: Borneo Base up and running
Full Story
|
 |
North Pole Russia: It's over - all teams evacuated!
Full Story
|
 |
Russian Polar Borneo Station status update
Full Story
|
 |
The rules of Adventure
Full Story
|
 |
Russian frontier department angered by Cerpolex
Full Story
|
 |
North Pole teams on the ice - no rescue agreement with Borneo
Full Story
|
|
|
The battle for the North Pole - full story
Full Story
|
|
|
| OneWorld expedition: It's over Jun 3, 2005 | | Vancouver to Moscow - 1 year anniversary! Jun 2, 2005 | | Arctic wrap-up: The Single ski Weight Watchers Greenland program Jun 1, 2005 | | Arctic wrap-up: Rain and world record May 31, 2005 | | ExplorersWeb Week in Review May 30, 2005 | | 12 year old doing well on Greenland ice cap crossing May 27, 2005 | | Vagabond update - Polar bears, 200 candles and ice melting in Inglefieldbukta May 26, 2005 | | Arctic wrap-up: Polar hygiene, and Napoleon on ice May 26, 2005 | | Contact GEO hits Greenland May 25, 2005 | | Iridium: "Invalid battery - matches found, 0" May 24, 2005 |
| | Arctic wrap-up: Adventure family kites 162 km, reaches halfway point May 23, 2005 |
|
|
|
|
2004
BEST of EXPLORERSWEB
|
|
|
|
