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Arctic wrap-up: Polar Challenge race kicks off
Apr 25, 2005 17: 35 EST
The Korean team continues their conquest of leads and pressure ridges as they march closer to the North Pole. See a separate ExWeb story for the latest on Tom Avery’s Ultimate North expedition.
The 16 Polar Challenge teams are under way, and they have their skis and compasses pointed to the Magnetic North Pole.
NP teams from Canada
Young Seok-Park
“The team is still encountering numerous leads and pressure ridges. The going's been pretty tough. On the 24th, they walked against strong northwesterly winds that blew at 20 to 25 knots. Any other day, it would have been a rest day; however, with the pole so near (less than 80 miles now), the team decided to walk with all they've got.”
Coordinates: N 88' 42.449, W 72' 57.263
Polar races
The Polar Challenge race
“All Polar Challenge teams have completed their first day of racing. Teams covered a considerable distance today and are all looking in fine form. They made their first race sched. calls last night, and from these calls we can see that Commando Joe is in the lead. Commando Joe and also our checkpoint teams both saw a mother bear and cubs yesterday!”
Here’s a snatch from the diary of the current race leader, Commando Joe:
“After another long sleep, the race start day was upon us. After days, weeks and months of preparation and training the big day was finally upon us. For some this was an emotional moment. For us it was what it's all about...getting on with the race. All the teams lined up at 0755hrs local, Saturday 23rd April. After a countdown from Dave P., one of the Innuits on the support staff, fired the shotgun at 0800hrs, signally the start of the race. It was difficult to tell, but I think we were first across the line scooting off up the hill to the team's first waypoint.”
Polar bear sighting
“Only 15 Nautical miles north of the start, the team saw there first Polar Bear. She was accompanied by her 2 cubs. Unfortunately, they were too far away to take a decent photo. She really was not interested and soon trundled off. Not long after, we noticed a seal, basking in the Polar sun. As if this wasn't enough, several hours later we caught sight of what looked like two Caribou.”
Check out Polar Challenge’s website (link below) to follow the teams’ progress on the live race map, powered by Contact 3.0 GEO.
Polar Race 2005
“Clear blue skies, no wind and a balmy temperature of only -20°C greeted the contestants at the start of the third leg of the Polar Race. This leg is from the northern edge of Bathurst Island to King Christian Island, a distance of 95 miles. Much of it is out of sight of land so navigation is going to be at a premium especially if there is another whiteout.”
“Form is impossible to predict, but the most consistent team over the first two legs is the Cable and Wireless Polar Team. Despite all the difficulties in training and in preparation because of their remote location, they have developed into a formidable partnership. They finished second in the first leg and fought back from a desperate position on the second leg after illness and their Polar Bear encounter, to snatch a third place only one minute behind the second placed team, Pole Position.”
Siberia expeditions
Mikael and Johan
After completing their expedition last week, a sense of “what now?” sets in:
“I just experience emptiness right now. I feel run down, slightly miserable and somewhat somber. I feel totally drained of all my energy. After having spent almost 10 months, fully concentrated, suddenly it is all over. Just like that. I know from experience, this mood will stay until I once again meet my loved ones. And, I cannot forget how stunningly beautiful Ambarchik was!”
Svalbard expedition
Finnish Svalbard expedition
Safe and toasty at home, Vesa reflects on his physical accomplishment, and ponders future expeditions:
“This last report is written from home. I'm currently lying on my sofa. Me and my sofa, we have found together some kind of a deeper universal connection, it is kind of a symbiosis. My toes have felt a bit cold for few days, so I filled a bucket with hot water and put my feet there, now they start to feel better.”
“To me it became clear that it would be nice to have expeditions like this in the future, too. I have had a dream of doing something similar at Antarctica. I have had thoughts about that place for a long time. It does not have to be a Pole trip, just want to do something at that continent, there is so much to see (is there anything besides pure ice?!?!?!).”
Live image over Contact 3.0 of team members hauling a sledge over a pressure ridge courtesy of Tom Avery/Barclays Capital Ultimate North Expedition.
Siberia Expedition’s dispatches
Vancouver to Moscow
Ultimate North Tom Avery cybercast in Peary's footsteps
Finnish to Svalbard
Young Seok-Park NP (Korean)
Polar Challenge’s website
Polar Challenge’s race map
Polar Race 2005’s website
Franz Josef Land expedition
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