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North Pole update: Not so lonely in the Arctic
May 7, 2004 14: 37 EST
Ben has less than 40 nautical miles to go and he’s beginning to take notice in something; “I've never seen myself as an eco-warrior (my penchant for fast cars probably has something to do with that) and I've been wary of taking a stance on climate change, as I don't believe we know enough about what's going on, but it's obvious that things are changing fast. It's an issue I'll certainly be taking far more interest in...”
Mike Horn, the South African who travelled around the equator in 2000, is back for another circular adventure. This time, however, Mike is going into colder climates; the Arctic Circle, an area he has little experience with. His plan is to travel around the Arctic, just within the Arctic Circle, by boat, kayak, ski sail and on foot. He left in august of 2002 and is today in Tiksi, Russia – about half-way from his starting point in Greenland.
The Polar Husky expedition is in week 17 of their expected 29 week, 3000 mile journey from the Northwest Territories, Canada to the Arctic Ocean and beyond, documenting climate change. They are travelling by dog-sled and plan to compile their data for NASA. On the team is Will Steger who made the longest traverse of the Antarctic 1989 as part of a 6 man expedition.
The Ice Warriors have not dispatched since their arrival at the Geo-Magnetic Pole on April 27th. They plan to reach all four poles this season; the geo-magnetic, magnetic, Arctic and geographic.
An Estonian Greenland expedition has successfully traversed the ice cap.
An all-women Canadian artic expedition completed their mission to travel into the Artic from Churchill, Canada to Yellow Knife, Canada.
A Pakistani girl, Anoushka Kachelo, 23, has completed a last degree trek to the North Pole. In November she will attempt a full trek to the South Pole from Hercules Inlet.
Five expeditions set out for a North Pole expedition this year, all from the Russian side. Wave Vidmar to be the first American to ski solo and unsupported to the North Pole. Frédéric Chamard-Boudet to do the same for France. British Ben Saunders was to attempt a first solo, unsupported crossing. Danish/French duo Bettina Aller and Jean Gabriel Leynaud to ski to the pole with support and French/Finnish woman Dominick Arduin to attempt the first solo, female North Pole trek with support.
A big open water lead just off the starting point posed the first immediate problem for this years expeditions. Two solo skiers, French/Finnish woman Dominick and Frenchman Frederic decided to ski/paddle across the huge, 55 km semi open water area, in an attempt for a clean North Pole expedition (which must start from land). The other teams opted for an air drop onto thick ice.
Frederic Chamard-Boudet, fell in the water and was rescued. He is treated for severe frostbite. Dominick is missing since March 5th. Her tracks were found disappearing in an open water section, which she had planned to paddle over. No traces of Dominick, her kayak, sleds or other gear have been found.
Ben Saunders expedition status has changed to supported - he has opted for air resupplies. Wave Vidmar was airlifted off the ice and heads for home. Bettina and JG have reached to Pole.
Image of Arctic camp courtesy of the girls from ArcticQuest.com.
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| 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 |
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2004
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