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North Pole update: The community comes together; Fiona's plea for Dominick
12:10 p.m. EST Mar 23, 2004
Following is an e-mail from Fiona Thornewill to ExWeb and Associated Press one hour ago:
“I have been following with increasing sadness the plight of Finnish adventurer and explorer, Dominic Arduin. Dominic last spoke to me back in September 2003, whilst deliberating whether to attempt the North or South Pole - solo. As it was, she chose the former - since no woman had ever succeeded before.
Having traveled the Arctic Ocean myself, I’m fully aware how dangerous the polar environment is - and global warming is absolutely not helping the stability of the ice.
Dominic took two satellite telephones and one ARGOS locator beacon - but from 5th March no signals have been received. Since I do know first hand how ‘both’ devices can malfunction in extreme climates, part of me cannot help but wonder if she is still okay - and that she simply cannot tell us.
Dominic has food and fuel for one more week - but sadly there is no money left to continue the search. Although we adventurers/explorers fully accept the risks of polar travel - some will understandably say: “It’s Dominic’s own fault.” That may be so. But let’s not judge too harshly, because all people are motivated by different desires.
It is as much human nature to explore our beautiful planet - as it is to kick a football. People with Dominic’s drive and character serve society well because they inspire ordinary people not to fear meeting their own life challenges. So yes, whilst polar travel doesn’t appeal to all - let’s hope the resources are found to continue searching for someone who might be still be alive…"
Fiona Thornewill.
Along with Catherine Hartley, Fiona was one of the two first British women to ski to both poles and, with husband Mike, also the first married couple to reach both poles (all expeditions with air support).
Fiona Thornewill made history when she reached the South Pole in 42 days on January 11 this year. She was unsupported and beat the fastest record for the South Pole ever (shattering Liv Arnesen’s 50 days in 1994). In fact, even with the aid of re-supplies along the trek, this South Pole route is expected to take around 65 days. The fastest supported expedition was a Japanese Group in 1994 (same year as Liv) who made it in 38 days with skidoo-support, and Borge Ousland's parasail crossing (34 days to the pole).
Liv, Fiona and Rosie are proof that the world's pioneering ladies of adventure are far stronger than we had ever imagined. We have seen the trend lately - the female mountaineers Edurne Pasaban's and Nives Meroi's fast hattricks on the world's eighthousanders, Maud Fontenoy's first west to east Atlantic ocean row, Raphaela's first solo surf across the Pacific and Tanya's breaking the record for both the men's and women's Freediving in the Variable Weight category.
Fiona is another of the veterans in the tight polar community who have been calling and mailing ExplorersWeb to not give up the search for Dominick.
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