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North Pole wrapup: No news on Dominick, slow progress for expeditions
11:41 a.m. EST Mar 23, 2004
No news yet on phase two of the search for Dominick. This Friday the search was paused and pleas are out to Finish companies to help out with funds.
Dominick's employer has offered 20 000 Euros but more is needed as PolarCircle has been conducting the search at their own expense up until now. 30 - 40,000 US dollars will cover one more, vast search for Dominick. No evidence have yet been found of her death and if she is alive, she should have supplies to last this week.
Headwind, ice rubble, and 6 hour days of skiing have caused Ben and Wave slow progress, only around 2,5 NM today. Bettina and JG are faring better after their first resupply, but are suffering from swollen faces; Bettina may have frostnip on her nose.
Sedna, the Goddess of the Arctic Ocean, and a recently discovered planet beyond Pluto may have been protecting the Earth this weekend. Last night a 100 foot wide asteroid flew past earth, on this side of the moon, possibly the closest encounter ever at 26,500 miles away.
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 to attempt a first solo, unsupported crossing. Danish/French duo Bettina Aller and Jean Gabriel Leynaud ski to the pole with support and French/Finnish woman Dominick Arduin attempts 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.
Image of Sundogs courtesy of Ben Saunders
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