They made it! Park: "This Grand Slam is for my friends lost in Himalaya"
Apr 30, 2005 19: 24 EST
What a week in North Pole history! Only a few days back, Tom Avery's expedition beat Peary's time to the North Pole - setting a new world record for NP dogsled travel.
And now, Mr Park has completed the world's first true Adventure Grand Slam: Seok Park has climbed the world's tallest mountains - the 14, 8000ers - and walked on foot to both poles - a cross-over in the extremes no adventurer in the world has accomplished before.
53 days
After summiting all fourteen 8000ers (which he completed in 2001), and completing an unsupported foot-trek to the South Pole (in 2004), Young Seok Park (age 41), arrived at the pole at 14:45 central time (19:45UTC).
It took the team 53 days 3 hours 15 minutes from Ward Hunt Island to the pole. Mr Park's hometeam reported to ExplorersWeb straight from Resolute Bay:
Had to set up their tent only 8 miles away from the pole
"We just spoke with Young Seok Park, and he is very excited that he has just accomplished the first grand slam. He is also extremely proud of his expedition members - who despite endless pressure ridges, leads, and adverse conditions - walked day after day without much complaint.
The team had blizzard conditions the last two days (with winds gusting to 25-30knots), and they reported that they encountered pressure ridges to the very end. Sung Taek Hong felt in a lead yesterday afternoon, and the team had to set up their tent only 8 miles away from the pole. They started their final push at 10:30am, and got to the pole after 4 hours. They were able to get the exact 90' 00 coordinate on their GPS, which confirmed that they had finally made it!
Camped on a solid pan
The team is now waiting for their pick-up flight. Kenn Borek and the Resolute weather guru Wayne Davidson say there is a low pressure system around the pole, and the team is anxiously waiting for the weather to clear. The team reports that they are camped on a solid pan of ice which is at least 1 km long.
Mr. Park would like to thank many people from all around the world who have been so supportive of his attempt at the first mountaineering grand slam. There have been many ups and downs, for sure ; his thoughts are always with friends he lost in the himalayas. This grand slam is for them."
Young Seok Park (age 41), Sung Taek Hong (age 37), Hee Joon Oh (age 34), and Chan Il Jeong (age 25) all departed Seoul, Korea on February 24th and arrived in Resolute Bay on February 26th. The team started their expedition from Ward Hunt Island on March 8.
Image of Mr Park, courtesy of Parkgrandslam.net
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