|
|
|
The heli flies tomorrow, but will there be ice for the North Pole skiers?
13:45 p.m. EST Mar 2, 2004
In the past couple of days the dispatches from the hopeful North Pole skiers have been bleak. Disputes existed, out of their control that kept the helicopter from flying to Sredny and their starting point. Fears have been mounting since the clock is ticking and they have a deadline of May 1st to reach the Pole. Everyday that passes is just one less day they have to reach their goal.
The latest word today is that the 5 teams will definitely be leaving for Sredny tomorrow, and then the starting point, Cape Arktichevskiy, the next day. It seems that after so many promises this past week, the skiers would seem reluctant to believe what they are told, however, Ben, Wave, and Dominick all seem very sure that tomorrow is the day. We’ll be keeping our fingers crossed.
Wave reports that the next snag that they’ll have to overcome is the ice itself. “Bettina Aller, one of the other expeditioners called a satellite weather monitoring service…they report there was 70 kilometers of open water around the Cape. This could be a serious and dangerous problem.”
Should there be this much open water, the teams will most likely have to be flown further North.
Typically you can expect open water when windy, however, it should freeze over. Though, if they do get airlifted over the water and start out on the ice it will not count as full expeditions.
On the upside, this report comes from remote sensing, not necessarily a visual confirmation. They’ll have to see what it looks like when they get there, then decide what to do. Canoe paddles would be great...
Dominick Arduin has lift off for tomorrow morning at 0900 hrs. All five teams are expected to be ready at 0600 hrs.
Ben Saunders is keeping his fingers crossed too. “I'm trying to ignore rumors of 70km of open water off Cape Arktichevskiy, particularly as radar can't differentiate between open water and thin ice, but it'll be interesting to see what the ice (water?!) will be like.”
All the North Pole expeditions this year are from the Russian side. Ben Saunders plans to ski unsupported and solo across the Arctic Ocean. Wave Vidmar will ski unsupported and solo to the North Pole.
Frédéric Chamard-Boudet will try to become the first French solo to the North Pole without resupplies. Dominick Arduin will embark for a solo expedition to the North Pole with one re-supply. Couple Jean-Gabriel and Bettina Aller are going for the Pole on a supported expedition.
Image from Khatanga courtesy of NorthPoleSolo.com.
|
