|
|
|
Updates: Homer and Bart at the North Pole
08:38 a.m. EST Mar 18, 2004
The weather is getting better for the three expeditions going to the North Pole. Wave reports; “The weather was decent, and the wind continued to blow from the South. This is good for two reasons; it's not in the face searing my flesh, and it's blowing me North, helping my mileage rather than robbing it from me.” Bettina and JG are faring well also, “The sun made the ice and snow glint in pink colors, looking like Candy Floss. The wind was slowing down, it was getting warmer (only – 36 degrees Celsius) so somehow the spirit got higher, hoping that the drifting back south time was over.”
There were some minor mishaps today; Bettina and JG both got wet feet while crossing a lead and Ben did his impression of Homer Simpson doing an impression of a ‘tent moose’; “The Royal Marines have a great expression for someone that's unusually clumsy when living under canvas - a tent moose. Well, that was me yesterday. I managed to spill boiling water twice, and to knock a half empty flask of drink all over the tent floor. D'oh.”
Otherwise they are faring well, though Wave may be hallucinating; “The ice takes so many different forms and shapes. Recognizable figures start to appear. Today I saw Bart Simpson, the head of a tyrannosaurus rex, and an elaborate Spanish bull. The other day I saw a hammer, and often see lots of pyramids.
The search for Dominick will continue tomorrow morning, they are using a thermo camera to scan the search area.
Five expeditions have 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 attempts 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 was treated for severe frostbite. Dominick is missing since March 5th.
Photo of Wave on the ice sent through contact 2.0 software, courtesy of Wave Vidmar
|
