Will the last one to the Pole please turn out the lights.
May 2, 2004 14: 25 EST
We have all been waiting for the air guitar photo from the Arctic. Every season, almost a tradition now, someone dispatches the classic image of bent knee, all-out-jam, on whatever long guitar-like prop available. Last year it was Stephen Koch and Jimmy Chin doing a Hendrix impersonation on Everest, today we have Ben Sunders rocking out to Polyphonic Spree.
"Ben’s reasons to be cheerful...
1) Decent ice, a few flat pans and no open water.
2) The knowledge that I've skied 379 nautical miles (700km) so far.
3) Blue skies and sunshine, 24 hours a day.
4) My sledge didn't try to run me over today.
5) The fact that I'm now 'inside' 88 degrees north - less than two degrees (120 nautical miles) to the Pole.
6) Sun block - the stuff I put on my lips has a mouth-wateringly delicious coconut smell. I don't know how I've avoided eating it...
7) Polyphonic Spree - 'Reach for the Sun'.
8) I've found out where the brown stains are coming from. The what?! Well, I was reluctant to discuss this before, but I've been finding huge brown stains on my trousers recently. It turns out there was a fugitive chocolate bar hiding in my sleeping bag. Naturally I ate it, once I'd cleaned the fluff off.
9) My beard. It cracks me up every time I catch a glimpse of it (reflected in the screen of my iPAQ, for example). It's huge. Hilariously big. I feel like some crazy old fisherman, and I'm going to start losing things in it if I'm not careful.
10) The photo you've all been waiting for. Can anyone name that tune?”
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 was to attempt a first solo, unsupported crossing. Danish/French duo Bettina Aller and Jean Gabriel Leynaud to ski to the pole with support and French/Finnish woman Dominick Arduin to attempt 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. Her tracks were found disappearing in an open water section, which she had planned to paddle over. No traces of Dominick, her kayak, sleds or other gear have been found.
Ben Saunders expedition status has changed to supported - he has opted for air resupplies. Wave Vidmar was airlifted off the ice and heads for home.
Live image of Ben rocking out provided by Contact 2.0, courtesy of Ben Saunders.
|
|
Feature Stories |
|
Latest News |
more news |
 |
North Pole Russia: Borneo Base up and running
Full Story
|
 |
North Pole Russia: It's over - all teams evacuated!
Full Story
|
 |
Russian Polar Borneo Station status update
Full Story
|
 |
The rules of Adventure
Full Story
|
 |
Russian frontier department angered by Cerpolex
Full Story
|
 |
North Pole teams on the ice - no rescue agreement with Borneo
Full Story
|
|
|
The battle for the North Pole - full story
Full Story
|
|
|
| OneWorld expedition: It's over Jun 3, 2005 | | Vancouver to Moscow - 1 year anniversary! Jun 2, 2005 | | Arctic wrap-up: The Single ski Weight Watchers Greenland program Jun 1, 2005 | | Arctic wrap-up: Rain and world record May 31, 2005 | | ExplorersWeb Week in Review May 30, 2005 | | 12 year old doing well on Greenland ice cap crossing May 27, 2005 | | Vagabond update - Polar bears, 200 candles and ice melting in Inglefieldbukta May 26, 2005 | | Arctic wrap-up: Polar hygiene, and Napoleon on ice May 26, 2005 | | Contact GEO hits Greenland May 25, 2005 | | Iridium: "Invalid battery - matches found, 0" May 24, 2005 |
| | Arctic wrap-up: Adventure family kites 162 km, reaches halfway point May 23, 2005 |
|
|
