Arctic Legends silent minute at the North Pole for Dominick Arduin
Apr 22, 2004 18: 00 EST
Published April 20, 04
The following mail arrived today:
"Dear all
Our team of 23 international explorers, led by Richard Weber and Mikhail Malakhov reached the North Pole yesterday after skiing from Ice Station Borneo.
The entire team would like to express their sincere sadness at the loss of Dominick Arduin and send their best wishes to her family and friends. Upon reaching the Pole yesterday, our team took part in a two minute silence to the memory of Dominick.
With very best wishes
Jolene Pritchard (On behalf of Stonebee Limited and Canadian Arctic Holidays)."
In 1995, Richard Weber and Misha Malakhov completed their journey to the North Pole. There, they turned around and skied back. No resupplies, no dogs, no sails, no guides. The two spent 123 days pulling their gear behind them.
The challenge of an unsupported journey is not only physical. It tests your ability to deal with problems; broken gear and other obstacles without the help from outsiders. If your gear fails - you mend it with what you have at hand. It is a challenge of ingenuity, strength and character. Unsupported expeditions don't call for a plane to replace their lost sleeping bags. They make a new sleeping bag or they shiver. If all hope is out, the expedition aborts the trip. And return to finish it on a later occasion. But you finish what you started. And you do it without compromise.
It is important that those achievements receive proper respect. Although all visits to harsh regions are tough, some are tougher and the guys need the credit for it.
Upon arrival in Canada's Ward Hunt Island on June 16, Micha and Richard were not greeted by journalists or photographers. Instead they just went straight to bed. This still counts as a significant moment in the history of polar expeditions despite the lack of attention. In 1992 the pair made a first attempt but were forced to abort after 105 days and deteriorating ice conditions. But the expedition taught them valuable lessons that enabled them to succeed the second time around.
Today, Richard and Misha offer a wide variety of services, from Arctic Kayaking to North Pole expedition guiding and support. "The Arctic is such a vast and amazing region. We are passionate about it and feel everyone should visit the Arctic at least once in their lifetime".
Richard is a mechanical engineer and former Canadian cross-country ski champion and has participated in 25 Arctic expeditions. Misha Malakhov is a surgeon and has been awarded Russia's highest decoration; the Star of Russia.
Five expeditions set out for a North Pole expedition this year, all from the Russian side. 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.
Image of North Pole skier and Arctic halo, ExplorersWeb files.
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