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North Pole legends
15:41 p.m. EDT Sep 26, 2003
14:30 p.m. EDT Sep 9, 2003
Only 27 people in the world have managed to ski to the North Pole without assistance. The task has broken many accomplished athletes, including Messner who failed his attempt and never came back. Out of the few North Pole skiers, four has managed to do twice the distance. The strange part is, that both parties have received very little attention. Instead, other parties who have been much less self sufficient, and even skied a much shorter distance in the area - have caused screaming headlines. Why is that? How is it that the true heroes always end up the least talked about?
Anybody know who Rune, Torry, Richard and Misha are these days? Well, let's refresh our memories: In the year of 2000, Rune Gjeldnes and Torry Larsen set out to cross the Arctic ocean. Starting out in Russia, they entered the ice in pitch blackness of the Arctic winter. What followed was an epic journey. In the end, the guys had lost their sleds, gear and everything else really, and stepped onto Canada's land wearing only a backpack. The doctor's of a small research station that examined them on arrival said that Rune and Torry were only 48 hours away from death. They had been out for 109 days.
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. Now they organize expeditions to ski the last degree to the North Pole on a regular basis, most recently this April. It's not often you get to learn from the best. If you feel like visiting the Arctic ocean - why not do it in the company of these guys! Find them in the Operator links on this site.
Image ExplorersWeb files.
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