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Summer Sea Ice, North Pole, 31 Aug 1990 - Nasa.gov |
Expedition Itinerary – North Pole "Last Degree" Ski Expidition provided by Polar Explorers.
Both level of skill and physical conditioning must be high as participants may encounter adverse conditions that
will test their abilities. They will spend both days and nights in some of the most extreme conditions the planet
has to offer. They will test all of their limits.
A challenging ski expedition crossing the uneven and broken pack ice of the Polar Sea. Each team member
pulls his or her own sled which weighs between 60-80 lbs (30-40 kilo). The skiing, though not technically
difficult, is very rigorous and it requires excellent cardio vascular endurance and muscular strength. At any
given moment team members may feel exhilarated and accomplished, or overwhelmed by difficult terrain. It’s all in a
day’s work on this classic expedition which truly is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure!
This expedition includes a 5 day polar shakedown training trip in northern Minnesota in the United States in January 2009 or a 3 day Polar Shakedown training trip near Longyearbyen just prior to the expedition.
Day 1: Upon arriving in Longyearbyen, the team will be met by their PolarExplorers guide at the airport. A short transfer will take them to their hotel in the beautiful mountain village of Longyearbyen. They will then have time to time to unpack and relax before the official welcome reception and dinner. |
Day 2: A busy day as the team readies their kits, review expedition expectations & procedures. This is the last chance to work out any kinks before they take to the ice! Personal kits will be reviewed and equipment readied for the flight. The late afternoon and evening are the final opportunity to grab last-minute necessities in town. |
Day 3: From Longyearbyen the team will travel by charter aircraft to the eclectic Russian research camp Barneo” located at approximately 89 degrees North latitude. This flight takes approximately 2 ½ hours. Upon arriving at Barneo the team will either strap on their skis and depart immediately for the North Pole or set up their tents and depart the following morning. Barneo is located on the floating pack ice and its precise location varies. Expeditions generally depart directly from Barneo, though the team may opt to get flown to their departure point. The guides will review ice conditions and recent drift to determine the best departure point. |
Days 3-13: For the next ten days the team will travel by ski and sled, maneuvering their way around open water leads and over pressure ridges. They will ski between six and ten hours every day (actual length depends on weather and ice conditions). At night the team will camp on solid old” ice and cook meals in their tents. Family and friends will be able to follow their daily progress, as well as share messages with the team via the Test Your Limits blog. All team members will be required to participate in all aspects of the expedition, including setting up camp, cooking and using the stoves to melt water, etc. On a personal level, the extreme conditions of the Polar environment demand that each person is well organized and able to maintain both an appropriate body temperature and adequate reserves of energy. This is where all of their physical training, mental preparation, and time spent acquiring the best clothing and equipment will pay off. Once the team is are on the ice & in the extreme cold everything becomes much more difficult!
Upon reaching the North Pole, the extended celebration begins. Standing at the top of the world, where everything on Earth lies south of their location, the team will make toasts celebrate their accomplishment. Team members will also have the opportunity to call home to a family member or friend. Weather depending, the team will get picked up by helicopter that same day and head back to Barneo, then on to Longyearbyen. (They may end up spending the night at Barneo depending on timing and conditions.) Back in Longyearbyen the team have the opportunity to enjoy hot showers, fine cuisine, access to phones and internet, and time to meander through the rustic village. A farewell dinner and a comfortable night at the lodge will top off the day. |
Day 14: An optional early breakfast and transfer to the airport starts the return trip home. |
The North Pole – Did you know?
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At the North Pole, the Sun is permanently above the horizon during the summer months and permanently below the horizon during the winter months.
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The North Pole is significantly warmer than the South Pole because it lies at sea level in the middle of an ocean (which acts as a reservoir of heat), rather than at altitude in a continental land mass.
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Winter (January) temperatures at the North Pole can range from about −43 °C (−45 °F) to −26 °C (−15 °F), perhaps averaging around −34 °C (−30 °F). Summer temperatures (June, July and August) average around the freezing point (0 °C, 32 °F).
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The sea ice at the North Pole is typically around two or three meters thick, though there is considerable variation and occasionally the movement of floes exposes clear water.
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Polar bears are believed rarely to travel beyond about 82° North owing to the scarcity of food, though tracks have been seen in the vicinity of the North Pole, and a 2006 expedition reported sighting a polar bear just one mile (1.6 km) from the Pole. The ringed seal has also been seen at the Pole, and Arctic foxes have been observed less than 60 km away at 89°40′ N.
- Birds seen at or very near the Pole include the Snow Bunting, Northern Fulmar and Black-legged Kittiwake, though some bird sightings may be distorted by the fact that birds tend to follow ships and expeditions.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Pole
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