The Arctic Arc
To celebrate the International Polar year 2007-2008, Alain Hubert and Dixie Dansercoer will attempt a traverse from Siberia to Greenland on skis. As part of their journey, they participate in a full educational programme. They also undertake a range of scientific studies, taking measurements and samplings in order to contribute to several polar research institutes.
Follow-up
Below are all the news we published about the The Arctic Arc expedition
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Measuring the depth of the snow
Published on 15.06.2009
Because one of the main aims of Adrian Hayes's Emirates NBD Greenland Quest is to focus public attention on global warming, the expedition's tasks include taking scientific readings and measurements every evening.
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The Arctic Arc - Results of the Contest
Published on 04.07.2007
The Arctic Arc expedition was quite an achievement: it was the first crossing from Siberia to Greenland via the North Pole.A contest was organised by the International Polar Foundation in partnership with Haglöfs. We asked you to guess the total distance registered by Alain's GPS during the expedition.
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What is Adventure Nowadays?
Published on 21.06.2007
The Arctic Arc expedition arrived on time at the Zaventem airport in Brussels yesterday. Before appearing on the television set for the evening news, the two men had enough time to briefly go over the big lines of the adventure.
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Arrival in Brussels & Press Conference
Published on 20.06.2007
The Arctic Arc expedition is awaited at the Zaventem airport in Brussels today, Wednesday. For those who wish to welcome home our Belgian heroes, meet them in the arrival hall at 4 pm.
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Four in One
Published on 18.06.2007
By managing this novel crossing, Siberia-Greenland, The Arctic Arc has pulled off a historical success. This represents a multifaceted achievement.(Monday afternoon: still no news concerning the return date of The Arctic Arc).
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Pair waiting for the Twin
Published on 16.06.2007
Since Thursday midday, both men are waiting besides the moutains. The support team and the film crew are in Resolute Bay, waiting for a good weather forecast.
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Figures That Make Your Flesh Creep…
Published on 16.06.2007
After these 106 days in the field, we wanted to give the floor to the researchers and to the specialists. Whence our meeting with Thierry Fichefet, Professor Of Climatology at the UCL (University of Louvain-la-Neuve) in order to ask him about the state of scientific knowledge on the melt of the Arctic pack ice. The figures that he gave make your flesh creep.
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Why?
Published on 15.06.2007
Here are the reasons explaining why the expedition The Arctic Arc had to stop along the coast of Greenland and not continue their journey to the south of the island as previously planned.
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10 Kilometres from the End…
Published on 14.06.2007
Today will probably be a big day for the expedition The Arctic Arc. Last night, they only had 10 km left before reaching Greenland.
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They have done it !
Published on 14.06.2007
Alain Hubert and Dixie Dansercoer have finally reached the northern coast of Greenland this morning. It was 11 45 AM (GMT+2) when the two Belgian explorers arrived at the northern coast of Greenland.
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Ghosts and Phantasmagoria
Published on 13.06.2007
The expedition's landscapes have come to a beautiful ending. Since yesterday, Hubert and Dansercoer have been progressing in an almost unreal world.
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Don’t get lost
Published on 12.06.2007
At the end of this extraordinary and historical odyssey, here are some useful pieces of information and tips on how explorers find their way about in polar regions.
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The Last Days of the Expedition
Published on 11.06.2007
A final rush for the two men. With a superb view of snowy mountains before them and only 47 km left to cover, they are now definitely approaching the coast.
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And now, the end is near…
Published on 10.06.2007
It appears that the two men are gradually leaving the area where the ice is completely disjointed. By Saturday evening, they were just 72 km from Greenland.
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The Gods really need to stay with us
Published on 08.06.2007
Yesterday, Alain and Dixie were back in a zone more dangerous than ever. The challenge is back...
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Land in Sight !
Published on 07.06.2007
Yesterday was a big day for Alain and Dixie : at 11 45 am, they saw through the hazy distance a first outline of the Greenland mountains. It was an emotional moment.
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The Challenge Continues
Published on 06.06.2007
While the Greenland coast is approaching, the two men's progression is getting harder each day.
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The Arctic Arc Contest
Published on 06.06.2007
To thank you all for the great support during the Arctic Arc expedition, the International Polar Foundation invites you to participate in an online contest. The goal is to guess how many kilometres will have been walked and skied by Alain and Dixie by the end of their trip. You will have to guess the number of kilometres displayed by their GPS at the end of the expedition.
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One Day After Another
Published on 05.06.2007
Today, more than yesterday but less than tomorrow, the difficulties are increasing during the end of this expedition. Alain and Dixie are having fun...
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Cracking Sounds All Over!
Published on 03.06.2007
Although Saturday was one of the most extenuating days of the expedition, Dixie and Alain walked for ten hours and progressed 15 kilometres.
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Danger Zone straight ahead!
Published on 01.06.2007
A huge zone of fractured ice has come up between the expedition and its arrival point along the coast of Greenland. As a result, the men must change their direction and walk around the zone in question. Serious worries amongst the expedition.
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Alain’s Knee and Dixie’s Foot
Published on 30.05.2007
Though they are getting closer to the Greenland coast, the two men are more cautious and circumspect that ever.
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The Mystery of the Vanishing Ice Pack
Published on 28.05.2007
Following the rapid dislocation of the sea ice in the Lincoln Sea, around the mouth of the Robeson Channel, from the 8th of May to the 19th of May, the expedition was forced to change its route. The question lying in most peoples' minds was "Is this a bad thing? What's going to happen next?"
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The data of the day
Published on 28.05.2007
Here are the technical data given last night by Alain Hubert on the satphone. In addition, please find the comments of the day.
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Alain is questioning himself
Published on 25.05.2007
Since the beginning of the expedition, Alain Hubert hasn't come to understand "his" Arctic sea ice. On one hand, the weather has gone completely wild and, on the other, the ice is unrecognizable.
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Speeding Up
Published on 23.05.2007
As it was announced several days ago, the two men have stepped on the accelerator. They progressed 25 km yesterday, and 20 the day before.
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An Improvement in the Terrain
Published on 21.05.2007
Things are starting to get better for the two Belgians of The Arctic Arc expedition. Even though the sky is still cloudy, the ice, on the other hand, is now flatter and the ground clearer.
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Changing plans
Published on 20.05.2007
If the two men continue to aim for the Victoria Fjord, they are throwing themselves straight into the lion's jaw. That is to say that the risks are enormous if they continue to head for Victoria Fjord: the route advisor is adamant. Consequently, they are modifying their itinerary to Greenland.
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Good weather, bad drift
Published on 18.05.2007
The good weather is back. But the downside is that the drift is moving the wrong way. This has made the men lose 3km overnight.
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20 minutes of happiness
Published on 17.05.2007
Yesterday, Wednesday, the two men saw the sun appear on the horizon. The display lasted all of twenty minutes. "20 minutes of happiness", said Alain Hubert.
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They’ve put on their skis again
Published on 15.05.2007
Since they have set off from the pole (April 26), Dixie and Alain have been obliged to proceed on foot, due to the Arctic chaos. Yesterday, the terrain was slightly better. They were able to put on their skis once again. There is still hope...
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Progressing at one kilometre an hour
Published on 12.05.2007
The terrain on which the two men have been progressing since the 88th degree is, despite their unflagging optimism, failing to improve. Yesterday morning, it took them three hours to cover the first three kilometres!
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Expedition Within The Expedition
Published on 11.05.2007
The expedition that has to deposit some supplies (the second resupply of the expedition) for Alain and Dixie in the north of Greenland left Brussels the day before yesterday. For the time being, Arnaud Tortel and Didier Goetghebuer are blocked by the storm in Ilulisat, Greenland.
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Nearly intoxicated!
Published on 10.05.2007
Panic on the pack ice yesterday evening: the two men nearly got intoxicated, because the stove wasn't working properly.
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Greenland Is Still A Long Way Away
Published on 08.05.2007
Although the expedition's morale is high and its progress is regular, the men are beginning to wonder...
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The hard side of the Pole
Published on 01.05.2007
Things are not going to be easy for the two men. Not only is the expedition far from being over, also, on this side of the Pole, the ice is a whole lot less suitable for gliding...
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Chaos, Once More
Published on 30.04.2007
They were hoping the flat ice found at the North Pole would foreshadow what they were to encounter on their way down to Greenland. But no. Not at all.
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The Pole and everything it comes with
Published on 25.04.2007
The Belgians Alain Hubert and Dixie Dansercoer reached the North Pole at 10 30 pm (GMT +4) yesterday evening. The last day had been particularly tiring.
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Tonight, the Pole
Published on 24.04.2007
After 53 days of exertion, the Hubert Dansercoer duo reached the North Pole tonight. A first big victory.
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They have come upon the true Arctic !
Published on 20.04.2007
On the one hand, they have suffered as never before from what Hubert calls the sheer hellish world of the north. On the other hand, they are liking it...
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A ghost degree
Published on 19.04.2007
One degree left before the two men come up to the first stage of their big adventure. Three or four days from now, they should indeed reach the north pole.
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Only Half a Day
Published on 17.04.2007
Contrarily to the expectations following a slight inching up of the barometer last evening, it dove to 972 hPa and the storm stuck around, giving the team a very windy night. The easterly winds, about 40Km/h on average, the heavy snow fall and the visibility being close to zero, Alain and Dixie had to stay put in the morning, waiting for the weather to clear up.
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Sleeping Backwards
Published on 16.04.2007
As the wind had turned, blowing from the North at 50km/h, they were pushed back by 12km during the night.
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Stormy Weather
Published on 15.04.2007
Remember we had left Alain and Dixie after a white day and a stormy evening? Well, at 3am, they were awakened by worrisome sounds: a series of loud cracks, ice moving somewhere close!
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One Day at a Time
Published on 14.04.2007
Even though we are experiencing a warm and quite stable beginning of spring under our latitudes, this is not the same story up North. Alain and Dixie have shifted from a beautiful Friday to a white Saturday.
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A trouble-free day
Published on 11.04.2007
It was a trouble-free day, but a very difficult one too for the two men of Arctic Arc.
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Visiting the Vagabond after the Arctic Arc resupply
Published on 11.04.2007
Last night it was -36°C out on the ice and Alain and Dixie had called to say that they had just had the worst day of the expedition with strong northerly winds, and had hunkered down early to sit out the storm. Despite the southward drift, they had still managed a decent distance. Viktor will fly up to Barneo again today, and it is good to know he is there close by in case there is any problem.
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A Dot on the Ocean
Published on 10.04.2007
The Antonov 74 carrying the resupply team left Longyearbyen at 10 20 in the morning and, two and a half hours later, touched down in Barneo. Aboard was a mixed bag of people, some heading to do the last degree, others to prepare longer expeditions, and yet others to join research teams. Spouses of Alain and Dixie, Gigi and Julie Brown were there at the invitation of Viktor Boyarsky of Vicaar to participate in the resupply of the Arctic Arc Expedition.
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Resupply
Published on 09.04.2007
On Sunday evening, 8th April, the Arctic Arc expedition received fresh supplies in a successful operation carried out with impeccable timing by Victor Boyarski's logistics team.
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One degree in five days
Published on 06.04.2007
Despite the small problems encountered, the Arctic Arc team is progressing at a steady pace. They just travelled another degree in just five days.
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Live from the HeadQuarters
Published on 04.04.2007
Every day, the expedition contacts the headquarters around 6 pm. Usually Alain is on the phone. Below, you will find the facts he communicates each day.
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A bad fright but on top form
Published on 02.04.2007
Dixie and Alain will remember the night of Saturday March 31 for a long time. A big surprise indeed awoke them during the night.
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Full steam ahead
Published on 29.03.2007
After two days of bad weather, the Hubert-Dansercoer duo has resumed forward progress. Spirits are high.
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Forced to wait in their tent, Alain and Dixie are moving backwards
Published on 26.03.2007
Bad luck for the Arctic Arc pair. Due to an awful storm which hit them yesterday, Alain and Dixie have "backed up" 21.5 km during the day.
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A wonderful day
Published on 21.03.2007
Good weather has finally decided to follow the expedition. Yesterday, the first day of spring was a memorable day filled with beautiful sceneries.
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Arctic Arc: the sun is shining
Published on 19.03.2007
For the first time since their departure, Alain and Dixie have had a full day of sunlight. That said, it was still not possible for the two men to charge their batteries.
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Worrisome batteries
Published on 16.03.2007
Yesterday, the team made excellent progress (20 km in 7, 5 hours) but there is still no good weather, no sun light and therefore no battery recharge in sight.
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Every day is a new day
Published on 15.03.2007
For the past 24 hours now, the mood within the Arctic Arc expedition has somewhat changed. Even though the two men are still moving along at a good pace, they are beginning to worry about how they will recharge their batteries.
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What a wonderful life ...
Published on 11.03.2007
Despite minor inconveniences -Alain has damaged his thermos and has some frostbites on his fingers- everything is running smoothly for the Belgian pair, and ice conditions remain pretty decent.
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Zero visibility
Published on 09.03.2007
Today visibility was zero. Alain and Dixie could only advance 9.4 km after four hours of punishing effort. The ice remains thin and flat. The average thickness ranges from 20 to 40 cm and there is a slight snow cover of about 3 to 10 cm.
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A very cold day
Published on 07.03.2007
Today it has been very cold, maybe the coldest day they have had so far. Alain and Dixie walked for five and a half hours and are now in their sleeping bags. It is -46°C outside, and probably inside the tent too. The windchill factor actually brings the temperature down to about -60°C while they are walking.
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Day 6 of the Expedition, and their luck is holding
Published on 06.03.2007
Despite having to cross a few rather impressive leads (50-100m) they are having a good time, and averaging about 20 km a day. The ice is pretty thin (30cm average) but also flat, allowing them to progress quite rapidly. The bad weather cyclonic activity, forecasted by the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute in St Petersburg, which was meant to take a hold on the area during the afternoon of the 2nd of March just touched them with the tail end on the 4th and 5th.
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Routing Means Winning
Published on 02.03.2007
Routing techniques do not only priviledge great transoceanic races. For several years, our satellites have also helped great polar expeditions through their respective headquarters.
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On the ice again
Published on 01.03.2007
Due to a bad weather forecast, Alain and Dixie decided to fly to the departure zone this morning. Russian specialists have forecasted a heavy snowstorm above Arctichewski from March 2nd to March 5th. This will mean not only a lot of snow, but poor visibility (1 to 4 metres) and winds from the southwest at 8 to 15 knots.
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The Arctic Arc: They get closer and closer…
Published on 28.02.2007
Perhaps it's because The Arctic Arc expedition's main sponsor is the best Swiss clock jeweler that, ever since the departure from Brussels last Friday, everything has been running like clockwork.
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The Arctic Arc: beyond certainties
Published on 26.02.2007
As we still have to wait for another few days before the Dansercoer-Hubert twosome reach Cape Arktichevski for the big departure of their expedition, let us dwell for a moment on the difficulties that await the two Belgians out there on the ice. Both the difficulties which are obvious as well as those which may not be.
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The Arctic Arc: leaving Belgium
Published on 23.02.2007
Tonight at 6pm, the Arctic Arc team will leave Brussels airport (Zaventem) to fly to Copenhague. Alain and Dixie will then fly to St Peterbourg and then on to Norilsk, Stredny and finally to Cape Arktichewski, where they will arrive early next week.
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Press conference: the Arctic Arc expedition
Published on 13.02.2007
To mark the International Polar Year, Alain Hubert and Dixie Dancercoer will attempt to cross the Arctic from Siberia to Greenland. Through a journey of 4 months and approximately 4300 Km, they will follow a route tracing the arc of a circle and passing through the nothernmost tip of Greenland. The expedition will start on the 24th of February 2007 and is expected to last until June 2007.
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Arctic Arc: an educational project
Published on 12.02.2007
The expedition will be covered on Polar Challenges and educational activities will be proposed to classes and teachers on the EducaPoles website.
