Changing initial plans
Published on 25.04.2008 - New “handisport” adventure
Even seemingly less extreme and hazardous adventures can experience setbacks. The three-man expedition has fallen behind schedule and has now had to abandon its plans to climb Mount Newtontoppen.
After reaching Longyearbyen on 12th April, the team was dropped off 70 km from the capital of Svalbard three days later, on 15th April.
Right from the very outset of their adventure, Gérard Troadec, Alexandre Chabaud and Nicolas Moulis encountered bad weather: strong headwinds, white-out conditions, powdery snow that has hindered the ability of their sledges to slide easily, etc.
In fact on day one they had to deal with the fact that the ice on a lake that they had planned to cross was not thick enough, so they were forced to make a detour that took them an additional half-day.
As a result of the bad weather, they have had to spend several days inside their tent, which finally has meant they have also had to give up on their plans to climb Newtontoppen, the highest mountain in the archipelago, simply because they do not have enough time. Another peak is still on the schedule, though.
By 23rd April, they were already on their way back to Longyearbyen.
