The Impossible Dream…
Published on 01.04.2010 - The big Nail
Michele Portrandolfo has made an objective assessment of his expedition, no doubt with a tear in his eye...
With torn boots and his sledge split in half, it was clearly impossible for Michele Portrandolfo to continue his trek to the Pole. Moreover, the Italian's legs were hurting and the skin of his feet was itching in several places: So the picture was therefore for from ideal for somebody who was still 649 km from his goal and who had not even crossed the 85th degree yet.
On 30 March, Michele wrote: "The North Pole is for me, and for a great number of explorers like me, like an immense dream, a symbol as well no doubt, a metaphor of life and happiness, a goal that seems almost unachievable..."
The following day, whereas we had thought that the man was on the point of abandonment and despair, we learned that he had decided to accept outside help and no longer to dream of going solo. Change of plan therefore. "To continue my adventure", he said, "I needed some new boots and a new pair of skis to be dropped ..."
He finished his explanations by saying that getting to the Pole was for him more important than anything else. "That does not however mean that I'll pull it off", he elucidated on 30 March, "but in any case, it will at least enable me to give it my best shot..."
