What about the other expeditions ?
Published on 30.03.2009 - General Info
As we wait for them to set out on their treks, here's an overview of the status with our eleven other expeditions due to depart (or already on their way) either to Greenland or out on the Arctic sea-ice.
1. Greenland 2009. Adrian Hayes, who has been preparing for this expedition for over a year, has just notified us that his official launch won't be for another week or two. Before then, nothing can or is likely to come through. All we know is that it will be an unprecedented expedition, that it will take place in Greenland. According to Adrian's website, it will be an expedition that is "unique, never done before.." Departure scheduled for May. Return planned for July. The expedition website.
2. Greenland 2009. Same name as the expedition above, but different aims. Two Channel Islanders, Steve Wright and Simon Elmont, intend crossing Greenland from east to west. Their departure date is scheduled for 21st April. At the present time, the two men are busy testing their communication equipment. Their website mentions a few minor knocks and bumps, with one man catching a bad cold and the other twisting his ankle and having a sore back. But despite all that, the expedition appears to be in 'go' mode. The expedition website.
3. Christina Franco North Pole. We have already reported on the ups and downs of Christina, who was forced to abandon her previous trek this season on day 2 after she experienced a fault with her stove. But after her return, she announced that she would still be going to the Pole this year by completing the Last Degree, if only so that she wouldn't disappoint the London schools that were monitoring her trek. At the moment, Christina appears to be learning as much as she can about polar diets, because one thing is certain, according to her website, she will make another attempt next spring. In fact she is already thinking about it... The expedition website.
4. The Greenland expedition by the Fuchs Foundation. The four teachers nominated for this trip are scheduled to set out at the end of April. While waiting to leave, they have been training in the Norwegian mountains to familiarise themselves with driving dog sledges. And it seems they have returned in fine form. No doubt about it, this expedition should set out as planned towards the end of the month. Their last update dates back to 15th February. The expedition website.
5. South Pole ÂÂ North Pole. This is an idea from the French adventurer, Charles Hedrich. He aims to achieve a world first by travelling from the North Pole to the South Pole using nothing but renewable energy: wind, water, sun. He plans to depart from the North Pole at the beginning of April (although no news has come in about this yet) and will reach the South Pole in mid-January 2010. This is a very impressive project. The last news we had was that his pulkas were 20 cm too long and the company that had agreed to transport them was refusing to do it. There was also the little matter of footwear delivered eight weeks late! Last year, the Frenchman attempted a speed record in the Antarctic and was sure he was going to succeed. But three weeks after setting out, he gave up his quest... The expedition website.
6. Save the Poles. Eric Larsen is aiming to reach the three poles (North Pole, South Pole and Mount Everest) in a single year. At the moment he is resting in Colorado. There is no clear indication yet of where and when he will be leaving on his journey. Larsen was on Baffin Island last February. His latest dispatch dates from 23rd March and he is clearly in the process of preparing for his adventure, starting with Everest this month. He will then continue to the South Pole in November and finish at the North Pole, leaving from Ward Hunt in March 2010. The expedition website.
7. Polo Nord Magnetico 2009. This expedition involves an Italian, who has decided to attempt to reach the magnetic North Pole solo. As there are no updates at his website, we have been unable to track the progress of this expedition. But according to our friends at ExplorersWeb - The Pioneers Checkpoint, it would appear that our Italian has set out from Resolute Bay. But they also told us that he had set fire to his sleeping bag during the first night of his trek and had asked to be picked up by skidoo. He has contacted Ex Web to tell them he is resuming his trip. The expedition website.
8. The homage of a Greenlander to the American explorer E. Peary. Here again there is little information coming out of Greenland and no updates at the website. The adventurer in question, Ole Jorgen Hammeken, intends to retrace the route taken by Peary in 1909. Hammeken is meant to have set out on 1st March and was scheduled to reach his destination on 6th April. But we think this project has either been abandoned or postponed. The expedition website.
9. Thulé to Thulé. A Danish project to cross Greenland from north to south, covering 3 500 km in all. The two-man team is made up of a doctor (Jesper M. Ganc-Petersen, 39) and a soldier (Erik B. Jorgensen, 38). In any event, it would appear that they have set out, because on 21st March, Jesper managed to take off on his sledge, hurting himself quite badly as he fell back on to the ice. A story to be continued in our forthcoming updates. The expedition website.
10. Carbon Neutral to the North Pole. Linda Beillharz, Rob Rigato and Kerryn Wratt (three Australians) are attempting to trek from Ward Hunt to the North Pole. The trio is extremely concerned about emissions of greenhouse gases. By trying to produce as few emissions as possible during their trip, their aim is make as many people as possible aware of the problem. But there is no movement at all at their website (their last update was posted on 25th January 2008!) and it would appear that this expedition has either been postponed or simply cancelled. The expedition website.
11. Greenland 2009 Expedition. The six Finns set out from Kangerlussuaq on 28th March. At the moment, the terrain is not allowing them to ski and so they are having to walk. Their latest message was dated 30th March. Most recent daily distance covered: 10.4 km. The expedition members are Timo Stenros, leader, Kossila Kar, second in command, Â Kokko Jani, 32, Parkkinen Teija, 41, Suhonen Arto, 51 and Västinsalo "Rami" Raimo, 54. The expedition website.
