Where Are They Who Still Believe?

Published on 16.04.2010 - General Info

Now that the weekend is approaching, as the information coming from the icecap is rare, and instead of devoting an article to each expedition, here, summarised in a single article, is the latest information on the expeditions that are still out on the ice.

Friday, 16 April, 03pm: first of all, let's recall the great victory of fifty-year-old Richard Weber's team, who got to the North Pole last Monday 12 April, after 39 days on the ice. We haven't yet received any additional information or images concerning the details of their last day on the ice or their victorious arrival at the Pole.

So here's a summary of the positions of the other teams who are still coming to grips with the icecap (this afternoon, we will publish our fifth map showing these teams' relative positions on the ice):

Save the Poles (Eric Larsen): on 15 April, they were still 83 nautical miles (153 km) from the Pole. Strong drift to the East. Many interstitial waters and new fracture areas and compression zones. They have been on the go for 43 days and fatigue is setting in. Their position on 16 April: 88° 50.199 N / 64° 32.0365 W.
NorthpoleChallenge.co.uk (Dan Darley and Amelia Russell): while they too are battling with the elements, Dan is asking himself thousands of questions and especially whether they will be able to get to the Pole in time ("Will we be able to march on through the exhaustion?" and, if not, how much would their recovery cost? Their position on 16 April: 88° 4654 N / 69° 1135 W.
Icecap Journeys (Sarah McNair Landry with Linda Beilharz and her husband): great drift to the East, an incalculable number of interstitial water channels which obviously slow them down, so they've upped the pace and are now marching for 11 hours a day. Their position on 14 April: 87° 8,420 N / 64° 2687 W.
Generali Arctic Observer (Jean-Louis Etienne): the French explorer returned from his air-borne odyssey on 15 April. Press conference today in Paris. He landed in Siberia (Yacutia), whereas he had intended to get to Alaska. He had covered 3,130 km in 121.5 hours of flight (Rozière balloon).
Catlin Arctic Explorer (Ann Daniels, Martin Hartley, Charlie Paton, plus the scientists and technicians at the fixed base): they are continuing to take seawater samples every three days, with the hardest part being to keep the water in a liquid state because, once frozen, it loses its entire CO² content. They are covering approximately 10 km per day. They will have to be re-supplied in the very near future. At the fixed base, all is OK.
Ice Dream (Sébatien Lapierre and Olivier Giasson): after many days of administrative and other dilly-dallying, the two young Canadians have finally arrived at the foot of the glacier and have started their ascent to the plateau. The crossing is therefore going to take place.
One Man Epic: Mission North Pole (Tom Smitheringale): on 16 April at half past midnight (Australian time), Tom set off his distress beacon. The Canadian militia came to his rescue in two Twin Otters and a helicopter within six hours. According to latest official press release, it seems that he was suffering from hypothermia (after falling in the water) and from serious frostbite on his fingers (as we knew already). At the end of the day, he has just been able to reassure his nearest and dearest that he is OK.
Deepsea under the pole.com (Ghislain Bardout and his team): on 13 April (Day 19 of their adventure), at 88°33' 15'' NR/66°34' 01'' W, the team took a break in its progress towards the South in order to indulge in some much-awaited deep-sea diving. This should normally take place over six days.Â
2010 The Big Nail (Michele Protrandolfo): As we have previously said, the Italian is constantly fussing about the heat and the cold, writing one day that he's giving up and the next day that he's going on. During these last days however, it would seem that he wants to go on, despite the fact that he has not yet even crossed Degree 86. His position on 14 April: 85° 31,819′ N / 72° 49,990′ W, with eight kilometres of drift to the East in a single night!