And they're off!

Sunday, April 14 started off with breakfast and an announced departure time of 8:30 AM. After an unplanned night in Longyearbyen as a result of a weather delay everyone was well rested and eager to get off. After a call from the charter air provider our departure time was moved to 9 AM, then 10 AM then 11 AM, then 12 PM but luckily between 11 & 12 we got the call to go, go, go to the airport, pronto!

Everyone was ready and we made the transfer quickly. There was the anticipated chaos at the airport of unloading 18 eager dogs from the dog trailer and putting them into 9 kennels as well as getting all the people and personal kit onboard, but with everyone's help it went quickly and efficiently.

The flight to Borneo takes approximately 2.5 hours, which means they should have landed around 3:30 PM. We don't yet know if they decided to spend the night in the vicinity of the Barneo basecamp or start skiing/dogsledding straight away. What we DO know is that everyone was excited to begin the adventure and the energy was very high. Now it's time to put that energy towards moving north, staying warm and having a good time.

We will keep you posted with audio dispatches as they become available. Check back soon for another update from the ice.

Ready, set, wait...

Today our ski and dogsled expeditions met at 8:30 AM and transferred to the airport only to have the flight called off due to low visibility at Barneo. Our experienced team of expeditions took the delay in stride, knowing that delays are often part of the expedition experience. Everyone enjoyed a relaxing day in Longyearbyen and they await the next chance to fly tomorrow at 10 am. We are keeping our fingers crossed that the weather allows for the flight!

The North Pole Flight team members also spent the day in town. Several of them went on a dogsled outing while others checked out the town and did some shopping. Most of them will be starting their journeys home tomorrow.

The weather in Longyearbyen has been spectacular. Tonight the mist on the Advent Fjord was beautiful with colors of the sunset dancing off the mountain tops and lighting up the valleys.

Check back soon for another update!

Welcome back North Pole Fliers

It was a busy day in Longyearbyen with our two ski teams and one dogsled team doing final preparations for their expeditions. They finalized their kits, organized their meals, packed the pulks and dogsleds and sent everything off to the airport for pre-loading of the plane.

The day was jam packed with activity until the early evening. Some team members opted to have a wine tasting in the world's northern most wine cellar which is surprisingly extensive. Everyone enjoyed a nice dinner and all are now relaxing in their beds. They won't sleep in a bed again until April 22!

Late in the day our North Pole Flight team returned from Borneo. They reported that the -17 C of Longyearbyen felt noticeably warmer than the North Pole or Barneo. Everyone had a great time and we look forward to hearing more of their stories in the coming days.

Our ski and dogsled expeditions are heading to the airport at 9 AM for a tentative 10 AM departure tomorrow morning. Everyone is excited and ready to go. Check back again soon for another update!

A beautiful day at the North Pole and also in Longyearbyen

Today was a wonderful day all around. We have a team sleeping at the North Pole after skiing a short distance (special congratulations to 5 year old Gwendal Hauser for skiing almost 3 kilometers!). They report beautiful weather with sunny skies, -25 C temperatures and no wind. When they called in they were just wrapping up a fondue dinner with both cheese and chocolate fondue.

At the Barneo Basecamp our team was busy exploring the vicinity of Barneo as well as hanging out in the mess tent talking with other expeditioners. Among the people at Barneo are scientists from the University of Washington and a group of Taiwanese who performed a special Buddhist ceremony at the camp.  Our team will be returning to Longyearbyen tomorrow and we look forward to having them back on terra firma.

Meanwhile, in Longyearbyen, our Chinese last degree ski expedition team arrived and had a wonderful first night.  Our dogsled and last degree ski expedition team members also had their official start of the expedition.  Tomorrow will be a busy day of preparing for their expeditions including packing all gear, weighing the kit and delivering it to the airport for loading.  Enjoy the photos of our teams as well as the audio dispatches.  Check back again tomorrow for another update.
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Helicopter transport between Barneo Basecamp and the North Pole


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Dogsled and ski expedition team members welcome reception and dinner

 

Chinese last degree ski expedition team members welcome reception and dinner

Our North Pole Flight expedition reaches the North Pole

Our first team, the North Pole Flight Expedition has reached the North Pole and they report it was a beautiful day. After departing Longyearbyen this morning on board a charter flight they reached the Barneo Basecamp, a temporary camp with runway located approximately 70 kilometers from the North Pole. From there they took advantage of the good weather and flew a helicopter the remaining distance to the North Pole.

From the helicopter window they were able to see the pack ice of the Arctic Ocean stretch as far as the eye can see, with intermittent open water leads and pressure ridges separating and joining the pans of ice.

At the North Pole the temperature was -20 F with no wind. The sun was shining and it was picture perfect. Many photos were taken and toasts were made to celebrate arriving at the top of the world. To hear more about their experience listen to their audio dispatches below:

Meanwhile back in Longyearbyen our two ski expeditions and dogsled expedition are getting ready for their official start tomorrow evening. Several team members went on snow mobile trips to explore Spitsbergen's wild and remote coasts where polar bear have a higher population than humans. Our last degree ski team made a home cooked meal together (thanks to Guy for his culinary skills and Angelo for his olive oil from Portugal).

We will post more from the Barneo Camp, including an update on our team that will ski a short distance to the Pole tomorrow.

Check back tomorrow for another update!

One team returns, one team departs tomorrow...

Today we welcome back our Polar Shakedown team who spent the last three days "on the land" preparing for their expedition. They had a great time practicing their daily routines and getting ready for their departure on April 11. They had temperatures ranging from -15 C to -20 C and enough wind to make them appreciate their face masks. Everyone did a great job. Right now we are all enjoying a hearty well-deserved meal. The favorite dish is the reindeer burger. They will sleep well tonight!

Our North Pole Flight team kicked off their expedition with a welcome reception and a pre-flight briefing to prepare for their departure tomorrow. We have a wonderful team and there is much interest in Arctic history and Arctic travel. Tavares and Chris are on a special mission to collect some ice from the North Pole for an art festival in Venice. The project will in part celebrate the accomplishment of Polar explorer Matthew Henson.

Tomorrow our North Pole Flight team will head to the Barneo basecamp and on to the North Pole either tomorrow or the following day. The Barneo basecamp is currently near 89.30 degrees north.

We will keep you posted with the goings on of the team. Check back soon!



    The shakedown team at dinner

We have an audio update that came in and we're hoping to post it soon.

A beautiful day in Spitsbergen!

It's been a sunny day in Spitsbergen and we are enjoying the beauty of this incredible island. The last couple of days have been busy with the arrivals of our team members including all of our last degree skiers who are currently on their Polar Shakedown Training. They have great weather with temperatures around minus 14 C and light wind. It will be colder at the North Pole but this will ease them into their camp routines and sled hauling. As I write this they are likely finishing their dinner of dehydrated food (actually quite good!) and getting ready for a cozy night in the tents. Tomorrow they will ski back to Longyearbyen and enjoy a comfortable bed and showers for a few nights before they depart again for the North Pole.

Several of our other team members have arrived as well. Six of them are spending tonight on a sailing schooner that is frozen in a beautiful fjord far from the hustle and bustle of Longyearbyen. The ship is called the Noorderlicht and it is a delight to visit. There's a good chance of seeing wildlife including reindeer, seals, and possibly polar bear. As I write this they are likely finishing a delicious home cooked meal before retiring either to the ship's library for a night cap or the cozy berths. Or they may opt to take a quick walk on deck to look for polar bear and seals. The sun will set but it will not dip far below the horizon, thus it is unlikely they will see the aurora borealis even though they may be occurring. Rather if they look out their cabin porthole during the middle of the night it will look like dusk.

Tomorrow will be another busy day and we look forward to keeping you posted with our adventures. Thanks for following the blog and check back in tomorrow for another update. The audio dispatches from the teams will start on April 9, tomorrow!