According to Boris and Matvey, “It seems that never before in the universe such cold and (the main point) such constant wind had ever been blowing anywhere in the universe.” Image courtesy of the Expedition website (click to enlarge)
Some words of support by Will Steger, “The victory is in that one step, that one step at a time. Do not let the distant horizon discourage you.” Image courtesy of the Expedition website (click to enlarge)
Matvey and Boris just short of 83 degrees North when they discovered that some of their food is saturated with petrol. Map courtesy of the Expedition website (click to enlarge)
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North Pole Winter: Blizzard and petrol
Posted: Jan 16, 2008 04:32 pm EST
(ThePoles.com) Cold wind forces Matvey and Boris to give up their breaks during the day. On top of that they discovered bad luck - petrol was poured over their food by the polar bear.
Polar explorer, Will Steger, writes the two men a letter of support.
Wrap-up January 9-11, 2008
No more lunchtimes or breaks
Boris and Matvey decided to keep going from the time they leave the tent in the mornings till they stop for the night. The only rest that they get is in the evenings when they put up their tent. During the day the ice is too thin and the wind too cold to stop for their 10 minute breaks or lunch time in the tent.
“Ice is thin, pressure ridges are low, it is absolutely impossible to hide from the wind behind them, and the wind is everywhere. We turn our backs upon the wind, drink hot tea from the thermoses and continue our route. It seems that never before in the universe such cold and (the main point) such constant wind had ever been blowing anywhere in the universe.”
No rest in tent
The rests in the tent at night aren’t guaranteed, as Matvey reports on 9 January, “Our ice-floe is shaken. There are shocks again and again. It is impossible to sleep, so we decided to get up and to go. It is disgusting that all things in the tent seem to be moist. The main problem is that we can not completely recover our strength and to have a rest.”
Ice-flows and pressure ridges
On 9 January they encountered old ice-flows of 100-700 meters, surrounded by pressure ridges. They had to “find a passage in these barricades”, but still covered a good 27 km from 9 pm. to 9 am.
Snow, blizzard
10 January was a hard day with a strong wind, snow and blizzard. Matvey says, “In blizzard our lanterns can break only three meters in the darkness.”
Main focus on direction
They can’t think of the beauty of the place, because, says Matvey, “you keep thinking only how not to loose the main direction of our route. For example: if you catch wind by your left cheekbone you are trying to go in such a way so that a wind strikes you in one and the same place on your face.”
The blizzard calmed down during the night. They find the longer days, 26 or 28 hours, very convenient.
Rations soaked in petrol
On 11 January Matvey and Boris covered a good distance despite a lot of pressure ridges, but in the evening “we did realize that a sudden danger is threatening us,” reports Matvey. “We took a new ration from the sleds – our today's supper, a morning breakfast (for tomorrow) and daily snacks – all these products were soaked with petrol. It appeared that the polar bear, who attacked us on the fourth day of the expedition and tore in pieces our bottle with petrol, had also poured the petrol on our food provisions.”
“This is some kind of exotic bad luck. You cannot eat the food, saturated with petrol, as petrol does not blow away. How many our rations have been lost?”
Position 11 January 2008: 82° 54' N, 95° 18' E
Distance from Cape Arktichesky: 183 km
Will Steger’s letter of support
“The biggest challenge in my life was crossing the shear zone in 1995 off the coast of Cape Arktichesky… and now you are both there, but in the winter darkness.”
“My Spirit reaches out to you in support. You have many people sending you this type of support and prayers right now and it's power will help you obtain that what you may think is impossible.”
“The victory is in that one step, that one step at a time. Do not let the distant horizon discourage you. Move when you can move, rest when you can't move. The light of the New Year will soon be there, focus on it, it is coming – you will make it.”
“You have many people following you from the United States. You have everyone's blessing and admiration.”
“Hang in there. My Best Will Steger”
Mat (32) lives in Moscow and achieved Polar fame after completing the first crossing on skis of Bering Strait with his dad, Dmitry in 1998. He has also crossed Greenland and climbed Mt. McKinley.
Boris (46) also lives in Moscow has crossed Greenland and climbed McKinley among other expeditions.
They have trained during the spring of 2007 on drifting ice across the Longa Strait from Wrangler Island to Chukotka.
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