“It’s like running against the flow on a moving walkway," report the Airborne Rangers. "During the last 48 hours, the ice beneath our feet has moved a total of 5 km in a Southerly direction." Image of Jermi straining at the leash against a snowbound headwind courtesy of the Airborne Rangers Club of Finland (click to enlarge).
On April 20, Italian Ario reached the shore of the Arctic Ocean after crossing Alaska. He has sent some images of his arrival at the finish line at Barter Island. Image courtesy of Ario Sciolari (click to enlarge).
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Arctic wrap-up: Finns' struggle and Ario's happy ending
Posted: Apr 24, 2006 12:51 am EDT
(ThePoles.com) “It’s like running against the flow on a moving walkway,” reported the Finnish team, struggling to reach the North Pole within their deadline, set for next Saturday. They’re getting closer to their goal, but conditions are not making things easier.
Much happier (and relieved) is Italian mountain guide Ario Sciolari, who finally reached the shore of the Arctic Ocean after crossing Alaska.
Unsupported NP teams from Canada
Airborne Rangers: Two steps forward, one step back
“The weather was just as interesting as on many other days: clear sunshine in the morning; completely overcast for the rest of the day,” reported the Finns.
“Visibility was bad, but that is nothing new to us. Even a smidgen of sunshine would help keep our brains active and our spirits high. On the other hand, this skiing business is mostly routine trudging: sometimes it seems that brawn, not brains, are all that’s required. So you just grit your teeth and force your arms, legs and skis to keep trekking.”
With less than 150 miles and 5 days remaining to reach the Pole, the team is gradually making its way towards their goal. As for making headway though, they say the last two days' progress has been “two steps forward, one step back.”
“It’s like running against the flow on a moving walkway. During the last 48 hours, the ice beneath our feet has moved a total of 5 km in a Southerly direction. In other words, for every one-hour leg that we ski in a Northerly direction, the ice takes us 200 meters back where we just came from. Thus, it would be misleading to calculate the actual distance skied on any given day. The only important thing is how much distance remains between us and the Geographic North Pole.”
NP and crossing teams from Russia
Bettina & Jean Gabriel: 50th day on the ice
“The previous two days it has been total white out,” reported the pair’s home team. In addition, the wind has been coming from North, making Bettina and Jean-Gabriel drift backwards.
On Friday, April 21, the team celebrated their 50th day on the ice as well as their 4 year anniversary. Not far from the place where they initially met, the duo celebrated over burned pancakes.
The team reports good weather with sunny and clear skies. They are walking 12 hours a day until they reach the North Pole. After that, they say they will only average about 10 hours a day.
Alaska trips
Ario Sciolari: Arrival images
On April 20, Italian Ario reached the shore of the Arctic Ocean after crossing Alaska in his 'Back to the Mother' lone voyage (check previous Arctic wrap-up). While he gets a complete report ready, Ario has sent some images of his arrival at the finish line at Barter Island.
North Pole Classic 2006 website
Michele Pontrandolfo’s website (Italian)
Airborne Ranger Club of Finland NP expedition (English / Finnish)
Polar Quest expedition’s website
Ario’s Alone Across Alaska (Italian / English)
One World NP summer crossing website
Top of the World’s expedition website
Landry’s website
Canadian Arctic Holidays
Bettina Aller & JG Leynaud’ website (Danish / English)
Northwest Passage Polar Expeditions (dog-sledding NP teams)
Cecilie Skog’s blog on Dagbladet (Norwegian)
Thailand team's website (Thai)
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