Max Chaya flying the Lebanese flag high at the North Pole as the first Lebanese who has skied to the NP. Image courtesy of Max Chaya (click to enlarge)
“Keith & Sebastian in the helicopter - enjoying cookies and contemplating the newly open Santa position.” Live image over Contact 4.0 courtesy of Sebastian Copeland (click to enlarge)
John: “A Fat Boy burger has been one of the objects of our food fantasies during the expedition which has been quite intense and all-consuming at times.” Image courtesy of forwardexpeditions.com (click to enlarge)
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Arctic wrap-up: More off the ice reports
Posted: May 14, 2009 12:40 pm EDT
(ThePoles.com) John Huston wrote about his and Tyler’s visit to Oslo and Fram. Max Chaya sent over some thoughts in a press release from Beirut. Sebastian wrote from Longyearbyen and expressed emotions and feelings during the first few days off the ice. He added that he and Keith both lost 22 pounds.
Unsupported, Unassisted (90°N)
John Huston and Tyler Fish (USA); Ward Hunt Start
John tells more about their visit to Norway after the North Pole and pointed out two highlights.
First the celebration at the Fram Museum, which houses the polar ship Fram, sailed by their polar heroes Fridtjof Nansen, Otto Sverdrup, and Roald Amundsen of Norway (see also previous story below the images).
And second, eating a Fat Boy burger. “A Fat Boy burger”, said John, “has been one of the objects of our food fantasies during the expedition which has been quite intense and all-consuming at times.”
Unsupported, Assisted (90°N)
Lonnie Dupre, guide, (USA), Max Chaya (Lebanon) and Stuart Smith (USA); Cape Discovery Start
In a press release sent to ExWeb, Max wrote the following, “Challenges were faced on a constant basis, but we always strived to overcome them one day a time, while remaining hopeful and reminding ourselves that ‘tomorrow is another day’. Although the mercury was slowly rising with the longer days, things did not get any easier.”
“Our journey turned into a nightmare when our resupply fell short of the necessary calories that we planned to receive, and consequently made us run out of food only three days from our elusive goal. By then, we all had lost a considerable amount of weight and power, despite ingesting the daily 8000 calories needed to fight the cold and pull a sled up to 15 hours per day.”
“Even our shadows looked skinny, but fortunately, we managed to stock up on more food from a nearby dog sledding expedition in order to complete our journey and reach our destination before the April 26 deadline.”
[…] “Although I always prepare for the worst while hoping for the best, this particular expedition was without a doubt even tougher and more dangerous than I had imagined.”
Max and Stuart achieved the Three Poles and Lonnie reached the North Pole a second time, previously from Cape Arktichesky in 2006.
Pen Hadow, Ann Daniels and Martin Hartley (UK)
Pen, Ann and Martin were picked up from the ice on 13 May and were taken to Resolute Bay.
Position on 12 May: 85° 35’ 36” N, 124° 59’ 47” W
Non-land start: Supported, Assisted (90°N)
Keith Heger (USA) and Sebastian Copeland (UK/France/USA); last 400 miles
Sebastian said on the ice they felt they could have skied many more miles, however, “once we got off, I was shocked beyond expectations to experience a complete physical collapse.”
“Once removed from the ice, and the mental focus, my body essentially shut down. Not only was it challenging to talk to people; it was tough to walk!”
[…] “My mind would fluctuate between a deep sense of personal satisfaction for this accomplishment; a feeling of anxiety from not being able to relate to a world that would race at me intent on claiming back the slack from months of preparation and almost two months away in the arctic; and the desire to be back on the ice, and re-united with the wild!”
North Pole (90°N) to Greenland
Arnaud Tortel (guide) and Charles Hedrich (France)
No new news. Their home team posted a “home made” map. See Charles’ website.
Links to Arctic 2009 expeditions
Unsupported, Unassisted Geographic North Pole
John Huston and Tyler Fish (USA) - Victorinox North Pole '09 Expedition
Unsupported, Assisted Geographic North Pole
Lonnie Dupre (USA), Max Chaya (Lebanon) and Stuart Smith (USA) – Peary-Henson Centennial North Pole Expedition 2009
Max Chaya’s blog
Pen Hadow, Ann Daniels and Martin Hartley (UK) – Catlin Arctic Survey Expedition
Unsupported/Unassisted Magnetic North Pole (1996 position)
Michele Pontrandolfo (Italy)
Non-land start, Supported, Assisted Geographic North Pole
Keith Heger (USA) and Sebastian Copeland (France/USA) – Peary-Henson Centennial North Pole Expedition 2009; last 400 miles
North Pole (90°N) to Greenland
Charles Hedrich’s website
Arnaud Tortel (guide) and Charles Hedrich (France); Blog in French
Barneo Ice Station
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