While the Camp Barneo website shows both availability and “sold out” dates for next month, there’s still no official word on whether the North Pole season will return for the first time since 2018. In other parts of the Arctic, several expeditions are underway, and the Greenland season is moving forward despite the introduction of strict new insurance regulations.
This year, expeditions are taking place in several locations across the north. Map Source: Shadedrelief.com
Ellesmere Island
Borge Ousland and Vincent Colliard are heading to Ellesmere Island for the next phase of their Ice Legacy project. They intend to make the first unsupported crossing of Ellesmere Island, traveling north to south. They will set off from Cape Columbia in early April.
Meanwhile, Canadians Ray Zahab and Kevin Vallely are six days into their sled journey from Eureka, a small weather station on the island’s western side, to the hamlet of Grise Fiord in the south. They report plenty of snow coverage, though they’ve encountered rocky areas, strong winds, and abrasive snow in certain sections of their route. Zahab announced their route as a land crossing, but so far, the pair have been mostly on sea ice, according to their tracker.
Zahab and Vallely’s camp on Eureka Sound on March 21. Axel Heiberg Island is in the background on the right. Photo: Kevin Vallely
Baffin Island
The British team of Tom Harding, Ben James, Leanne Dyke, and James Hoyes are two weeks away from flying out to Baffin Island, where they intend to ski into and climb several peaks north of Pangnirtung. The team has previously crossed Iceland and Svalbard together.
A view of Pangnirtung Fiord, from Pangnirtung, Nunavut. Photo: Shutterstock
Northwest Passage
The Spanish trio of Jose Trejo, Sechu Lopez, and Francisco Mira will leave Madrid for Canada this weekend to begin a 760km sled journey from Resolute to Gjoa Haven in the Canadian Arctic. They expect to be on the ice for around 40 days.
Anders Brenna weighing and measuring 60 days worth of food. Photo: Anders Brenna
Norwegian Anders Brenna from Oslo is in Gjoa Haven, preparing for a solo 1,100km manhaul to Glenelg Bay on northern Victoria Island. However, as of four days ago, half of his equipment, including sled and skis, remains stuck in Yellowknife, and blizzards are preventing flights into Gjoa Haven.
Briton Preet Chandi is also currently training in the Lancaster Sound area in preparation for a potential North Pole solo expedition, should she raise sufficient funds in the future.
Ungava Peninsula
Canadian Dave Greene and his partner are currently at the start point of their journey in the Inuit community of Akulivik in Hudson Bay, Nunavik, northern Quebec. They intend to ski 543km across the Ungava Peninsula, traveling from west to east to Kangirsuk.
Near Akulivik in Nunavik, Quebec. Photo: Shutterstock
Similarly, Samuel Lalande-Markon and Marie-France L’Ecuyer are five days into a 400km, 30-day ski expedition across the Ungava Peninsula. Their goal is to travel from Akulivik to Kangiqsujuaq.
Kathleen Goulet, Chantal Secours, Julie Gauthier, and Roxanne Chenel are skiing 650km from Schefferville to Kangiqsualujjuaq, following a canoe route along the Rivière de Pas and the George River. Their journey, which began in January, is ongoing, and their progress remains unknown.
Map Source: Shadedrelief.com
Greenland
Last month, we reported that new insurance regulations could potentially halt expeditions in Greenland this year. However, at the last minute, a French insurance company agreed to underwrite icecap expeditions in compliance with the new rules. While this is a positive development, the premiums are significantly higher than in previous years.
The town of Qaanaaq, Greenland. Photo: Shutterstock
One of the expeditions planned for this year is led by IGPA guide Camilla Ringvold, who will lead a team of five. Starting next month, they intend to kite-ski between 1,600km and 2,000km from Kangerlussuaq to Qaanaaq.
Photo: Yasu Ogita
In addition, next month, veteran Japanese arctic traveler Yasu Ogita plans to ski 400km from Siorapaluk, the northernmost settlement in Greenland (and the world’s northernmost village), north to the historically rich Cape Inglefield area and back.
