PoleTrack

Description

We will fly via Oslo, Norway to Longyearbyen in Spitsbergen. From here we will board a chartered passenger-cargo plane to the ice base Barneo, located on the frozen Arctic Ocean at a latitude of approximately 89°N. Before departing Longyearbyen, preparations and inspections will be carried out and all gear is re-packed ready to go. Our stay in Longyearbyen will be used to acclimatize and do some final safety training. We’ll spend approximately two days in town before the chartered aircraft arrives to take us to the Arctic Ocean.

During the flight to the polar base camp, we can catch a glimpse of the mystical labyrinth of sea ice. In this terrain we will cross roughly 100 kilometres on ski's. Immediately following a spectacular landing, the latest data on the terrain and the drift of the sea ice will be checked with the station manager. If we arrive late, we have the option of spending the night in heated tents. That will give us an early departure the next morning. If not, there will be just enough time for a cup of hot tea or coffee before heading off.

If needed an MI-8 helicopter will drop us off at the strategic location from where the North Pole can realistically be reached within a week. The first day is a relatively short one and is spent getting used to the daily routine. You will slowly get used to travelling on ski's, pulling your sled, setting up tents, cooking and learn how to navigate and to choose a route between open leads (water channels) and pressure ridges. After trekking about 15 to 20 kilometres each day, our GPS will guide the last few meters to the magical latitude of 90°N. This is the point where all the lines of longitude meet and each step will take you in a southerly direction! After arriving at the geographical North Pole there will be a well deserved celebration after which we will return via MI-8 helicopter to the polar base camp and then board a charter flight back to Spitsbergen.

If all goes according to plan we will spend a night at the ice base Barneo. Along the way to the Geographic North Pole we will conduct some basic scientific experiments. These experiments are focusing on sea ice thickness (drilling), snow thickness and properties and terrain classification. Team members can be actively involved in collecting data. The dataset will be handed over to sea ice specialist Christian Haas (University of Alberta, Canada) and the European space agency ESA for the validation of the recently launched satellite CryoSat.