This morning at 09.30 skidoos arrived from Resolute to take Steve Kidwell off the ice due to mild frostbite on couple of fingers. He has spoken to his family and is now heading back to the UK. A large part of the training sessions in the UK was spent on clothing management and how to avoid cold weather injuries, unfortunately Steve didn't put the correct glove system on and in the harsh conditions the team are facing it doesn't take long for something like this to happen. The other person who had a very slight frost injury is now absolutly fine and carrying on. Clothing management is vital and it'll be a reminder to everyone else to constantly keep checking that everything is in order.
The ice conditions are still very tough, with only around an inch of snow cover.
The team repacked the sledges and moved some weights around following Steve's departure, they left camp at 12:00 and completed 7.5miles which was good going.
The team are in good spirits (apart from the odd pulled muscle!) Everyone wishes Steve a safe trip back to the UK, the team will be making their way to Polaris today.
Friday, 9 April 2010
Thursday, 8 April 2010
Wednesday 7th April
Last night was very cold, down to -40. The team woke up to clear skies with a slight NE wind and the temp -25.
For safety reasons the team set up camp earlier today at 15.30 as a couple of the team had some cold weather injuries which needed some attention (Richard didn't say who or what the injuries were!).
There is a severe lack of snow in the area they are in so trying to rehydrate is tricky as there is a high salt content in the water they are consuming, it also means they are using ice screws every night to pitch the tents, which isn't a problem its makes putting the tent up and down a bit slower.
Richard didn't give me the distant they covered but hopefully they will have an easier day today and I will update in the morning with their progress.
For safety reasons the team set up camp earlier today at 15.30 as a couple of the team had some cold weather injuries which needed some attention (Richard didn't say who or what the injuries were!).
There is a severe lack of snow in the area they are in so trying to rehydrate is tricky as there is a high salt content in the water they are consuming, it also means they are using ice screws every night to pitch the tents, which isn't a problem its makes putting the tent up and down a bit slower.
Richard didn't give me the distant they covered but hopefully they will have an easier day today and I will update in the morning with their progress.
Wednesday, 7 April 2010
Tuesday 6th April
Another 12.5 miles covered today in very poor visability (down to 20 yards) which can be a bit disorientating. Had to stop to give Rob more clothing quoting Richard "so he can be a father one day"!
They used skis for the fist time today, which makes to going a bit easier. Also they must be in an area with little ice rubble to be able to use them, also they had around an inch of fresh snow which fell overnight.
The plan is for an earlier start tomorrow to make their way to Polaris which is around 32 miles from their camp.
They used skis for the fist time today, which makes to going a bit easier. Also they must be in an area with little ice rubble to be able to use them, also they had around an inch of fresh snow which fell overnight.
The plan is for an earlier start tomorrow to make their way to Polaris which is around 32 miles from their camp.
Tuesday, 6 April 2010
Monday 5th April
The team covered 13 miles today, the ice conditions were slightly better with less ice rubble. The wind picked up slightly from a SE direction. The team are still on foot, not being able to use the skis due to the rough terraine as well as the sledges still being at their heaviest. A polar bear was sighted in the last hour of walking, the visiabilty not great due to near white out conditions. All the team are well and settling into the Arctic routine.
Monday, 5 April 2010
Sunday 4th April
(although today is Monday I'll update the diary as though it was yesterday - if that makes sense!)
Most of the team had an Easter egg & treat to start the day. The sun was out all day and the temprature only -5 with a slight wind, this caused dehydration problems.
Richard said it is the worst ice conditions he's seen in 15 years, traversing the ice rubble is very tiring as the sledges need to be pulled up and down over the ice boulders (the ice is also moving which sounds like thunder crashing).
As the weather is warmer it makes the snow cover slighty sticky and the sledges are very heavy averaging 120kg, so this makes the going even tougher.
Despite this the team travelled 10.2 miles and no polar bears were sighted today!
The plan is to break camp a little earlier tomorrow and complete 12 miles.
Most of the team had an Easter egg & treat to start the day. The sun was out all day and the temprature only -5 with a slight wind, this caused dehydration problems.
Richard said it is the worst ice conditions he's seen in 15 years, traversing the ice rubble is very tiring as the sledges need to be pulled up and down over the ice boulders (the ice is also moving which sounds like thunder crashing).
As the weather is warmer it makes the snow cover slighty sticky and the sledges are very heavy averaging 120kg, so this makes the going even tougher.
Despite this the team travelled 10.2 miles and no polar bears were sighted today!
The plan is to break camp a little earlier tomorrow and complete 12 miles.
Saturday 3rd April 03:00am (local Resolute time)
The team left Resolute Bay 11am local time. It was a successful day covering eight miles meandering through challenging ice rubble.
Temperature -21 degrees with very little snow cover. These conditions are challenging as the team need good snow cover for making fresh drinking water. Drinking melted snow that is close to the sea ice has a high salt content, so dehydration can be a problem.
A number of bear footprints have been sighted. The team camped at the edge of the ice rubble last night having to use ice screws to secure the tents in position due to lack of snow cover.
Good first day. Morale high. Everyone well.
Temperature -21 degrees with very little snow cover. These conditions are challenging as the team need good snow cover for making fresh drinking water. Drinking melted snow that is close to the sea ice has a high salt content, so dehydration can be a problem.
A number of bear footprints have been sighted. The team camped at the edge of the ice rubble last night having to use ice screws to secure the tents in position due to lack of snow cover.
Good first day. Morale high. Everyone well.
Saturday 3rd April 03:00am (local Resolute time)
As the team makes final preparations for departure at 11am (5pm gmt), I have to report that following several visits to the medical centre here in Resolute, I have decided to withdraw Shaun from the expedition for his own safety.
As Shaun makes his way back to the UK via Ottawa, the team prepares by visiting the Canadian Ice Service and views the ice conditions for the route to the Pole. The first few days on ice will be hard as everyone gets used to pulling the pulks fully laden with all the supplies but the ice conditions are good, beyond that the conditions change with multi-year ice rubble proving more difficult to navigate.
My bag completed its two day transit from Iqaluit so now with the full compliment of kit and equipment and a set departure date the team is busy making final adjustments to clothing, checking every piece of equipment and fixing any problems and packing the huge amounts of food that will sustain us for the duration of the expedition.
From this point we will be unable to update the website via e-mail and will instead report in every 24 hours via satellite phone with our position, progess and any news.
Richard Bull
Magnetic North Pole Unsupported 2010
As Shaun makes his way back to the UK via Ottawa, the team prepares by visiting the Canadian Ice Service and views the ice conditions for the route to the Pole. The first few days on ice will be hard as everyone gets used to pulling the pulks fully laden with all the supplies but the ice conditions are good, beyond that the conditions change with multi-year ice rubble proving more difficult to navigate.
My bag completed its two day transit from Iqaluit so now with the full compliment of kit and equipment and a set departure date the team is busy making final adjustments to clothing, checking every piece of equipment and fixing any problems and packing the huge amounts of food that will sustain us for the duration of the expedition.
From this point we will be unable to update the website via e-mail and will instead report in every 24 hours via satellite phone with our position, progess and any news.
Richard Bull
Magnetic North Pole Unsupported 2010
Friday 2nd April 10.30am (local Resolute time)
Yesterday the team were busy preparing for the expedition. In the morning all the sledges were unpacked and distributed into each tent team. Each tent group then worked together to prepare the bindings on the skis, sort out the food rations and the poles were put in the tents. The tents were then taken outside to get practice erecting and dismantling in the cold environment.
The team then tried out the skis and bindings as some members had not cross country skied before. This proved to be a lot harder than some had thought and a few more bruises were evident today!
The fuel was collected from the town and fuel bottles filled and stoves tested. The importance of this exercise became evident when two of the stoves were leaking and needed repair.
The rest of the time has been spent making adjustments to kit and Ben has leaned how to sew and has added pockets to his themals. We have been amazingly fed by Randy and team at the South Camp Inn.
Last night was spent out on the ice in the tents and this was a very positive experience for all as this was the first night camping in the Arctic for a number of the team. It is a very useful exercise to do this in a safe controlled environment where coming back into the hotel is possible if a problem occurs. There were only a few minor issues in the night such as a cup of tea being left out and frozen - the extreme cold makes a number of otherwise simple tasks when camping very challenging.
The team are very keen to get going as soon as possible and are hopeful the bag will arrive today and the final preparations can be made in time for us to set off tomorrow.
We all wish everyone a Happy Easter weekend and will update tomorrow about out departure time.
Richard Bull
Magnetic North Pole Unsupported 2010
The team then tried out the skis and bindings as some members had not cross country skied before. This proved to be a lot harder than some had thought and a few more bruises were evident today!
The fuel was collected from the town and fuel bottles filled and stoves tested. The importance of this exercise became evident when two of the stoves were leaking and needed repair.
The rest of the time has been spent making adjustments to kit and Ben has leaned how to sew and has added pockets to his themals. We have been amazingly fed by Randy and team at the South Camp Inn.
Last night was spent out on the ice in the tents and this was a very positive experience for all as this was the first night camping in the Arctic for a number of the team. It is a very useful exercise to do this in a safe controlled environment where coming back into the hotel is possible if a problem occurs. There were only a few minor issues in the night such as a cup of tea being left out and frozen - the extreme cold makes a number of otherwise simple tasks when camping very challenging.
The team are very keen to get going as soon as possible and are hopeful the bag will arrive today and the final preparations can be made in time for us to set off tomorrow.
We all wish everyone a Happy Easter weekend and will update tomorrow about out departure time.
Richard Bull
Magnetic North Pole Unsupported 2010
Thursday, 1 April 2010
Wednesday 31st March, 23:00 Local Resolute Time (6 hours behind UK)
We've made it to the South Camp Inn in Resolute! Only missing one bag - mine! - but otherwise all pulks and skis made it through, arrived 7pm local time and sat straight down for dinner. Then started unpacking all kit and dividing up into the tent teams. A few day bags have broken but we have spares and otherwise all kit looks ok and accounted for.
Getting off the plane at the refuel stop in Igloolik, then at Resolute, the team felt first hand what the local temperatures can get down to - minus 30C air temperature plus a wind blowing at Resolute. Already though the team are learning to look out for the signs of frost nip and how to deal with it.
Tomorrow the plan is to put up and check the tents indoors, then moving outside to practice tents and generally walking around Resolute, aclimatising to our new environment. Tomorrow and Friday night, the team will sleep outside of the Inn, coming back inside to sort out any kit problems.
Hopefully my bag will arrive tomorrow evening or Friday latest - we're aiming for a Saturday start on the ice.
Morale high!
Richard Bull
Magnetic North Pole Unsupported Expedition 2010
Getting off the plane at the refuel stop in Igloolik, then at Resolute, the team felt first hand what the local temperatures can get down to - minus 30C air temperature plus a wind blowing at Resolute. Already though the team are learning to look out for the signs of frost nip and how to deal with it.
Tomorrow the plan is to put up and check the tents indoors, then moving outside to practice tents and generally walking around Resolute, aclimatising to our new environment. Tomorrow and Friday night, the team will sleep outside of the Inn, coming back inside to sort out any kit problems.
Hopefully my bag will arrive tomorrow evening or Friday latest - we're aiming for a Saturday start on the ice.
Morale high!
Richard Bull
Magnetic North Pole Unsupported Expedition 2010
Wednesday, 31 March 2010
Tuesday 30th March 2010 21:06
The team and I are currently based at the Frobisher Hotel in Iqaluit awaiting confirmation from First Air that our replacement flight will take us to Resolute Bay on Wednesday 31st March at 14.30.
The weather today in Iqaluit was -29C and the reality of the cold conditions was evident when a mild case of frost nip was quickly dealt with whilst the team practised putting up tents.
Information from Trudy at the Canadian Ice Service has positive news about the conditions in Resolute tomorrow, although it will still be very windy. We'll know more about the flights tomorrow at 14.00 - when we're at the airport ready with kit to fly in the hope we'll be able to head North. We'll have to transport all of the 11 sledges, bags and skis back to the airport, making sure they're all within the weight allowances per item - in total about a tonne.
Most of the teams heading North this year have had similar problems getting to the start, however we remain optimistic to be in Resolute tomorrow, and on the ice shortly after.
Richard Bull and Team
Magnetic North Pole Unsupported 2010
The weather today in Iqaluit was -29C and the reality of the cold conditions was evident when a mild case of frost nip was quickly dealt with whilst the team practised putting up tents.
Information from Trudy at the Canadian Ice Service has positive news about the conditions in Resolute tomorrow, although it will still be very windy. We'll know more about the flights tomorrow at 14.00 - when we're at the airport ready with kit to fly in the hope we'll be able to head North. We'll have to transport all of the 11 sledges, bags and skis back to the airport, making sure they're all within the weight allowances per item - in total about a tonne.
Most of the teams heading North this year have had similar problems getting to the start, however we remain optimistic to be in Resolute tomorrow, and on the ice shortly after.
Richard Bull and Team
Magnetic North Pole Unsupported 2010
Tuesday, 30 March 2010
Sent by Richard Bull by Mark Starling from Frobisher Inn, Iqaluit Hotel at local time 22.13 on the 29th March 2010
Team all together at Iqaluit, arrived from Ottawa at around 11.00am on the 29th March 2010.
Onward flight to Resoulte has been delayed, due to 80 mph wind and therefore an alternative flight has been arranged for Wednesday 31st March 2010 at 14.30 weather permiting.
Team will spend time at Iqaluit prepare and training for the expedition.
We are informed if the weather has not improved for Wednesday, that the onward flight to Resoulte Bay could be further delayed until; the worst next Tuesday.
God willing we fly on Wednesday this week.
Team spirits are high and making the most of the down time to mentally prepare for the long expedition.
The delay may result in the exepition end date moving on by a futher week.
Richard has rallyed the team and will keep the moral good.
Keep reading for futher updates, hope to add to this every day as the team progress.
Your Unsupported Magnetic NP Team 2010 and Richard Bull.
Onward flight to Resoulte has been delayed, due to 80 mph wind and therefore an alternative flight has been arranged for Wednesday 31st March 2010 at 14.30 weather permiting.
Team will spend time at Iqaluit prepare and training for the expedition.
We are informed if the weather has not improved for Wednesday, that the onward flight to Resoulte Bay could be further delayed until; the worst next Tuesday.
God willing we fly on Wednesday this week.
Team spirits are high and making the most of the down time to mentally prepare for the long expedition.
The delay may result in the exepition end date moving on by a futher week.
Richard has rallyed the team and will keep the moral good.
Keep reading for futher updates, hope to add to this every day as the team progress.
Your Unsupported Magnetic NP Team 2010 and Richard Bull.
The Plan
THE PLAN The plan is simple – fly to Resolute Bay in the high Canadian Arctic, walk to the 1996 position of the Magnetic North Pole and then fly back – the reality is very different.
Plans involving the Arctic take an amount of flexibility hard to comprehend in the UK so from the moment we arrive at Heathrow we must be prepared for anything!,
We spent three days in February packing everything for the expedition into 11 kit bags and 11 pulks (sledges) that each weighed the required 23kg – however we still needed an extra 9 bags at the maximum weight permissible – 32kg to pack everything a total of 794kg and that’s not including the two bags of skis. So getting everything checked in takes time and patience but the staff at Air Canada are fantastic and have arranged a special check in so things should go smoothly.
Things change when we reach Ottawa as our next carrier First Air allows only 2 bags at 32kg each so when we land we will re-pack the bags before putting them in storage overnight before heading off to the Lord Elgin Hotel for the night. Dinner and maybe a small beer (our last until we return to Ottawa) before turning in for our second day of travelling.
Our flight next morning takes us from Ottawa to Iqaluit the capital of Nunavut. Here the cold begins to bite and the weather has the potential to really alter our plans. This far north people come first and scheduled flights are often changed. Just because you have a ticket doesn’t guarantee that the plane will take off, that even if it does you will be on it and if it takes off and you’re on it your baggage may not! The weather dictates everything and if needs be you and/or your luggage can easily be bumped to the next flight. After a brief stopover another flight (fingers crossed) will take us and our kit up via Nanisivik to Resolute Bay our starting point.
The South Camp Inn will be our home for two days where we will repack for a third and final time, distributing everything from tents to fuel to food into our pulks. Everything we need for 32 days on the ice will be in the pulks when we leave Resolute – the expedition is unsupported so there’s no re-supply and each of us will pull the equivalent of a 15st man behind us.
We plan to start walking on 1st April (after noon to avoid April Fools!) and from then on at a steady pace with the weather with us to cover the 360 miles to the Magnetic North Pole.
So what happens when we reach the pole? We will be picked up by Twin Otter plane either from the Pole where we will have to build a runway or from Isachsen on Ellef Ringnes Island some 20 miles away where there’s a permanent airstrip – it’ll depend on the ice conditions. Due to weight restrictions on the plane it’ll take two trips to take us all out and there’s no guarantee that these will happen together – some of us may need to spend some more time on the ice.
The goal is to get south as soon as possible. Again the plan is to reach the South Camp Inn – shower – and then pack a vastly lighter expedition for transit back to the UK but there’s no guarantee. So if the weather and flights are with us we keep going – alright for us but it may mean that our first shower in delayed so our fellow passengers may wish they picked another day to travel – something to bear in mind if you’re in the vicinity!
So making the assumption that the plan is followed after a celebratory meal in Ottawa on 29th April and our first beer in almost a month before our return flight the next day back to the UK. We should land early on Saturday 1st May after spending the overnight flight wondering – what next?
Plans involving the Arctic take an amount of flexibility hard to comprehend in the UK so from the moment we arrive at Heathrow we must be prepared for anything!,
We spent three days in February packing everything for the expedition into 11 kit bags and 11 pulks (sledges) that each weighed the required 23kg – however we still needed an extra 9 bags at the maximum weight permissible – 32kg to pack everything a total of 794kg and that’s not including the two bags of skis. So getting everything checked in takes time and patience but the staff at Air Canada are fantastic and have arranged a special check in so things should go smoothly.
Things change when we reach Ottawa as our next carrier First Air allows only 2 bags at 32kg each so when we land we will re-pack the bags before putting them in storage overnight before heading off to the Lord Elgin Hotel for the night. Dinner and maybe a small beer (our last until we return to Ottawa) before turning in for our second day of travelling.
Our flight next morning takes us from Ottawa to Iqaluit the capital of Nunavut. Here the cold begins to bite and the weather has the potential to really alter our plans. This far north people come first and scheduled flights are often changed. Just because you have a ticket doesn’t guarantee that the plane will take off, that even if it does you will be on it and if it takes off and you’re on it your baggage may not! The weather dictates everything and if needs be you and/or your luggage can easily be bumped to the next flight. After a brief stopover another flight (fingers crossed) will take us and our kit up via Nanisivik to Resolute Bay our starting point.
The South Camp Inn will be our home for two days where we will repack for a third and final time, distributing everything from tents to fuel to food into our pulks. Everything we need for 32 days on the ice will be in the pulks when we leave Resolute – the expedition is unsupported so there’s no re-supply and each of us will pull the equivalent of a 15st man behind us.
We plan to start walking on 1st April (after noon to avoid April Fools!) and from then on at a steady pace with the weather with us to cover the 360 miles to the Magnetic North Pole.
So what happens when we reach the pole? We will be picked up by Twin Otter plane either from the Pole where we will have to build a runway or from Isachsen on Ellef Ringnes Island some 20 miles away where there’s a permanent airstrip – it’ll depend on the ice conditions. Due to weight restrictions on the plane it’ll take two trips to take us all out and there’s no guarantee that these will happen together – some of us may need to spend some more time on the ice.
The goal is to get south as soon as possible. Again the plan is to reach the South Camp Inn – shower – and then pack a vastly lighter expedition for transit back to the UK but there’s no guarantee. So if the weather and flights are with us we keep going – alright for us but it may mean that our first shower in delayed so our fellow passengers may wish they picked another day to travel – something to bear in mind if you’re in the vicinity!
So making the assumption that the plan is followed after a celebratory meal in Ottawa on 29th April and our first beer in almost a month before our return flight the next day back to the UK. We should land early on Saturday 1st May after spending the overnight flight wondering – what next?
Wednesday, 24 March 2010
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