900 miles from the North Pole
900 miles from the North Pole
Bear Point
We left Beechy Island yesterday, but before we did we downloaded some ice charts for Resolute. Seems the pack ice has come in again so we need to wait for this to clear. The pump we had Niad ship for the hydraulics isn’t arriving (he writes with all fingers crossed… good trick if you can do it) until Friday so no big rush to get in there. With this in mind we decided to head north about thirty miles for Bear Point. The thinking behind this was nothing more clever than to say we crossed the 75th parallel, which would put us about 900 miles from the North Pole. We’re now anchored farther north than any town or city in the northern hemisphere (I think I have my facts right on this but if not, am sure I’ll hear about it soon!). So, here we sit on the hook at Bear Point, waiting out a small blow and catching up on sleep. The landscape is absolutely barren and forbidding, it looks like some of the pictures from the surface of Mars. Only when you truly look for it can you see any real evidence of vegetation (dwarfed at best) otherwise it’s harsh, desolate and incredibly lonely. The air temps are still in the low 40s but the wind chill is definitely in the mid 30s, water temp is 38. Going to try and find a good excuse not to dive today.
Comments
There is never an excuse not to dive. You should be searching for reasons to get under the water.
Have fun you frozen troopers!
Spargue,
The video and the stories are great. The doc is shaping up beautifully which is fortunate considering how hard you and your team have worked. You should be proud of what you have accopmlished.
Bud
New Orleans
Spargue,
The video and the stories are great. The doc is shaping up beautifully which is fortunate considering how hard you and your team have worked. You should be proud of what you have accopmlished.
Bud
New Orleans
Ho!
What an adventure!
Good health and safe passage to all.
George Papabeis
Tampa, Florida
How awesome! You are living my dream of adventure and cruising in remote regions. Thanks for taking me along on your journey through your blog and internet videos. I’m looking forward to the finished documentary release day.
You Guys would probably just like to see a live tree right now?
Wes Dixon
Houston, Texas
Greg great footage.
I would gladly trade the fluorescent lighting I sit under, my laminated, particle-board desk and the stale, reconditioned, recirculated air here at my Middletown office for just one invigorating breath of Nunavut air and the chance to experience the “harsh and desolate” space you find yourself in today. Just think of all you’ve accomplished so far — it’s extraordinary — and to think that you’ve already attained your Holy Grail of sorts: reaching Beechy Island and paying your respects to Franklin and those who came before, with and after him…
I meant to get on board with your expedition blog back when I first read about it in Newport This Week, but then I foolishly let it slip my mind. I was reminded at lunch today when I came across the same issue, which was left behind on a table at a cafe I like to go to. Now I look forward to checking in as often as possible.
Be safe and savor every moment, from the harsh and desolate to the phenomenal and awe-inspiring.
Warm regards,
Annie
Rhode Island
As a Dive Instructor in Canada, I am jealous of your underwater adventures. I would love to dive those waters. Fantastic and keep up the great work!
Just a point on the Anchoring the farthest north, actually that is Alert, on Ellesmere Island, it is about 400 miles closer to the pole than you were. But hey, up there what’s a few hundred miles amoung friends!
Enjoy the trip!
Sprague and Team: I am praying for you and I just got off the phone with Walt and KipJones with whom we did the Passage last year. I have been following you carefully and the last post or GPS mark was 8/7/09 @ 3:59 am EST. So I went to Weather.com and looked on the Satellite map and zoomed in to Peel Sound. according to the Blog you are right off Aston Bay and it looks like you are trapped in 9+/10’s ice!! Are you OK? The ice south of you is still very heavy M’Clure Bay is just south of you and from there west is solid ice 10/10’s. Please be careful!!! Note when I zoom in I think I can see the Bagen.
Oh yea the Sat photo was shot at Aug 7th @ 11:00 pm EST, so for us here on the west coast of the US it was 4 hours ago, 21/2 since I first started watching you. And that was 19 hours after your last GPS spot. I am sure you have Sat phone for emergencies. Love to see an update that all is OK.
It looks like you’ve taken a detour from your planned route. I was looking at some ice charts and it looks to be pretty clear from where you are now until you get to the Bellot Strait. A lot of heavy pack ice south of Prince of Whales Is., but if you can manage to get through that, you should be pretty much in the clear. And with another month left to the melt season, it looks very promising. Anyways, good luck with your voyage!
Post new comment