Artic Expeditions
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Following the expedition being called off, the team had a long trip back to the UK. After leaving Resolute in the early hours of 13th April the team flew down to Iqaluit and then onto Ottawa with only an hour or so time to spare they made it onto to the flight to Heathrow, landing early on the 14th (another day and they would still be stuck in Canada waiting for the skies to reopen!) Richard is recovering at home and making steady progress.
Sadly the expedition has been called off.
Team leader Richard Bull has been taken seriously ill with suspected pneumonia. The team are being taken off the ice by skidoo at 14:00 local time. They will all be taken back to Resolute Bay. They are expected to arrive in Resolute around 20:00 local time (weather dependant) from here the team will head back to the UK over the next few days.
Obvioulsy due to the severe nature of Richard's condition, it was not possible for the expedition to continue. This is a great dissapointment to Richard personally and to the remainder team after years of detailed planning and preparation for this expedition.
Further news will follow as soon as it comes through.....
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.
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.
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, 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.
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.
(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.
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.
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
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
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
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
Please click on these links below for more information..
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 delayedb 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.
