Excitement then disappointment...

Today the Arctic Fox team woke to the good news that they were scheduled to fly to the ice. By mid day they gathered their kits and made their way to the airport where the airplane departed around 4 PM. Two hours into their flight they learned that the runway had developed a crack in the ice, and the plane turned around and returned to Longyearbyen. The team is now back in town, comfortable at their hotel, and hoping to hear that the runway problem will soon be fixed. The team, though disappointed, is taking the delay in stride. Everyone on the team realizes that travel in the polar regions is unlike travel elsewhere in the world.

Preparing the sleds for the flight

At the Longyearbyen Airport, the plane waits for the "all clear."

Their sleds are still on board the airplane, ready to go as soon as they hear that they have the "all clear" to depart. They know that they will not be flying tomorrow, but they hope that it will be soon after. If they have to be delayed somewhere in the Arctic it would be hard to find a nicer place than Longyearbyen. It's a beautiful town surrounded by mountains and the island has one of the highest concentrations of polar bear in the world.

A view of Longyearbyen from the fjord

Though Longyearbyen is and Arctic paradise we are keeping our fingers crossed that the team will not stay there very long! Check tomorrow for another update from the team.

Strong winds tonight but hoping for a flight tomorrow!

The team had a leisurely day in Longyearbyen, some people going skiing while others strolled through town. It was a day of waiting and hoping for confirmation that the team will fly to the ice tomorrow. At present this is still the plan. The weather today in Longyearbyen was warm (around -5 degrees C) and cloudy. As the day progressed the wind increased until it was a downright blizzard. Tonight the snow is blowing sideways and it can be hard to stand up upright in the howling winds. Listening to the wind from the hotel window makes it feel very cozy inside.

A view up the Advent Valley

One of the two father & son teams on the Arctic Fox Mission

Make sure to listen to today's daily audio update from the team, and check back again tomorrow for another report!

Ski training while delayed...

Originally scheduled to fly to the ice today the team made good use of the weather delay by heading out for a ski training. The weather in Longyearbyen today was not as windy as yesterday, and mostly sunny. The fjord, which lies at the edge of town and is home to many seals and the occasional polar bear looked especially beautiful.

The Advent Fjord at the edge of  Longyearbyen

The team will likely have a pre-flight briefing tomorrow which includes weighing all equipment and learning more about recent weather updates. The current schedule has the team departing on April 6 for the ice. At this time of year they can expect temperatures ranging from -5 degrees F (-20 C) to -40 degrees F (-40 C). The ice conditions will vary from day to day, but in general they will likely have to navigate around several leads (opening in the ice revealing water), and several pressure ridges (ridges of ice formed by colliding ice pans) every day....sometimes every hour!

Make sure to listen to today's audio report below, and check back in tomorrow for another update from the team!

Back in town & last minute preparations...

Today the team reviewed expedition logistics and made last minute preparations. They divided up the group equipment and food, making the sleds quite a bit heavier than they were on the shakedown. The weather in Longyearbyen was very windy (11m/s) causing swirls of snow to blow about the town. The sound of howling wind could be heard through hotel windows and it felt very much like the Arctic!


Pre-expedition preparation and equipment check.

Yesterday the team returned from a very successful Shakedown Training that included an overnight in a nearby valley and an 18 k ski back to town. During the night a sled dog named "Scott" kept watch over the tents to guard against polar bears, but none were seen. Everyone got some great experience using the same equipment that they will be using on their expedition. Their return to Longyearbyen from the shakedown was celebrated with a Thai food dinner and comfortable night at their hotels.

"Scott" the teams Polar Bear alarm.

Hjoleifur and Hrafnkell returning from the Shakedown Training

An early season weather pattern has caused what will hopefully be a short delay in the flight schedule to the Borneo Icecamp. We'll keep you posted on the flights of the team, and their activities in Longyearbyen while they await their departure.

Polar Shakedown Training...

Today the team departed for a two day / one night shakedown training trip. They will be skiing, pulling sleds packed with their kits, and camping out using the same equipment that they will take on their North Pole expedition. The weather forecast is for clear and cold conditions, which are ideal for helping them to prepare.


Sichen ready for the Shakedown Training!

 

Taking a break while skiing.

The team spent yesterday discovering Longyearbyen, a beautiful Arctic village that lies well above the Arctic Circle at 78 degrees north latitude. A short dogsledding trip up a nearby valley gave them a taste for the traditional mode of transportation in much of the Arctic.The weather was clear, sunny and between -20 and -30 C.  In the evening they enjoyed dinner in one of Longyearbyen's oldest buildings which  now home to one of the town's finest restaurants as well as the northern most wine cellar in the world! They happened to be only a table away from Britain's Prince Harry who is in Longyearbyen in advance of his own North Pole expedition to depart in the next couple days.

The northernmost wine cellar in the world!

Check back soon for another update from the Arctic Fox Mission!

The team has arrived...

The Arctic Fox team has arrived in Longyearbyen, Norway in advance of their expedition and everyone is excited for the expedition to begin! The Arctic Fox team is made up of old friends from three countries, and for two of the team members, their adult sons, making this a very unique and special group! 

The last few days have been filled with last minute preparations including sorting through personal kits and making sure everything for the expedition is in order. Traveling from home countries to Longyearbyen, Norway was the final step towards the start of the adventure. Now that everyone has arrived the journey can begin.

Starting tomorrow many of the team members will join their guides for a pre-expedition Polar Shakedown Training program that includes skiing and camping in the snowy Spitsbergen wilderness. We hope to have photos of the team soon, so check back regularly or add your name to the Follow by Email list for automatic email updates.

Welcome to PolarExplorer's "Arctic Fox Mission" North Pole Ski Expedition!

The North Pole season is just around the corner and the PolarExplorers "Arctic Fox Mission" North Pole Ski team will soon be meeting in Longyearbyen, Norway for pre-expedition preparations and training. All our food for the expedition is being shipped tomorrow. This includes hundreds of pounds of cheese, butter, meat, energy bars, nuts, chocolate, delicious dinners, and power-packed breakfasts.

We'll start adding daily updates to the expedition starting on March 31, 2011. Make sure to check back frequently for the latest updates from the team!

If you want to ask the team a specific question email it to annie@polarexplorers.com. We look forward to sharing their incredible journey with you.