Body of Missing Arctic Explorer Recovered

Last week I shared the sad story of Dutch Explorers Marc Cornelissen and Philip de Roo who had gone missing while conducting research in the Arctic. At the time, it was uncertain what had happened to the two men, although it was speculated that they may have fallen through the ice and drowned. Now, the body of one of the men has been recovered, providing some clues as to what might have happened.

According to ExWeb, a team of Royal Canadian Mounted Police conducted a dangerous recovery mission above the Arctic Circle in an effort to retrieve the body. It was later identified as being Cornelissen, and the cause of death was determined to be "drowned by hypothermia." The body was found at the location where the explorers had set off an emergency beacon on April 29, but by the team rescue squads could get to that position a few days later they found only two sleds – one floating in the water – and a highly trained support dog that had been brought along on the expedition.

The dog was later rescued from the ice and returned home, and further investigation revealed the body of Cornelissen in the water. There was no sign of de Roo however, and it is believed that he suffered the same fate as his companion.

This latest news is sad of course, but it may bring a sense of closure for the two explorers' friends and family. ExWeb says that Cornelissen's body has been received by the Dutch embassy in Canada, and it is being transported home to the Netherlands soon.

This story underscores my feelings that the Arctic is an incredibly difficult place to travel, and remains one of the most dangerous environments on the planet. It is because of these challenges that we will see fewer people attempting to explore the Arctic in the near future. It is simply too hazardous to venture into that wilderness, and thanks to ongoing climate change, it is probably only going to get worse in the years ahead.

North Pole 2015: Ulrich Pulls Plug on Arctic Expedition

I'm still working to catch up on some of the big news events from the world of outdoor adventure that took place while I was traveling over the past few weeks. One of the stories that we were watching closely this spring involved Swiss polar explorer Thomas Ulrich, who was attempting to ski from the North Pole to Ellesmere Island on the Canadian side of the ice. It was to be the only major expedition in the Arctic this season, but it turns out that it didn't last very long at all.

After guiding a team of "last degree" skiers to 90ºN in mid-April, Ulrich sent his clients back to the Barneo Ice Camp as planned, and launched his solo effort across the frozen Arctic expanse. His plan was to spend the next month and a half crossing the ice as a training exercise for an attempt to traverse the entire Arctic Ocean from Norway to Canada next year. But this year's journey lasted just three days, as the explorer began to run into all kinds of challenges immediately. Some of those challenges were deemed far too dangerous for him to continue.

According to reports from his support team, one of Thomas' brushes with near-disaster occurred while he was sleeping in his tent one evening. A large crack opened in the ice just 1.8 meters (6 feet) away from his tent. Were that crack just a bit closer to his campsite, it could have easily swallowed him up without warning. This incident was a sobering reminder of just how dangerous it is to travel in the Arctic, and with hundreds of miles yet to go, the Swiss adventurer decided it was best to go home.

Ulrich did manage to cover 80 km (49.7 miles) using a combination of skiing and kiting in his three days out on the ice. That is a solid distance for such a short time, and it should be encouraging to him if he decides to proceed with the planned expedition for 2016. It remains to be seen if he'll proceed with that journey however, as this taste of the Arctic may be enough to dissuade him from trying again.

After calling in to tell his home team that he was abandoning the expedition, Ulrich than proceeded back to Barneo before going home. The base itself closed up shop for the season on April 24, with the last of the support crew and equipment being shipped home. Another temporary base will no doubt be built on the ice next season to once again facilitate exploration, research, and travel in the Arctic.

This pretty much wraps up any North Pole news for the 2015 season. With no teams heading across the Arctic, it has been a quiet one for sure. I expect that this will become the norm in years ahead, as it is becoming increasingly clear just how difficult and dangerous it is to travel in the Arctic. It is without a doubt one of the most challenging environments on the planet, and it is becoming more and more difficult for anyone to endure the difficulties involved with an expedition to the top of the world.

North Pole 2015: Thomas Ulrich Begins Solo Ski Expedition to Canada

It has been a busy week at the North Pole, where the Bareno Ice Camp continues to serve as a temporary base for researchers, explorers, and adventurers. This year's camp has been open for a couple of weeks now, which means it is nearing the end of its lifespan, but it will continue to see steady arrivals, and departures, until the Arctic season ends before the end of the month.

Work has begun to repair the aircraft that had its landing gear damaged upon arrival to Barneo back when the camp first opened. As you can imagine, that isn't an easy task when you're located just one degree off the Pole. The plane has obviously been out of commission for most of the season, and as a result the support flights out of Longyearbyen in Norway have been forced to use just one aircraft this year. Two flight crews have been aboard those flights, and that plane has been flying almost non-stop to deliver people, fuel, and supplies to base. Add in nearly a week delay in flights due to weather, and the crews have been struggling to keep up.

One of the biggest pieces of news to come out of Barneo in the past couple of days is that polar guide Thomas Ulrich has reached 90ºN with his team of clients. They has skied the last degree to the North Pole after starting out at the Ice Camp last week. Those clients were plucked from the ice by a Russian helicopter, and flown back to the base, where they then made their way home. But they said goodbye to Ulrich at the top of the world, as he will now proceed to ski solo to Ellesmere Island on the Canadian side of the ice. This expedition will serve as a tune-up for his even bigger plans for 2016, when he hopes to traverse the entire arctic – via the North Pole – completely solo and on foot.


The teams participating in the 2015 Marmont Cup race set off yesterday. They're racing across the last degree to the North Pole, with 5 squads competing to become the first to reach that point. The all-women's team led by Bettina Aller ran into some trouble yesterday however when one of their stoves wouldn't work. A support team was dispatched to help them, and they are still on track to continue, but it was nearly a disaster for the squad before they really got underway. They are expected to arrive at 90ºN sometime late next week.

More last degree skiers continue to arrive at Barneo. Yesterday, three squads led by Borge Outland, Bengt Rotmo, and Dixe Dansercoer – each a polar legend – reached the Ice Camp. They'll be making their way north in the days ahead too. If you'd like to see what this type of expedition is like, take a look at these photos from a team of Norwegian teenagers who recently completed their journey across the final degree.

Finally, ExWeb has a report on Christian Redi, who has just completed a free dive in the Arctic Ocean. According to the story, the air temperature was -30ºC/-22ºF when he plunged through a  1.6 meter opening in the ice, where the water temperature was a balmy -2ºC/28ºF. But Christian said it was the most beautiful experience he has had on dive. The water is 2000 meters (6261 ft) deep at the point he dropped in, and even though everything was dark, it was also very clear. The free dive took place near the Barneo camp, where a crew had cut the opening for him. The experienced free diver told ExWeb that it was one of the most meaningful dives of his career.

That's all from up north. Still a busy time at Barneo, but only another week or two before it shuts down for the season once again.

Extreme Running News: North Pole Marathon Tests Runners, Sir Ran Completes Marathon des Sables

After a delayed start last week due to weather and a damaged aircraft at the Barneo Ice Camp, the 2015 North Pole Marathon finally took place over the weekend. This year there were 22 countries represented in the race with, with 45 total competitors, traveling to the top of the world to run in some of the most grueling conditions imaginable.

At the start of the race, temperatures hovered around -29ºC/-20ºF. Setting off across the pack ice, the runners knew they had quite a challenge in front of them, but not everyone knew exactly how difficult it would be. Apparently several athletes had to be treated for hypothermia after prolonged exposure to the cold, as the final competitors didn't reach the finish line until after they spent 15 hours running the route. That is an awfully long time to be out in those conditions.

The winner of the race was Petr Vabrousek of the Czech Republic. He finished in 4 hours, 22 minutes, 24 seconds, which is an impressive time all things considered. Second place went to Doug Wilson of Australia with a time of 5 hours, 1 minute, 38 seconds. Daniel Palko rounded out the podium with a time of 5 hours, 8 minutes, 56 seconds.

For the ladies it was Heather Hawkins of Australia taking the top honors with a time of 6 hours, 57 minutes, 39 seconds. She was followed by Alice Burch of the U.K. at 7 hours, 4 minutes, 42 seconds, and Jennifer Cheung of China/Hong Kong, who finished with a time of 7 hours, 6 minutes, 6 seconds.


According to race officials, the competitors were all rounded up and flown back Longyearbyen in Norway yesterday. The race is over for another year, and the competitors are now making their way back home.

Meanwhile, in the Sahara Desert another group of runners faced completely different conditions while competing in the Marathon des Sables over the weekend. The 256 km (159 mile), 6-day ultramarathon wrapped up on Saturday with runners struggling with temperatures that soared up to 48.8ºC/120ºF. Amongst them was Sir Ranulph Fiennes, who struggled to reach the finish line in an event that he called "more hellish than hell."

The 71-year old, who has been called the "World's Greatest Living Explorer," suffered alarming heart palpitations last Thursday when he completed the most grueling leg of the race. For a time, it looked like he would have to pull out altogether, but he managed to rally through his pain and complete the race. Fiennes, who has had two heart attacks in the past, as well as double bypass surgery, spent 30 hours out on the course at one point, as he covered a 90 km (56 mile) stage on just one hour of sleep.

The famed British explorer wasn't the only one making headlines at the Marathon des Sables. Fellow countryman Davey Heeley became the first blindman to complete the race as well. The 57-year old father of three is an incredibly fit runner who competes in marathons regularly, but had never done anything like the MdS before. He reached the finish line on Saturday as well, completing the final stage of the race in Morocco with the other competitors.

Some pretty inspiring stories of runners pushing themselves to the limits in extreme conditions. I'll think about these athletes when I go out for my run today in more modest temperatures.

North Pole 2015: Normal Flight Schedule Resumes to Barneo

The Arctic expedition season is starting to get back on track now that normal flights have resumed out of Longyearbyen in Norway. The Russian AN-74 aircraft was able to finally start delivering passengers and supplies to the Barneo Ice Camp yesterday, and while some travelers were delayed by a few days, they are now quickly getting back on schedule.

The base itself was happy to see the flights resume, as it meant some much needed fuel, food, and other supplies were delivered at last. While they crew, researchers, and media that are currently at the base were in no real danger, their life on the ice flow will be much more comfortable now that they are getting all of the gear and food that they need.

Several last degree ski teams arrived at the camp yesterday as well, and immediately began their journeys to the North Pole. Amongst them is Thomas Ulrich, who will lead a commercial group to 90ºN before he begins his own solo journey to Ellesmere Island on the Canadian side of the ice. Presumably his group was one of them that set off yesterday, as they have some ground to make up due to the delay.

The North Pole Marathon was also delayed due to the lack of flights, but the first competitors were shipped to Barneo today, and will soon begin running there as well. The race is considered to be one of the more challenging marathons in the world due to the ice, snow, and extreme cold, as well as the occasional encounter with a polar bear.

The skiers competing in the Marmot Cup race that I posted about yesterday should be en route to Barneo today too. They'll spend a couple of days training together near the camp before they set out on April 15 on a last-degree race to the top of the world. The delayed flights hasn't impacted their schedule much at all, and they are on track to begin this unique competition as planned.

While this is a lot of activity taking place in the Arctic, it still feels a bit empty compared to years past. With no major ski expeditions to the North Pole to follow this spring, it is relatively quiet in terms of explorers pushing the boundaries. While the last degree teams are worth nothing, they are commercial squads filled with travelers who have spent a lot of money for the privilege of being able to go to 90ºN. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to be amongst them, but I am certainly missing the efforts of the full distance skiers who struggle mightily against the conditions in the Arctic. For my money, that journey remains the toughest in the world, and it is disappointing to see that it could be coming to an end.

Perhaps next year we'll see some activity in the Arctic beside Ulrich's epic adventure.

International Teams Preparing to Race to the North Pole

Staying on the topic of the North Pole today, a unique athletic competition is preparing to get underway in the Arctic, and it is certainly worth drawing some attention too. The 2015 Mamont Cup will begin next week with five teams of  athletes from across the globe racing one another to the top of the world. The event will cover 60 nautical miles (111 km), crossing the "last degree" to the North Pole in the process.

The five teams consist of 4-5 athletes each, and are all led by veteran polar explorers and guides. The racers come from Sweden, Italy, Russia, Germany, Switzerland, Canada and the U.S. and will be led by their team captains across the frozen Arctic Ocean to the finish line located at 90ºN. Those captains include David Hemplemam-Adams who leads an All-British team, as well as French explorers François Bernard, Christian de Marliave and Jean Gabriel Leynaud. A fifth squad consisting of all women will be lead by Denmark’s Bettina Aller.

The race is scheduled to get underway on April 15 and last until April 21. Most of the competitors are expected to arrive in Longyearbyen tomorrow for a flight to the Barneo Ice Camp, where they'll first acclimatize to the conditions, and undergo rigorous training before setting out. While covering the final degree to the Pole they'll be traveling on skis while pulling sleds filled with their gear and supplies behind them as they go.

The Mamont Foundation, which is sponsoring this event, was established in 2007 to help fund exploration to our planet's polar regions. The goal is to learn more about the Earth by advancing our understanding of both the Arctic and Antarctic. Projects include the study of animal migrations in these areas of the world, as well as the impact of climate change on these bellwether places.

Hopefully the competitors in the race will be able to catch their flights out to Barneo as expected. With delays due to weather, there have been no aircraft departing for the Ice Camp from Longyearbyen for the past few days. They have a bit of cushion in their schedule before they start their dash to the North Pole, but things haven't been going entirely smoothly in the Arctic so far this year.

North Pole 2015: Flights Resume To Barneo, North Pole Skier Evacuated

The weather has improved somewhat around the Barneo Ice Camp, allowing some flights to resume to the temporary Arctic base at long last. Meanwhile, the first team of skiers has reached the North Pole, even as another group waits patiently to begin.

Russian AN-72 aircraft have resumed their regular supply runs to the base, which is located at 89ºN in the Arctic Ocean. Yesterday some much needed fuel and food was delivered, along with a new group of visitors mostly consisting of researchers and members of the media. Later in the afternoon, some of the camp's occupants even stretched their legs with a spirited game of football (soccer) as well.

In other positive news, the first "last degree" ski team reached the North Pole yesterday. The group was led by guide Miroslav Jakishev, and after spending a brief time at the top of the world, they were gathered up by helicopter and returned to Barneo. They'll likely spend a day or two there before starting their journey home, depending on weather and the arrival of more flights.

There was some bad news for the skiers however, as one man on team being led by David Hemplemam-Adams had to be pulled from the ice due to frostbite. While details remain slim, it seems the skier contacted the affliction in his fingers while on his way to 90ºN, and had to be evacuated before the situation got worse.

Meanwhile, another group of North Pole skiers – that includes guide Thomas Ulrich – is still stuck in Longyearbyen and waiting for flights to resume from there. Ulrich will lead the squad to their goal, and then bid them farewell as he launches his attempt to ski to Ellesmere Island on the Canadian side of the ice. The Swiss explorer will be the only Arctic skier this season, going it alone on his route. This will serve as training of sorts for his attempt to traverse the Arctic entirely next year.

The Ice Camp is likely to stay open for about another two weeks or so, helping to facilitate travel to and from the Arctic in the process. This season has been somewhat of a quiet one with more researchers and military personnel traveling to the region rather than adventure travelers and explorers. Still, there will be more news to come from the North Pole in the days ahead, particularly as Ulrich gets underway.

North Pole 2015: Weather Delays Barneo Replacement Aircraft

The 2015 Arctic season is underway, but it has been a difficult one already. As I reported yesterday, the Barneo Ice Camp opened this past weekend, but immediately ran into problems when one of the transport planes landed roughly on the ice, breaking its landing gear in the process. Replacement planes were obtained to help keep the flow of traffic to the temporary encampment flowing, but poor weather is keeping those flights grounded, and preventing researchers, skiers, and media from arriving onsite.

Two Russian-build Anatoly AN-72 aircraft were sent to a base in Murmansk to begin shuttling supplies, staff, and visitors to Barneo. Those planes were meant to pick up the slack for the damaged one that now sits on the ice at 89ºN awaiting repairs. But heavy snows and high winds over the Arctic Ocean prevented those planes from reaching the Ice Camp as scheduled. The aircraft were forced to turn around after encountering particularly bad conditions that included ice build-up and near zero visibility. Without proper signals from the ground to help lead the pilots to their destination, it would be incredibly difficult to land on a moving ice slab in the Arctic, so instead the flights returned to Murmansk and are waiting for the weather to clear before they try again.

Meanwhile, a group of "last degree" skiers is also stuck in Longyearbyen waiting for flights to resume to Barneo as well. They hope to get underway soon, as they'll hit the trail for the North Pole as soon as they are on the ice. One of those groups will be led by polar explorer Thomas Ulrich  who will continue from 90ºN to Ellesmere Island in Canada. Ulrich will be the only skier in the Arctic this season as he trains for a potential full traverse of the Arctic Ocean in 2016.

For the most part, the visitors to Barneo this year are all scientists and climate researchers, with a few Russian military personnel that are training in the region as well. In years past there were more North Pole skiers, and the base served as a support station for expeditions traveling across the ice from the Canadian side. But since there is no one traveling in that direction this year, it will be a bit quieter at the top of the world.

The Ice Camp is built each spring in the Arctic to serve as a temporary base. It is typically open for about three weeks, facilitating travel in the region. This year Barneo is likely to remain in operation through late April.

North Pole 2015: Barneo Ice Camp Opens for the Season, Aircraft Breaks Landing Gear on Runway

The 2015 North Pole season doesn't promise to be quite so active and interesting as years past, but there will still be some action up north this year, even if most if it will take place on the Russian side of the ice. Over the weekend, the Barneo Ice Camp opened for the season at N 89º 38', W 22º 27'. Over the course of the next few weeks, it will serve as the base of operations for a number of military, scientific, and commercial teams that are heading into the Arctic, and while most of those adventures still lie ahead, things have already gotten off to a shaky start.

For those who don't know much about Barneo, it is a temporary base built on an ice flow in the Arctic Ocean each year that facilitates travel to and from the North Pole. It is constructed by a special crew who first locates a proper flow, then parachutes onto the ice and sets up camp there. That group must build a runway that is long enough to allow Antonov AN-74 aircraft to land, and set up a small tent city to house the visitors that pass through. Most of them are scientists conducting research or well-heeled adventure travelers making a "last degree" ski expedition to the top of the world.

This year's Barneo base has been especially problematic to construct. The team had a hard time finding a large enough ice flow due to increased break-up of the pack ice. Instead, they ended up locating three flows that were moving in concert with one another, and built their facilities there. While this isn't the ideal approach, it will suffice for the three weeks or so that Barneo will remain open.

According to the official Barneo blog, one of the first planes to land there this year ran into some trouble. Apparently when the aircraft touched down, it destroyed its right rear landing gear, causing an accident at the base. Fortunately, no one was injured, and another plane is being scrambled to keep the flow of supplies, gear, and personnel moving in and out of the base. Repairing the aircraft will be a bit of a challenge however, and it is unclear yet what exactly will happen.

The first visitors to arrive at Barneo mostly consisted of North Pole last degree skiers. They set off on the route almost immediately and spent very little time at the camp. Others will be shuttling in over the next few days though, so things should get busy in the Arctic soon. No word yet on when explorer Thomas Ulrich will arrive however. He'll be flying directly to 90ºN and will start a ski expedition across the Arctic that will end on Ellesmere Island in Canada.

If you are wondering what it is like to land an airplane on a slab of ice floating int he Arctic Ocean, have a look at the video below. It was taken from the cockpit of the first aircraft to land at Barneo this season, and gives you and idea of what it is like to arrive there. To say it is a bit harrowing would certainly be downplaying it some.

North Pole 2015: A Lone Skier Will Take the Ice

A few weeks back I wrote a piece lamenting the lost season in the Arctic. With Kenn Borek Air withdrawing support for expeditions traveling on the Canadian side of the ice, it seemed that there would be very little to report this season. While that remains largely true, ExWeb is reporting that one lone skier will take to the ice, and attempt to cross the Arctic this season after all.

Swiss explorer Thomas Ulrich is preparing to leave for the North Pole soon, where the'll begin his latest adventure. Throughout his career, Ulrich has traveled to in some of the coldest environments on Earth, having made expeditions to the Southern Patagonian Ice Caps Franz Josef Land in the Arctic Ocean, Greenland, and more. But now, in preparation for a major undertaking scheduled for 2016, he'll travel to the North Pole to attempt a crossing of the Arctic north to south.

Ulrich will first travel to the Barneo Ice Camp, which is currently being built at 89ºN. From there, they'll catch a helicopter ride to the top of the world, where he'll launch a solo ski journey south into Canada, covering approximately 800 km (500 miles) in the process.


As the only explorer in the Arctic this season there are questions about how Ulrich will receive support if he runs into trouble. But ExWeb says that while the Swiss adventurer is closer to the North Pole he'll be covered by the Russian team at Barneo. As he moves further south, Kenn Borek will apparently provide logistical support and emergency evacuation if it is needed. Where exactly that coverage begins remains a bit uncertain, and it seems likely that Thomas could find himself alone, in no-man's land, without proper support if he isn't careful.

Ulrich is scheduled to fly to Barneo on April 3, and launch his Arctic expedition soon there after. Traveling south from the Geographic North Pole isn't quite as dangerous or difficult as going north, but it is still an incredibly challenging undertaking. It'll serve as good practice for next year however, which is when the explorer hopes to attempt a complete traverse of the Arctic on foot via 90ºN. That journey will cover more than 2000 km (1242 miles) starting at Point Cape Arktichesky in Russia and ending on Ellesmere Island in Canada. Thomas believes it will take him 90-100 days to complete the crossing, which he will make solo and unsupported.

For my money, a crossing of the Arctic Ocean remains the most difficult challenge in exploration and adventure. Making a full traverse of that ocean will only add to that challenge. Watching how Thomas does this season should give us an indication of that next expedition will proceed as well. You can bet I'll be following his journey in the days ahead. It will be an interesting adventure to watch unfold.

Video: Building the Barneo Ice Camp

A few weeks back I wrote a post about the construction of the Barneo Ice Camp, a temporary base that is set up each spring at 89ºN on the Russian side of the Arctic to help facilitate travel to and from the North Pole. Apparently construction of this year's camp is still underway, but the video below – which comes our way courtesy of Quark Expeditions – gives us an idea of the effort that is made to build the camp to prep it for visitors each season. Those efforts include airdropping supplies out on the ice, and the first arrivals at the camp parachuting in to help build a runway large enough for big aircraft to land on it. It is a fascinating story about a place that only exists for a few short weeks each spring.

Construction of 2015 Barneo Ice Camp Set to Begin

Over the next few days, construction is set to begin on the 2015 Barneo Ice Camp. This temporary base of operations is built in the Arctic each spring in order to serve as a staging ground for explorers, researchers, and adventure travelers heading to the North Pole. Located on the Russian side of the Arctic ice, Barneo has been operating somewhere near 89ºN Latitude for the past 15 years, providing access to the frozen Arctic Ocean to a wide variety of visitors in the process.

Traditionally, the process for building the base begins with Russian aircraft flying into the Arctic to first locate an ice flow of suitable size and stability. Once the location is selected a group of paratroopers drops onto the ice, along with construction equipment. They immediately go to work building a temporary runway that is suitable for large aircraft such as the Antonov An-74 cargo-passenger plane. The team also constructs a small camp to accommodate the men and women who come and go throughout the brief Arctic exploration season.

Once the camp is established and the runway is built, larger aircraft can land on the ice flow and begin delivering gear and supplies. They'll also shuttle the visitors to Barneo, some of whom will continue on to the North Pole by skis or helicopter.

From the sounds of things, it seems like 2015 will be quite a different season for Barneo than in year's past. Early reports indicate that there will be fewer tourists heading to the Arctic this spring, while more scientists and researchers take their place instead. Additionally, it seems the Russian military will use the camp as a base of operations while it conducts training operations in the Arctic as well.

Traditionally the camp opens around the first week of April and remains in operation for about three weeks. Weather conditions will determine just how long Barneo remains in service each year, as the ice flows begin to break up as the season advances. It is likely that the 2015 version of the base will follow roughly the same schedule.

Sadly, it seems there are fewer explorers heading into the Arctic this season, so it is unclear what kind of news we should expect out of Barneo in the days ahead. Right now it seems that visitors will be mostly limited to researchers and military personnel, but if a good story arises, I'll be sure to share it. The North Pole season will certainly be a quiet one though it seems.

Lamenting the Lost Arctic Season

We're about to enter a bit of a lull in the world of exploration and adventure. The winter climbing season on Nanga Parbat is likely going to wrap up later this week, with success on the mountain still far from certain. We're also a few weeks away from climbers departing for Nepal to begin the spring climbing season on Everest and other major peaks in the Himalaya. For those men and women, the remaining days of March will be the calm before the storm as they launch a two-month long odyssey to reach the top of the tallest peak on the planet. While that will certainly be a busy and interesting time as always, this year there is definitely something missing from my usual round-ups of adventurous pursuits, and it isn't hard to identify exactly what that is. With no full-distance expeditions set to launch for the North Pole from the Canadian side of the Arctic this spring there is a real vacuum in terms of challenging undertakings, and it is unclear if that vacuum will be filled ever again.

Typically this time of year there are several teams in Resolute Bay, Canada waiting to be flown out to their starting points on the ice. Those intrepid adventurers generally have big dreams of skiing unsupported to the North Pole, covering roughly 700 km (435 miles) in the process. Most don't make it. In fact, since 2010, only one team has actually been able to accomplish that feat, which I believe is the most challenging journey in the world today. Climate change has altered the Arctic in undeniable ways, and as a result, those skiing north now face impossible thin ice, massive rubble fields, open leads of water, and numerous other obstacles. It is a difficult, punishing experience that has simply become increasingly difficult as the years have passed. So much so that it now seems nearly impossible for anyone to travel on foot all the way to 90ºN.


I'm not the only one who thinks that a full-distance North  Pole expedition is now almost entirely out of reach. Earlier this year, Kenn Borek Air, the charter airline that has supported Arctic explorers in the past, announced that it was ceasing operations in the region. With the increasing dangers of flying into the Arctic, it simply was no longer economically viable for the adventurous airline to continue supporting explorers in the area, and as a result the company made the surprise move to pullout. This has left a few expeditions in the lurch however and has meant that there will be no skiers attempting to reach the North Pole from the Canadian side of the ice this year.

As someone who enjoys following the intricacies of an expedition, particularly a very challenging one, the lack of North Pole skiers this year has left me disappointed, although not surprised. I've been saying for several years now that an expedition to the top of the world would only continue to get more difficult until it was simply impossible to complete. I didn't expect that to happen so soon, but it is the reality that Arctic explorers now face. Climate change was going to put an end to these kinds of journeys sooner, rather than later, but it seems that economics killed off these expeditions first.

That isn't to say that the North Pole will go completely unvisited this year. The Russians will once again build the Barneo Ice Camp on their side of the Arctic, and there will be any number of "last degree" expeditions that launch from that temporary base. Typically, Barneo opens in late March and stays active for about three weeks, granting well-heeled travelers an opportunity to scratch another destination off their bucket lists. I imagine that the camp will only see increased traffic this season with more people funneling through on their way to 90ºN.

While Barneo, and its visitors, will provide some sources of adventure news in the days ahead, it simply won't be the same as following a small team of adventurers as they spend days out on the ice struggling to ski to the North Pole. I'll miss reading daily updates on their progress while cheering them on from afar. I'll miss hearing about their struggles to cover even just a few kilometers in a day, as the weather, surface conditions, and other challenges conspire to make the journey harder than anyone ever imagined. It is an end of an era in the Arctic and in exploration in general, and I'm not sure we'll ever see anyone make this journey again in our lifetime. It is sad to see this come about, but it only makes me respect the explorers who have gone that way before all the more.

So, while we'll dutifully turn our attention to the Himalaya – and rightfully so – that doesn't mean that I won't be lamenting the fact that the North Pole is now out of reach, and that another chapter in the age of exploration has closed for good.