March 6, 2014
There's no I in polar travel
Weather has delayed the departure of the Irish team and Japanese skier leaving for Cape Discovery so our flight date has been pushed back as well. There is nothing we can do now but wait. I'd be lying if I didn't feel a little nagging dread. We will now depart Saturday or Sunday weather permitting. Those are the cards we have been dealt, what do we do?
There is so much pressure on us to get to the ice as well as complete our expedition within a defined amount of time that just a hint of an additional roadblock (our proposed flight weights) sent me spiraling into into a dark mood. Ryan, ever patient, listened to my frustrations then gave me some time to clarify with our flight operations manager, the necessary details to keep moving forward and keep on track. Tomorrow afternoon, we will head to the Kenn Borek office and weigh all our gear. Another item checked off the list.
There is an art to all this. Waiting and dealing with unknowns. It is frustrating to not be able to have everything work out on the time frame in which we choose. But part of me also likes the fact that the world still works like that. Too often, I feel, we expect things to happen just be because we wish it so. Here, we are at the mercy of so many factors completely outside of our control. On the ice, our fate lies in our ability to move with the environment not against it.
We have finished the bulk of our preparation and have even packed everything into our sleds just for good measure. In recent times, unaided North Pole expeditions have opted to take two shorter sleds versus one our one longer sled (per person). The thinking is to be able to detach the sleds and pull each individually. Over pressure ridges one sled's weight can also pull the other over. Still, going back for a second sled adds time. Also, with our MSR snowshoes we are able to get better traction and pull more weight at once. The final factor in our decision was simply the ice itself. In recent years there have been less huge pressure ridges and more over rough conditions. Our longer sleds should be able to track better through the rough rubble.
Or at least that's what we hope.
Image: Asnes Skis, MSR poles and our Granite Gear Sled bag cover all packed and ready to go.
There is so much pressure on us to get to the ice as well as complete our expedition within a defined amount of time that just a hint of an additional roadblock (our proposed flight weights) sent me spiraling into into a dark mood. Ryan, ever patient, listened to my frustrations then gave me some time to clarify with our flight operations manager, the necessary details to keep moving forward and keep on track. Tomorrow afternoon, we will head to the Kenn Borek office and weigh all our gear. Another item checked off the list.
There is an art to all this. Waiting and dealing with unknowns. It is frustrating to not be able to have everything work out on the time frame in which we choose. But part of me also likes the fact that the world still works like that. Too often, I feel, we expect things to happen just be because we wish it so. Here, we are at the mercy of so many factors completely outside of our control. On the ice, our fate lies in our ability to move with the environment not against it.
We have finished the bulk of our preparation and have even packed everything into our sleds just for good measure. In recent times, unaided North Pole expeditions have opted to take two shorter sleds versus one our one longer sled (per person). The thinking is to be able to detach the sleds and pull each individually. Over pressure ridges one sled's weight can also pull the other over. Still, going back for a second sled adds time. Also, with our MSR snowshoes we are able to get better traction and pull more weight at once. The final factor in our decision was simply the ice itself. In recent years there have been less huge pressure ridges and more over rough conditions. Our longer sleds should be able to track better through the rough rubble.
Or at least that's what we hope.
Image: Asnes Skis, MSR poles and our Granite Gear Sled bag cover all packed and ready to go.