Annals of Adventure–Across the Top of the World: Lots of hard-core maniacs put everything they have into trying to get to the North Pole solo and unsupported. Ben Saunders, a 26-year old Brit, is about to raise the ante by turning the Pole into just a rest stop. He’s about to set off with the intention of making the first solo ski crossing of the Arctic Ocean, starting from Cape Arktichevsky– the northernmost tip of Russia (81°30’N 97°0’E)–via the North Geographic Pole (90°N) to Ward Hunt Island, on the north coast of Canada (83°05’N 75°0’W). That’s 1,240 miles of bitter cold, Polar bears, thin ice and the possibility of an unexpected Arctic swim. And Saunders is doing it pure: no dogs, no kites, no guides and no resupply. No one has ever done this solo, and according to Explorer’s Web, the last two guys who pulled this stunt were out for 109 days, lost their sleds, all their gear and 50 kgs of body weight. When they finally staggered ashore at Cape Discovery, Canada, a doctor took one look at them and estimated that they were just 48 hours from death. So this is no stroll in a winter wonderland, and going solo will be doubly hard. Saunders expects it will take him about 3 months, and you can follow his expedition in detail (want to know what his average daily heart rate is, or how many calories he consumed?) on his excellent web site. Saunders is now in Siberia, getting ready to set off. Here’s his first dispatch. He’s clearly got a good sense of humor (and he’ll need one, no doubt):

“After a 23-hour journey to the outermost reaches of northern Siberia (currently a nostril-freezing -35°C), we feel we should pass on the following points to anyone considering such a voyage:

1) 21 bags of kit several hundred kilos over the limit should not be considered something the BA check-in desk ‘just won’t notice’.

2) If you arrive at Moscow airport with high explosives, satellite communications equipment, controlled medicines and several cases of camera gear (with no filming permit), barging through the nothing to declare channel professing a complete inability to understand the language works far more effectively than any attempt to negotiate or follow the rules.

3) The knowledge that regional carrier KrasAir is pronounced CrashAir should be restricted to a small group of people who are either drunk, sedated or complete strangers to the English language. Do not assume that your camera crew are drunk, that is their natural demeanour.

4) If, after boarding a clapped out ‘vintage’ Tupolov, you are told that ‘the flight will take six hours… if we live’ take full advantage of the vodka ploughman’s brunch available.”

Good luck…



Solo Saunders: “Crazy?…Why would you think I’m crazy.”

(Photo: via Explorer’s Web)