Arctic Update–Taxi!: Trans-Arctic trekker Ben Saunders has called for a plane to pick him up and get him the hell back to civilization. Can’t really blame him. Ice conditions have been terrible, his quest to become the first human to cross the Arctic Ocean solo and unsupported ended weeks ago when he received resupply, and nothing but pain and suffering lie ahead. Ben reckons trans-Arctic solo and unsupported is impossible–which is exactly why someone (probably a Frenchman) will soon be back to give it a try. Anyhow, it was no mean feat to get to the Pole this year, given the conditions, and Ben (almost) always kept his sense of humor. Sorry to see him sign off. Here’s his latest, as he tries to prepare a landing strip for his ride:

“Oh the guilt! The shame! I often say that part of my motivation is to encourage other young people away from the tv and computer games and into the great outdoors. And how am I whiling away my last few hours (hopefully) in this incredible wilderness? Why, playing solitaire on my iPAQ, of course…

Actually, that’s not all I’m doing – the pilots have asked that I keep a detailed weather log for them, with all sorts of important sounding headings – ‘horizon distinction’ and ‘contrast resolution’ are my favourites. It’s a glorious day at the moment, which bodes well for a pick up.

I’ve found the best bit of flat(ish) ‘multi-year’ ice I’ve seen in ages, I’ve marked out the four corners of a runway and I’ve flattened the lumpy bits with my snow shovel. It’s just long enough, although if the pilots aren’t happy with it, they’ll land nearby and I’ll have to leg it over.

If all goes well, they should land at 1700-1800 UTC (Greenwich Mean Time in old money). So, as I write this, I have another 6-7 hours to wait.

Hopefully my next update will be from terra firma – I haven’t set foot on land for 71 days now!

iPAQs, sat phones to call for a ride home, e-mail. Arctic exploring just ain’t what it used to be. But it’s still damn difficult and dangerous (which only makes Peary, Nansen and the early northern adventurers all the more unbelievable)…



Digital Doodling: “Let’s see. I’ve got to melt some snow at 9, and at 3 some polar bears are coming for tea…”

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