Melting ice, warming conditions don’t deter polar trekkers

Two trekkers from the United States, Lonnie Dupre and Eric Larsen, are on a four-month trip to the North Pole and back. Their expedition, called “Project Thin Ice,” is getting money from Greenpeace for their efforts in calling attention to global warming, and can be followed at www.oneworldexpedition.com.

Dupre and Larsen plan to pull and paddle specially modified canoes across nearly 1,500 kilometres of sea ice and open ocean to complete the “first ever” summer expedition to the North Pole.

The two attempted the Arctic Ocean crossing last summer, leaving from the northern coast of Russia. After 25 days on the ice, they gave up and were airlifted out. They had made only about 60 km of northward progress in 200 km of actual travel. Last week, they departed from Cape Discovery, off the coast of Ellesmere Island, heading north.

On their trek, they may run into groups heading in the other direction. That’s because, while some groups have already made it to the North Pole – including the hardy Finnish Airborne Rangers – others are continuing past the pole to Canada or Greenland.

The dog sled team of Paul Landry, a former Iqaluit resident, is past the pole, after leaving from northern Russia more than two months ago.

Until now, the teams have relied on airplanes to get them over tough sections of ice and to bring them supplies, but companies say deteriorating ice conditions mean they cannot commit to an emergency pick-up.

You can follow Paul Landry’s team at: www.adventureecology.com.