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Polar Bears. Threatened and threatening. These animals have no known predators. On a foggy day or a during a whiteout, they will be very hard to see. A large male polar bear can stand 10 feet tall and weigh over 1400 lbs. While it is thrilling to encounter a bear, on the expedition the team must take all precautions to avoid confrontation. With keen hunting abilities in their home environment, polar bears can be very curious about expeditions. The existence of polar bears is seriously threatened due to rapidly melting Arctic sea ice. Photo courtesy of Ansgar Walk.
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The Cold, the Wind and the Wet. Exposed skin freezes at -31°C (-24°F). The Arctic Ocean's average low temperature is -37°C (-35°F) and extreme lows more than -60°C (-76°F). Frostbite and hypothermia are risks. Humidity and wind can greatly compound this cold. The Arctic Ocean is the most humid place on Earth; humidity is often 100%. Moisture control in clothing and tent will be one of John and Tyler's biggest challenges. Winds average between 10 and 15 mph, but occasionally blow at over 50 mph! John and Tyler like the cold, but these elements will truly challenge their positive mindsets. Photo courtesy of Rune Gjeldnes.
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Drifting Ice. Ice floes represent perhaps the most unpredictable challenge. The ice moves at the whims of the wind, ocean currents and upon contact with other ice pans. At times, despite skiing forward, we will actually be drifting backwards at a faster rate. During the past few years as ice has thinned, its movement has become less predictable. Photo John Huston, Will Steger Foundation. |
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Rubble and Pressure Ridges. From easily navigated mazes of rubble to fields of debris to pressure ridges many feet high, the frozen Arctic Ocean is an obstacle course to be negotiated with patience and agility. As ice drifts with winds and currents towards Canada, it collides with land and other pans of ice to form a jumbled mess. Sleds must be pulled around and over these obstacles, and injuries from falling or twisting must be avoided. In the past 20 years as the ice has thinned the amount of rubble has increased drastically. Photo courtesy of Rune Gjeldnes. |
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Dark and Light. Darkness makes everything take longer, requires better training and simple, methodical systems. The dark and dim can also be tiring and depressing to the willpower of the expedition team. Fortunately the arctic gains its light quickly as the seasons progress. In the high latitudes the warming and illuminating sunlight of spring advances very quickly; toward the end of the trip it will be light 24 hours a day. Photo courtesy of Rune Gjeldnes. |
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Open Water. The frozen Arctic Ocean is actually only mostly frozen. The ocean is constantly freezing, breaking up, drifting, piling up and refreezing. It is an extremely dynamic mosaic of puzzle pieces of all sizes and shapes. Between these floating fields of ice called pans, there will be leads of open water. Some leads will be able to be stepped over, others will be newly-frozen and can be skied across. Much time can be spent looking for a way around larger open leads. Sometimes it will be fastest for Tyler and John to put on their dry suits and swim a short distance across. Photo courtesy of Rune Gjeldnes. |
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Teamwork. All of these challenges can be overcome as long as the team functions well together. The stronger the trust between Tyler and John, the quicker they will move, the more seamless their decision-making and cooperation. This means that the two must be physically strong, emotionally stable, mentally focused and have in place safe, efficient expedition systems and routines. Photo Tyler Fish.
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