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Jim Hunt

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Eric Larsen's "Save The Poles" Expedition
« on: April 16, 2014, 10:18:02 AM »
Thanks to cats over on the "Expedition Hope" thread, here's a place to discuss Eric Larsen's "Save The Poles" Expedition.

I'm somewhat surprised to discover at this late date that Eric Larsen and Ryan Waters set off from Northern Ellesmere Island back in March, heading in the direction of the geographic North Pole. Currently they have reached 85 N, 70 W:

"The most revolutionary thing one can do always is to proclaim loudly what is happening" - Rosa Luxemburg

cats

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Re: Eric Larsen's "Save The Poles" Expedition
« Reply #1 on: April 21, 2014, 11:37:25 PM »
Eric Larsen's current position - Latitude: 86.437, Longitude: -59.778 | Dist To Pole: 246.4 Miles
Lots of eastward drift, open leads and challenging weather.

cats

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Re: Eric Larsen's "Save The Poles" Expedition
« Reply #2 on: May 04, 2014, 01:44:54 AM »
This expedition is closing in on the pole - latest position Latitude: 89.273, Longitude: -41.19 | Dist To Pole: 50.3 Miles.  After a couple of days of good ice, clear weather and not a lot of drift, they are now struggling with flat light and more drift.  They also report polar bear tracks on the same path they are on - an additional worry.  Hopefully the polar bear finds a nice tasty seal to snack on and won't be interested in them.

epiphyte

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Re: Eric Larsen's "Save The Poles" Expedition
« Reply #3 on: May 05, 2014, 08:57:24 PM »
It would be a bittersweet distinction were it to turn out that they are last people ever to walk to the north pole :-\

cats

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Re: Eric Larsen's "Save The Poles" Expedition
« Reply #4 on: May 05, 2014, 09:21:31 PM »
They are within 19 miles of the pole and finding really bad ice conditions - lots of leads, only small ice floes, needing to swim leads or worse, unexpectedly falling thru the ice - these last few miles may be the most difficult ones.

cats

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Re: Eric Larsen's "Save The Poles" Expedition
« Reply #5 on: May 08, 2014, 08:46:45 AM »
Took 8 hours to travel the last 3.5nm, but Eric and Ryan made it to 90 North - now sleeping in and waiting for their pick up flight.