EXPEDITIONS IN 2008

THE MOST EXTENSIVE EXPLORATION OF THE ARCTIC EVER UNDERTAKEN

Plans for 2008

As the Ice Warrior Project’s contribution to International Polar Year in 2008, I’m delighted to announce what is probably the most extensive exploration of the Arctic ever undertaken.

The plan includes:

• 5 major expeditions – including the last world first in polar expeditioning
• Covering 2500 miles of the Arctic region
• Reaching all four North Poles
• Involving 40 people – mostly novice volunteers drawn form all walks of life and comprehensively trained
• Undertaking crucial data gathering for the scientific community

Due to the nature of our plans for 2008 I’m looking for new volunteers to join us so if you’ve ever wished to become a polar explorer, now is the time!

In 2008 we have planned 6 major expeditions:

• Cape Isachsen, Canada to the Arctic Pole – Pole of Inaccessibility

 A journey of 732 miles, this is the last significant place on Earth where no one has reached.  This will be a solo expedition by founder, Jim McNeill.

• Ward Hunt Island, Canada to the Geographic North Pole

Distance:                                  476 miles

Terrain:                                      Drifting sea-ice

Duration:                                   60 days

Proposed dates:                     March April

• Eureka, Canada to the Geomagnetic North Pole

Distance:                                  300 miles

Terrain:                                      Mixed rock, fiord ice, sea-ice

Duration:                                   30 days

Proposed dates:                     March April

• Cape Isachsen to the Magnetic North Pole

Distance:                                  320 miles

Terrain:                                      Sea ice

Duration:                                   35 days

Proposed dates:                     March April

• The Northwest Passage - Resolute Bay to Sachs Harbour

Distance:                                  500 miles

Terrain:                                      Sheltered sea-ice

Duration:                                   50 days

Proposed dates:                     March April

The Four North Poles - defined.

GEOGRAPHIC TRUE NORTH POLE 90°N
A fixed location on the surface of the Arctic Ocean where the Earth's axis of rotation meet. First seen in 1926 from the airship Norge.
 
NORTH MAGNETIC POLE 83° 14’N, 118° 19’ W
A wandering location at 90 degrees to the Earth’s surface where lines of magnetic force exit. The magnetic field is vertical and points vertically into the ground. The north seeking end of a compass needle points to this pole (hence this is technically a south pole since opposite poles attract). It was first attained by Captain James Ross in 1831 when it was on the Boothia Peninsula and has subsequently migrated northwards well into the Arctic Ocean at a current rate of ~40km every year.
 
NORTH GEOMAGNETIC POLE 79° 49’ N, 71° 47’ W
The point where the geomagnetic field is closest to True North. North end of the axis of the geomagnetic field which surrounds the Earth and extends into space as the magnetosphere. Tilted at ~11 degrees to the rotation axis of the Earth (the geographic pole), and field lines are not vertical to the Earth’s surface here. Situated over the Darling Peninsula, Canada. Aurora Borealis occur principally in a stratospheric torus 23° around this pole.
 
ARCTIC POLE or NORTHERN POLE OF INACCESSIBILITY 85° 47‘ N, 176° 9‘ E
The farthest point from any coastline; also called the 'Northern Pole of Inaccessibility'
First established in 1927 by Sir Hubert Wilkins, by aircraft but recently re-positioned by Jim McNeill and NSIDC scientists as a result of modern satellite technology.

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