After coming home, we received lots of congratulations for the achievements and encouragements about what we've been through. Personally I was very impressed about young Parker (15 year's old) who did the same thing on his own with his guide Doug. I'm happy to hear that also Doug experienced the conditions we traveled in as exceptional. Disappointed? Slightly, I need to admid this. But for sure happy and blessed to have witnessed the Arctic Ocean in all its aspects!
Parker Liautaud comes home from the expedition to the North Pole
Posted using ShareThis
Friday, April 16, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Last of everything, now last degree
No more, "we still have to do this, we have to reorganize that", preps done and bed's waiting. Breakfast at 8am, flight at 10 am.
Follow our trip on www.thenorthboundquest.com on homepage for daily updates.
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself", Franlink Roosevelt
Sweet dreams
Yesterday, the day started with good news: instead of leaving Friday at 4 am, our flight was rescheduled to 2pm. This gave me the opportunity of calling my daughter for her school results. She was soo happy with this news!
After our daily breakfast, we were expected in the warehouse to have the sleds weighted. The average weight is about 45 kilo's, fuel to cook and batteries for filming not included yet. The fuel will be added at Barneo station.
At 2pm, the director of the documentary arrived, and we went picking him up. Short drive to the airport where we say already our little plane that will bring us to the base station. Currently, the base station is located at 89 degrees 32 minutes, meaning that we will be dropped at 89 exact by a helicopter.
In the afternoon, an extra training was scheduled, a walk in the valley, to get used again on pulling the sled on skis. Wind was sharp, the underground was icy both humps of ice and difficult to get grip on it. But, being outside in the valley gave me an intense happy feeling. Breathing in the cold but fresh air provided me with lots of energy .
Shortly after kicking off, I started to suffer from pain in my hand. I lost a couple of times my balance by not being able to put pressure on my left hand. All of a sudden Dixie surpised us. "Hey guys, you now know how to walk, let's put up the tents in this nice windy weather". Good excercise! Ruud and I did pretty will, although the routine is not there yet. But that will come with the practice.
After this excercise, most of us felt extremely cold. No feeling in the fingers, some even experienced pain. But what was comforting was the fact that after 10 minutes of moving, the fingers warmed up.
Back in the lodge I realized I had to have my hand treated. We have the luck to have three doctors in the team, one of them specialized in bones (Doug's a spinal surgeon). Diagnose is clear - same as my doctor in Belgium -, inflamatory artosis, and Doug was willing to go with me to the hospital to give me an injection. After all, it's his specialization and have full confidence. Let's see how that works out.
After our daily breakfast, we were expected in the warehouse to have the sleds weighted. The average weight is about 45 kilo's, fuel to cook and batteries for filming not included yet. The fuel will be added at Barneo station.
At 2pm, the director of the documentary arrived, and we went picking him up. Short drive to the airport where we say already our little plane that will bring us to the base station. Currently, the base station is located at 89 degrees 32 minutes, meaning that we will be dropped at 89 exact by a helicopter.
In the afternoon, an extra training was scheduled, a walk in the valley, to get used again on pulling the sled on skis. Wind was sharp, the underground was icy both humps of ice and difficult to get grip on it. But, being outside in the valley gave me an intense happy feeling. Breathing in the cold but fresh air provided me with lots of energy .
Shortly after kicking off, I started to suffer from pain in my hand. I lost a couple of times my balance by not being able to put pressure on my left hand. All of a sudden Dixie surpised us. "Hey guys, you now know how to walk, let's put up the tents in this nice windy weather". Good excercise! Ruud and I did pretty will, although the routine is not there yet. But that will come with the practice.
After this excercise, most of us felt extremely cold. No feeling in the fingers, some even experienced pain. But what was comforting was the fact that after 10 minutes of moving, the fingers warmed up.
Back in the lodge I realized I had to have my hand treated. We have the luck to have three doctors in the team, one of them specialized in bones (Doug's a spinal surgeon). Diagnose is clear - same as my doctor in Belgium -, inflamatory artosis, and Doug was willing to go with me to the hospital to give me an injection. After all, it's his specialization and have full confidence. Let's see how that works out.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Getting organized... again
This morning at 10 am we were expected at the warehouse to organize the sleds.
Coming outside was a quick wake up call. -25C and windy. The cold cut in our face but the warehouse is only 100m from our lodge. We were happy to get into the shelter, realizing that once we are on the ice, we won't have that anymore... First task we had to fullfill: cleaning the sledges. During transportation the cargo company put our brand new sledges full of stickers and they had to be removed. Dixie and Troy bought aceton and scrapers so the whole team put all their strenghts on the scraping. It took us from 10.30am until 1pm to finish this Titanus job. After that, Ruud and myself tried out our kitchen, meaning make the stove work in a decent time. This action went very smoothly. We got 1 hour to go for a lunch. Together with Boudewijn, Jo and Ruud, I visited the same place where we all ended yesterday. In the meantime, Wim had arrived. Coming back to the warehouse by 3 pm, the tents were erected, skis and boots tried on again and some brave ones even erected their tent outside. Within 15 minutes one of the guys nose became white of the cold. First sign... And knowing that currently we are only at 79 degrees North and at 90 it's now -39C, exceptionally cold for the time of the year!
Last repairs on the sticks and tents poles, cords attached to the sleds and other material checks were executed. After that, we went to Dixie's place to distribute the food: 25 kilo per tent (2 persons) for 10 days. The organization, traffic and excitement there looked like a real supply chain center. After that, everyone was ready to get a good diner. And that's were I'm off to right now!
Coming outside was a quick wake up call. -25C and windy. The cold cut in our face but the warehouse is only 100m from our lodge. We were happy to get into the shelter, realizing that once we are on the ice, we won't have that anymore... First task we had to fullfill: cleaning the sledges. During transportation the cargo company put our brand new sledges full of stickers and they had to be removed. Dixie and Troy bought aceton and scrapers so the whole team put all their strenghts on the scraping. It took us from 10.30am until 1pm to finish this Titanus job. After that, Ruud and myself tried out our kitchen, meaning make the stove work in a decent time. This action went very smoothly. We got 1 hour to go for a lunch. Together with Boudewijn, Jo and Ruud, I visited the same place where we all ended yesterday. In the meantime, Wim had arrived. Coming back to the warehouse by 3 pm, the tents were erected, skis and boots tried on again and some brave ones even erected their tent outside. Within 15 minutes one of the guys nose became white of the cold. First sign... And knowing that currently we are only at 79 degrees North and at 90 it's now -39C, exceptionally cold for the time of the year!
Last repairs on the sticks and tents poles, cords attached to the sleds and other material checks were executed. After that, we went to Dixie's place to distribute the food: 25 kilo per tent (2 persons) for 10 days. The organization, traffic and excitement there looked like a real supply chain center. After that, everyone was ready to get a good diner. And that's were I'm off to right now!
Monday, March 29, 2010
A relaxing day in Longyearbyen
Overslept this morning. Forgot my husbands birthday... Good way to start the journey. But these little hickups didn't have any effect on my mood. On the plane from Oslo to Longyearbyen, we met the doctor of the base station in Barneo, and other polar travellers. Nice chats, and even more better views from the plane. Approaching Spitsbergen, it was clear where the name comes from. Breathtaking views on the land, with gletsjers ending into the sea.
On the plane I also met Douglas for the first time, one of the Americans joining us. Great sense of humor, I discovered afterwards in the bar.
In Longyearbyen, Dixie, Troy and Perry, the last "unknow" and Nestor of the group, wecomed us. Great to have the team complete. Only Wim is behind, but will join tomorrow.
Temperature in Longyearbyen app. -20C, but felt really OK, even with only 1 long sleve T-Shirt and a goretex jacket. Dixie told us the temperature at the North POle is currently -39C, cold for the time of the year; the temperature is without the wind factor. After putting our bags in our lodge, we went for a walk in the small town. We ended in the bar, as expected.
Dixie and Troy picked up the last sleds, and put them in the warehouse. Tomorrow, we have a working day, reorganising the sleds, and another practice with our equipment.
Currently we are receiving a briefing from Dixie, so I better stick to the lesson.
On the plane I also met Douglas for the first time, one of the Americans joining us. Great sense of humor, I discovered afterwards in the bar.
In Longyearbyen, Dixie, Troy and Perry, the last "unknow" and Nestor of the group, wecomed us. Great to have the team complete. Only Wim is behind, but will join tomorrow.
Temperature in Longyearbyen app. -20C, but felt really OK, even with only 1 long sleve T-Shirt and a goretex jacket. Dixie told us the temperature at the North POle is currently -39C, cold for the time of the year; the temperature is without the wind factor. After putting our bags in our lodge, we went for a walk in the small town. We ended in the bar, as expected.
Dixie and Troy picked up the last sleds, and put them in the warehouse. Tomorrow, we have a working day, reorganising the sleds, and another practice with our equipment.
Currently we are receiving a briefing from Dixie, so I better stick to the lesson.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
What a day!
Bad sleep... early morning...finalizing packing (6 bags for the kids, 3 bags for Ruud and myself)... daughter exams. A bit too much honestly. For the first time, I heared Ruud saying "I'm having stress"... Just in time ready to leave for the airport. Our daughter decided not to join us, still a lot study work to do.
We were welcomed by family and friends in Zaventem. It was emotional to leave our son behind. But once we passed customs, we came into the real adventurous mood, the jacket got attention and we felt real adventurers. Flight to Oslo went smoothly, and arriving in the snow and fresh air made us already very excited.
A filmcrew of the Belgian commercial TV station VTM covered our departure. The news item was broadcasted at the 7 o'clock news today.
We were welcomed by family and friends in Zaventem. It was emotional to leave our son behind. But once we passed customs, we came into the real adventurous mood, the jacket got attention and we felt real adventurers. Flight to Oslo went smoothly, and arriving in the snow and fresh air made us already very excited.
A filmcrew of the Belgian commercial TV station VTM covered our departure. The news item was broadcasted at the 7 o'clock news today.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Our US team members in the Oklahoma News
Two Oklahoma City physicians prepare for rigorous hike to North Pole | NewsOK.com
Perry and Douglas gave an interview to the News OK.
Read the full article by clicking the link above.
And to see Perry live, talking about his walk to the North Pole: Videos | NewsOK.com - A walk to the North Pole
Perry and Douglas gave an interview to the News OK.
Read the full article by clicking the link above.
And to see Perry live, talking about his walk to the North Pole: Videos | NewsOK.com - A walk to the North Pole
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