North Pole Expeditions & Mountaineering
Every year, I ask people to come with me to the North or South Poles to see the effects of climate change with their own eyes. By bringing these people with me, I hope that the benefits these people's testimony brings will far outweigh the carbon emissions caused by their travels.
I also love moutaineering and can organise an expedition on demand.
I don't think there's any way we can save the polar bears.
Will Steger
Next Polar Expedition
The Last Degree to the North Pole: A unique experience (04 April to 16 April 2012)
A place where all roads meet, a convergence of the imaginary, the North Pole is at the axis of rotation of the Earth. At this point, all longitudes coalesce, all time-lines meet, and the hours fuse together. All directions are South… This is a mystical, mythic point whose meaning outstrips the imaginations ability to grapple with it.
That was my journal entry, on the 16th of May 1994, the day when I finally reached the North Pole for the first time after a 76 days trip on the icepack with a friend.
Many have dreamt, perhaps with trepidation, of one day reaching the North Pole, but few have ever been able to realise the desire to reach this fabled place.
However, thanks to the enormous experience of the Russians in Arctic logistics, it is now possible, for a small number of hardy souls to be able to experience a unique voyage to one of the furthest reaches of our planet, at a not too exorbitant cost.
It is proposed to transport the intrepid voyagers to the 89°, or ultimate degree, via Svalbard. The first staging point will be Longyearbyen in the heart of Svalbard, from where both Amundsen and André started for their expedition.
A specially chartered plane will then transfer the party to a Russian base (Barneo) on the Arctic Ice pack, in the proximity of the 89th degree. From there the group will set out on foot to cover the remaining 110km to the North Pole. Each member of the group will be provided with a sledge, which will contain the articles necessary to sustain them for the next 7 to 9 days. The sledge will weigh in the region of 38kg.
We will set up our tents every night, on the floating ice, in the midst of the spectacular Arctic landscape: the midnight sun, the compression ridges, open water channels between perpetually moving ice floes, as air temperatures fluctuate between –20°C and –30°C. This is a universe that I love profoundly, and I will guide you through it, so that you too can partake of the glories of this icy world, and experience at first hand the secret joy of Polar exploration.
What makes this polar trek unique ?
As a seasoned Polar explorer (IPGA affiliated) having completed record-breaking Arctic and Antarctic crossings, I have had the time and the experience to be able to select the best and highest performing technical equipment to support your journey. In my work as I mountain guide (UIAGM/IFMGA) I see time and again that the failure to complete an expedition because of equipment deficiencies is extremely frequent. In order to reduce any external reasons for not achieving the goal, I have developed an equipment kit containing articles of apparel and other, tested personally by me, and which contributed to the success of my own expeditions. (see Chapter “Equipment for the journey”)
Experiencing a challenging adventure, with reassurance and confidence in one’s equipment can make all the difference to the mental state allowing you to relax and enjoy fully this absolutely amazing trek on the middle of the Arctic Ocean.
At night we will enjoy the atmosphere of a common mess tent for dinner before retiring to sleep in private individual tents.
Qualifications and training
This particular polar trek is for people who are in good shape, and who are eager to push themselves physically and mentally. Though the skiing is quite demanding, it does not require significant skill (it is very much like walking with skis on). You will need to have very good cardiovascular endurance and the ability to pull a heavy sled (between 30-40 kilos) for several hours at a time.
The polar trek will encounter very cold conditions, and living in such cold conditions 24 hours a day can be very challenging. You will have to be able to regulate your body temperature so that you do not get too cold or too hot while you are skiing.
Being rested before the departure and following a regular training and preparation during the last three months will help you to make the expedition more enjoyable and safer.
How to conduct a proper training?
A regular training will have to be conducted between 2 and 4 times a week:
- Jogging: 45min - 1h30
- Biking: 1h30 - 3h
- Active walking (if possible with up and downhill): 2h - 4h
- Swimming: 30min - 1h
The regularity and the variety of the training program are important. Even if you don’t have enough time during the week, two sessions during the WE will be sufficient. For those who practice activities such indoor biking or rowing, remind that a session has to be conducted on a daily basis and for a minimum of 20min.
Please contact us with further information if needed.
Description of the trek
Long days, changing weather conditions and difficult terrain are part of the journey. The last degree trek is an adventure in every sense of the word. Traveling across the dynamic polar pack ice requires patience and agility, not to mention a flexible attitude to deal with the many diversions that pop up over the course of each day. From open water "leads" and thin ice passage to large pressure ridges of ice, there are many obstacles on this polar trek that make reaching the North Pole all the more satisfying.
The journey begins at Longyearbyen in Svalbard, an old coal mining place well above the Arctic Circle at 78 degrees North: A place which has become a centre for outdoor adventure and polar science.
We will first review the all equipment to make sure that every single thing will be embarked in the sledge and off course make a last test of the equipment in the field around Longyearbyen. Safety procedures and all aspects of the trek will also be reviewed.
From Longyearbyen we'll make our way to approximately 89 degrees North via a charter flight and possibly an additional helicopter lift. Depending on conditions and the time of our arrival we'll either set up camp or strap on our skis and sleds and head off toward our goal, the geographic North Pole.
Skiing 7-10 hours a day over the dynamic pack ice, we'll encounter many challenges and breathtaking scenery. If conditions are good, our route will take us across large pans of flat ice that present few obstacles. When conditions are less than ideal, we'll have to maneuver around or across open water "leads" and over pressure ridges that can range from 1-5 meters in height
To ensure that you have the best possible experience, we'll help you with all aspects of your pre-expedition preparations, from choosing the right clothing to learning how to pack your sled.
Additional requirements
A medical certificate will be required from all participants, attesting to the fact that they are physically fit enough to undertake the proposed journey. Evidence of travel insurance to cover medical risks should also be presented. The organizers cannot take any responsibility for any harm to participants arising from their lack of physical condition prior to undertaking the proposed expedition.
Every participant must have rescue travel insurance (like Europe-Assistance or equivalent). A copy of the contract has to be showed prior the departure of the expedition. Most of the travel insurance only covers your travel until Longyearbyen.
Under request, we can provide a personal rescue insurance for the duration of the trip (please ask for information)
Despite the fact that we will guide this trip to the best of our ability, it is important to emphasize that this expedition cannot be compared with normal organized travel, and that special conditions apply. It is also important to make clear that accident and injuries can occur and that all parties join at their own risk, and participate in the full knowledge of these facts. All participants must sign a waiver stating that they participate on this trip at their own risk.
As Air travel from Oslo to Longyearbyen could be a bottleneck, you should book your ticket well in advance and make sure that your ticket might be changed in case of weather delay.
Your guide
- Alain Hubert
- From mountain guide certification to extensive experience of polar environments and expedition, Alain has it all.
On demand Expeditions
We can organise polar and mountaineering expeditions on demand. As a certifed mountain guide, I have the qualifications, background and authorisation to organise treks at your convenience. Just get in touch and we'll discuss.
