TRANSPOLAR SKITREK PROGRESS REPORT #13: April 23, 1988 Prepared by Rich Ensign, N8IWJ, AMSAT Science Education Advisor For Use With The AMSAT Teachers Guide "Exploring The High Arctic From Your Classroom" This weeks report comes to you from two locations, the "moving group" of the Transpolar Skitrek Expedition and what we believe to be the furthest south classroom following the Trek in Napier, New Zealand. Our skiers this week are marking the "high" point of their journey with a stop and celebration at the North Pole. Dignitaries will be arriving from Moscow and Ottawa along with members of the press to greet the skiers as they pass this milestone in their journey. A 24 hour DXpedition special event station is being set up on the ice to be operated by the Russian and Canadian communications support team on April 26th. Barry (4K0DX/VE3CDX) and Leo (EX0CR) will be the main operators with others, perhaps the skier hams as well, joining in. Operations will take place primarily on 20 meters at a frequency to be determined. Demonstrations of HF, VHF and satellite communications will take place for the press. As they approached the Pole, the skiers sent a number of interesting messages south that reveal something of their life on the ice. First, a message on April 17th from Maxwell Buxton, the expedition's Canadian doctor.... "We have been on the ice 45 days now and are ready to begin our final assult on the Pole. The journey has been divided into two week stages.... Every stage has had its unique problems and solutions, but as we progress I think we all feel that things are getting better. The weather has warmed from a bone chilling -48 degrees Celsius to the present balmy -25 degrees. Many of our initial injuries attributable to cold and inexperience are resolving and we are learning to live and work together more efficiently as a travelling group. For example, in our first thirteen day stage, we covered 215 km. Stage two saw 236 km passed and our recent thirteen days of sking reduced the distance by 313 km. On the map our efficiency improved. In our tents and in our minds the mood has shifted from apprehension, somber eternalization and concern with survival to optimization, conviviality and a sense of accomplishment. Almost 1000 km remain before our goal is realized, but with the Pole just over 200 km away we are feeling spunkier than at any point to date. The upcoming ceremonies at the Pole, which will bring us in direct contact with the outside world for the first time since our departure, present an exciting focus for our attention. This is the largest expedition ever to reach the Pole and the one hundred days required for the complete crossing is a long time to spend on the ice. In every respect, these startling adventures represent the tip of the iceburg. The magnitude of the project is considerable and its success and completion depends on the work of many people on both sides of the Arctic Sea. For the Canadian members of the trip now presents (an opportunity for thoughts) of home, our families and friends. For all of us we have, in fact, reaffirmed our love for them and for the homeland." Chris Holloway sent the following message April 12th.... "We have completed our first fourty days in the Arctic wilderness and are right on time to reach the top of the world. Having encountered, open water, extreme cold and shifting ice I still cannot get over the lack of Thursday donuts. Then yesterday, an American plane buzzed our camp and dropped a small package of edibles. Among them, one dozen donuts, plain and fresh, just the way I like 'em. I now have the strength for the remainder of our journey." And finally, a message from all four Canadian skiers.... "We have found peanut butter to be one of the Arctic's best travelling foods. We receive it in frozen lumps of 100 grams. The plan was originally for 50 grams per man per day but it is so popular we are increasing it to 100 grams daily. The Soviets were unfamiliar with peanut butter and, at first, somewhat suspicious, but have taken to it with vigour. Peanut butter supplies a good balance of carbohydrates and fats, supplying both quick and long term energy. It is also a tasty treat, something to look forward to during our ten hour sking day. P.S. At -40 degrees Celsius peanut butter does not stick to the roof of your mouth." Some 10 thousand miles to the south and east in Napier, New Zealand, Lorraine Stevenson and Ruth Hallam have been sharing the Transpolar Skitrek Expedition with their students, age 5 to 9. With the aid of David Lamont (ZL2AMD), the students have received the digitalker, plotted the Trek's progress, and discussed and simulated the skiers journey. Lorraine reports, "For kids who have not experienced snow or cold to any degree, their interest and understanding of the problems of ice drift, cold, hardship being faced, is remarkable. We packed a back pack with wooden blocks to see how hard it would be to carry. We practice our sking by putting (our) feet on long blocks and scooting around the room." Shayne Westerlaken, a six year old student of Lorraine's, told us in a separate letter that the pack "was very heavy. I couldn't stand up!" Meanwhile, on the Soviet Ice Island North Pole 28 not far from the Pole, Barry Garratt (4K0DX) is getting a real exposure to arctic unpredictability. This past Thursday a large lead opened up in the ice of the ice island just two meters from the front door of the radio shack. As the 40 and 80 meter antennas drifted away from the shack, co-ax had to be cut. The 40 meter antenna was salvaged and both it and a new 80 meter antenna have been erected. Communications with the skiers was not disrupted by this startling event. The airstrip was on the separated section. Barry reported Saturday that the lead was freezing over and that the situation at NP 28 was stable. A special Transpolar Skitrek Expedition Progress Report highlighting activities at the Pole will be issued on April 26th prior to the Tuesday evening North America Nets. TRANSPOLAR EXPEDITION POSITION/CONDITION REPORTS VIA NORDSKI COMM & HF APRIL 11 TO APRIL 23, 1988 RPT# PRIOR. DATE/TIME(GMT) LAT (N) LONG REMARKS ====================================================================== ======= 11APR88 12:06 87d 42.4'N 94d 55.7'E SARSAT/COSPAS 18 km progress 713 km total 259 km to Pole -30C Blizzard at Resolute with 40 knot winds and 40 meters visibility -24C ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- 12APR88 10:49 88d 02.7'N 95d 34.9'E SARSAT/COSPAS 37 km progress 750 km total 235 km to Pole -30C ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- Drop plane data 13APR88 88d 11.5'N 97d 07'E Inertial navigation 34 000 13APR88 10:42 88d 10.4'N 96d 45.2'E SARSAT/COSPAS 15 km progress 765 km total 220 km to Pole 3rd air drop today successful 970km from Cape Columbia Resolute temperature -24C ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- 35 000 14APR88 11:45 88d 11.4'N 95d 09.9'E SARSAT/COSPAS Day #2 at drop camp #3 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- 36 000 15APR88 10:35 88d 10.7'N 91d 41.2'E SARSAT/COSPAS Day #3 at drop camp #3 Pronounced west drift from Transpolar Drift Stream ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- 16APR88 10:30 88d 08.9'N 90d 44.6'E SARSAT/COSPAS NP 28 Temperature -25C Trek resumes today ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- 37 000 17APR88 11:00 88d 20.3'N 91d 28.9'E SARSAT/COSPAS 25km progress 185 km to Pole Two days from half-way point Morning temp -27C evening -32C ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- 38 000 18APR88 11:10 88d 33.9'N 91d 47.9'E SARSAT/COSPAS 27 km progress -30C ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- 39 000 19APR88 11:58 88d 45.8'N 94d 31.6'E SARSAT/COSPAS 27 km progress 140 km to N. Pole -35C Half-way to Canada today ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- 40 000 20APR88 11:52 89d 00.0'N 95d 42.8'E SARSAT/COSPAS 25 km progress -30C ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- 41 000 21APR88 11:33 89d 11.9'N 89d 20.6'E SARSAT/COSPAS 20 km progress 91 km to Pole -22C 35 km/hr wind from NE A very difficult day for the skiers At NP 28 a crack opens in the ice island and a lead separates the airstrip from the living & working quarters ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- 42 000 22APR88 12:39 89d 21.2'N 80d 26.2'E SARSAT/COSPAS 21 km progress 64 km to Pole -20C ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- 43 000 23APR88 --:-- 89d 30.9'N 87d 54.9'E SARSAT/COSPAS 18 km progress 46 km to Pole -20C Situation stable at NP 28 as lead refreezes ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- TRANSPOLAR SKITREK / PROJECT NORDSKI COMM - SKI TEAM POSITION LOG ----------------------------------------------------------------- Daily reports are made by the team to communications support stations on Sredniy Island, USSR, Russian ice station North Pole 28 and Resolute Bay, Canada via amateur radio. These reports are relayed south at 1500z in the 20m amateur radio band on 14.121mHz USB. Reports are automatically taped at W0RPK and reduced to daily information notes for continuing logs. DAY/TIM UTC LATITUDE LONGITUDE REMARKS ----------- --------- ---------- ------------------------------------------- 24Apr 11:13 89d46.4mN 107d25.7mE -25dC 24km to the pole 28km 23Apr 89d30.9mN 87d54.9mE -20dC 46km to pole ETA 25Apr 18km 22Apr 12:39 89d21.2mN 80d26.2mE -20dC 64km to pole 21km 21Apr 11:33 89d11.9mN 89d20.6mE -22dC Wind NE 43kts bad conditions 20km 20Apr 11:05 89d00.0mN 95d42.8mE -30dC Now estimating pole on 25Apr 25km 19Apr 11:58 88d45.8mN 94d31.6mE -35dC 140km to pole 27km 18Apr 11:10 88d33.9mN 91d47.9mE -30dC 27km 17Apr 11:00 88d20.3mN 91d28.9mE -32dC 185km to pole 25km 16Apr 10:30 88d08.9mN 90d44.6mE Movement due only to ice drift 15Apr 10:35 88d10.7mN 91d48.2mE Movement due only to ice drift 14Apr 11:45 88d11.4mN 95d09.9mE Movement due only to ice drift 13Apr 88d11.4mN 97d07.0mE Air drop coordinates 13Apr 10:42 88d10.4mN 96d45.2mE Start of trek before air drop 15km 12Apr 10:49 88d02.7mN 95d34.9mE -30dC 235km to pole 37km 11Apr 12:06 87d42.4mN 94d55.7mE -30dC Estimating pole April 24-26 18km 10Apr 11:37 87d32.6mN 93d29.5mE -30dC 272km to the pole everything ok 34km 09Apr 10:38 87d14.2mN 91d48.4mE 08Apr 11:55 87d00.2mN 91d03.5mE -28dC Best single day progress 37km 07Apr 10:08 86d40.6mN 92d38.6mE -28dC 600km total 369km to the pole 26km 06Apr 10:57 86d26.3mN 93d18.3mE -40dC Lots of ice everybody ok 27km 05Apr 11:01 86d12.4mN 92d07.2mE 421km to go to the pole 22km 04Apr 10:39 86d00.7mN 91d44.5mE -37dC 22km 03Apr 11:49 85d48.8mN 92d20.5mE -36dC Everybody ok 02Apr No position report 01Apr 11:12 85d23.2mN 93d40.0mE -37dC Slept in before starting 8km 31Mar No change 30Mar No change 29Mar 11:38 85d18.9mN 94d55.3mE -35dC 2nd air drop a success - stopped 24km 28Mar 10:26 85d07.1mN 95d17.4mE -38dC Open water a problem 12km 27Mar 10:48 85d00.1mN 95d31.5mE -45dC clear wind light good ice 31km 26Mar 12:15 84d43.1mN 95d50.5mE -42dC Clear wind NW 2-3mps 2days prog32.4km 25Mar No position report 24Mar 13:00 84d25.6mN 95d58.2mE -37dC wind 40km/hr snowstorm 0km 23Mar 13:00 84d28.9mN 96d12.4mE -33dC Strong head winds 20-40km/hr 15km 22Mar 13:02 84d19.0mN 97d02.9mE Everything good ice, temp, progress 28km 21Mar 13:00 84d03.5mN 97d40.4mE -39dC ice excellent few leads&hummocks 21km 20Mar 11:40 83d51.8mN 97d27.4mE -36dC wind 1-2mps good ice & spirits 26km 18Mar 13:00 83d37.9mN 97d21.7mE -31dC no wind or open water good cond 22km 17Mar 13:00 83d11.7mN 97d26.6mE -35dC SE wind 3-5meters/sec 24km 16Mar <1st air drop successful on 14MAR > 15Mar 13:00 82d58.7mN 97d28.9mE 14Mar <17Mar for R&R and experiments > 13Mar 11:16 82d52.2mN 97d19.8mE -42dC wind 3-4meters/sec 24km 12Mar No position report 25km 11Mar 11:36 82d28.8mN 97d13.0mE 10MAR 11:58 82d16.9mN 97d24.6mE -45dC 20km 09Mar 12:30 82d09.3mN 97d47.0mE -30dC 12km 08Mar No position report 20km 07Mar 12:23 81d56.6mN 97d15.1mE 17km 06Mar No significant progress - Open water - Very windy - camped early 0km 05Mar 12:44 81d35.8mN 96d52.4mE -21dC Snow wind 33meters/sec 14km 04Mar 11:13 81d32.3mN 97d 0.0mE -28dC 20km 03Mar 11:24 81d21.2mN 96d12.8mE 7km 03Mar 07:31 81d15.0mN 95d50.0mE Starting point on Cape Arktichesky