You recently scored major sponsorship for your 2004 solo trek to the North Pole. What now lies between you and your ultimate goal?
Though gaining my key sponsor (World Wide Learn, a directory of online educational resources) has enabled the expedition to happen, there's still much to do, like getting other corporate sponsors on board to help with the total cost of the expedition. I'm busy preparing and ordering equipment, training, and working on the media and public relations side of things, too. Not to mention the logistics, which are a nightmare (I'll take nine different flights in getting to the Pole and back).
How much does an expedition like this cost?
My total budget is around $150,000, which is probably one of the cheapest solo, unsupported expeditions to the North Pole in modern times.
What are you doing to prepare for your journey, and does your regimen differ from other pre-expedition preparation? How long have you been in training?
I have a relatively interesting training program, one that I have been working on since April 2003: I swim up to one mile underwater each day (in 50- and 100-yard increments), with the goal of conditioning my body to the effects of lactic acid, which reduces muscle effectiveness and strength; I've been dragging around a 150-pound truck tire to simulate dragging a sled, which should weigh 325 pounds all told, across frozen ice; I also train with weights, Nautilus, and by climbing and bicycling. Another important factor is gaining weight and body fat, which I'll need to survive—I'll probably loose around 40 pounds while on this expedition, from a starting weight of around 205 pounds.
Not your average trek, what specialized gear will you be lugging?
There are many items that are particular to an expedition to the Arctic. First off is my sled, which the Norwegians call a "pulka"; it's basically a high-sided sled, handmade from carbon fiber and Kevlar. My boots, ski poles, and sunblock are also made specially for the trip. The sunscreen is made by Dermatone, which differs from your Banana Boat variety of creams because it doesn't contain water—water will freeze the skin, you don't want that.... Other equipment is just "off the shelf," and can be used just about anywhere.
I'll have with me, too, a satellite phone that will allow me to talk with the outside world 24/7. The software for my iPAQ is designed for explorers by Human Edge Tech (www.humanedgetech.com), and by connecting to my satellite phone, I'll be able to update my Web site right from the ice, send and receive e-mails, and generate short audio and video clips.
When it comes to home comforts, is there room for small luxuries?
I won't really be taking any home comforts. Going on an expedition of this magnitude means compromise and sacrifice. I'd like to be able to take a shower every day, or even every week, but won't be able to.
I will bring some music on Compact Flash cards, a razor (but no shaving cream), very good hot chocolate mix (which is more or less essential), a high-definition video camcorder, and I'll likely be the first solo-unsupported expedition to bring more than one change of underwear!
What's the plan for your typical day?
A typical day: Wake up at a reasonable time, look around in my sleeping bag for my bottle of hot chocolate, eat breakfast (either made the night before or that morning), take any notes and perhaps check my e-mail via the sat phone, upload my GPS coordinates, get out of my warm sleeping bag, get dressed into the same clothes I'll be wearing for around 60 days, do some simple stretches, prepare to exit the tent, pack up the sled, stretch some more, put on the skis and dragging harness... then start marching, for anything between eight to 12 hours a day.
As I come to pressure ridges (large blocks of ice pushed up by colliding glaciers, or "pans"), I'll need to seek out an easy route through them or climb over them, all the while dragging my sled behind. When I reach a large expanse of open water (called a "lead"), I'll either look for a quick way around, or don my drysuit for a dip in the Arctic Ocean. The suit won't actually insulate me, but will keep me dry as I swim, probably twice a day on average.
I'll take breaks for water and hot liquid foods every hour or so. Keeping hydrated is essential to warding off frostbite and hypothermia. After I've done enough mileage for the day I'll make camp. Because I'll have stopped moving at that point, I'll need to put on a down jacket and pants to stave off the bitter cold. My tent is going to be stored partially assembled on the uppermost portion of the sled, so setting up should be relatively quick. The next priority is food, so I'll set up the stove and go collect fresh snow or old ice to melt into water. After dinner and the cooking is done, I'll bring my sleeping gear into the tent.
Getting into my sleeping bag won't be like hopping into bed, as the bag will be between minus 30 and minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit. So to warm it up, I'll need to "run" inside my sleeping bag for about 15 minutes. For company in the bag, I'll have my iPAQ, GPS, satellite phone, water bottles, hot foods for the next day, and a pee bottle. Yes, a pee bottle, because it'll be too cold to risk any exposed flesh outside, what with frostbite and hypothermia an immediate concern. (Beginning temps will be around minus 40 to minus 60 degrees, and the average during the expedition will be minus 30.) During the day I'll also be using the bottle, though I'll try wait as much as possible until I'm in the tent at night—it's just much safer that way!
At the end of each day, once I'm warmed and snug in my bag, I'll connect to the outside world and dispatch my daily updates and coordinates. After all that, I'll try get to sleep and prepare to do it all again the next day. Another day at the office...
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