Tracking a Svalbardian's Sailing Expedition

For two weeks at the start of September, it was a very exciting time to be part of the Frozen Five expedition. During this time, our good friend and supporter Ulli Neumann, together with his friend Tobias, sailed around Svalbard's largest fjord. Their journey was special in many respects, covering a distance of more than 200 nautical miles aboard the 14-foot dinghy "Alizée" throughout the Ice Fjord, locally known as Isfjorden.

During this trip, Ulli reported seeing on polar bear on his chosen lunch spot and thus had to keep hungry for a bit longer. Avoiding polar bears is the number one priority in the High Arctic. For the Frozen Five team this expedition was doubly interesting. Not only did Ulli and Tobias inspire us further by doing this trip, but they also agreed to test the tracer we have been provided by Guardian Mobility to monitor our progress next week.

Even though the Svalbard archipelago lies well past the usual coverage of the GlobalStar network, the tracer worked perfectly, as seen by the waypoints Ulli transmitted from their campsites. For us, this was a huge relief since many school projects that will follow our progress next year will be able to follow our progress in near-realtime.

As Ulli stays on Svalbard, studying the beautiful glacier Bogerbreen, he agreed to continue testing the unit on more of his fieldwork and private trips, to give us an idea of battery requirements in the cold Arctic climate. But right now, he deserves a good rest, after such an exciting expedition!

Thanks to Ulli for testing the unit, and to Guardian Mobility for allowing us to borrow it!

Kim

An update on our project: Frozen Five - Svalbard Scientific Skiing Expedition

For two months in 2007, an expedition of 5 young European adventurers will attempt to cross the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, located about 1000 km to the south of the North Pole. Kim, Hella, Lucas, Jirka and Mats, having already spent a year living in the heart of the Arctic as part of their studies, know what it takes to survive in the harsh climate of the high Arctic.

This expedition will start in March 2007 in Longyearbyen, one of only two sizeable settlements on this island of about 3000 inhabitants. First, we will begin skiing south across the ice-covered landscape, passing dangerous crevasses on the way to Sorkapp, the southernmost point of the island. At this stage, some 2-3 weeks into the trip, we will change direction and head north, along the polar bear-infested East Coast, to Verlegenhuken, an isolated promontory past 80°N. The final stage will be a race against the snowmelt, as we try to reach the abandoned mining town of Pyramiden and subsequently Longyearbyen. The distance covered will exceed 1000 km, with heavily loaded sledges and the Arctic weather slowing us down.

Apart from being a major sporting achievement, this expedition has both a human and a scientific side. The ability of people to exercise in such cold environments will be addressed through a medical collaboration with some of the world's leading researchers. Equipment testing for various companies will improve our knowledge of polar travel and the specialist equipment it entails. Various presentations are given by the multinational team members in their home towns to educate the public on the issues facing the Arctic. Even this remote wilderness is struggling to equilibrate to the changing climatic conditions of our world.

Hella, Kim, Lucas, Mats & Jirka