The Route

The Geographic North Pole can be reached from Canada or Siberia. Despite being the colder and longer of the two we are adopting the Siberian approach due to relative lesser expense and ease of logistics that this route offers. This approach crucially also has the advantage of more evacuation options should the expedition have to end prematurely, an important factor considering the added difficulties facing some of the trips participants.

The team aims to be dropped in at a location around 85° to 86° N which is approx 240nm-300nm (300nm being 555km or 345miles) from the top of the world. This gives us 25 days to cover a max distance 12nm a day – a tough but realistic endeavour which will require symbyotic team work between all members of the expedition to ensure success.

• 23rd March 2011

Arrival in Longyearbyen, Svalbard for acclimatisation

• 29th March 2011

An Antanov- 74 (AN-74) aircraft will take the team to Barneo*. The journey to 85/86° N will then be made using a Russian MI-8 Helicopter

• 20-25 days later (Approx 25th/25th/26th April 2011)

Arrival at North Pole!

Returning flight back to Longyearbyen and then back home no later than 26th April 2011.

* Barneo is a Russian run floating station that operates during the month of April in the vicinity of the GNP. It is established by a parachute drop of fuel and tractors onto the ice from an Illyushin-76 with a ground crew coming in via MI-8 helicopters (fuel stashes are airdropped between the coast and the bases location for these to reach this point). Once an ice runway is established, equipment and people can be flown in on AN-74’s. We aim to be on one of these first flights in.