North2
A world record breaking expedition to the North Pole
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30Mar2010 For a Biscuit
For a number of reasons, some outside my control and some entirely down to me, I’ve decided to postpone restarting this expedition until the spring of 2011 .
Without wishing to sound too much like a recorded pre-flight safety announcement, the thing I’m most concerned about when I’m planning, organising and carrying out expeditions is my own safety. Convincing sponsors, the media, the audiences I speak to, my girlfriend and my mum that solo expeditions without support over several weeks in one of the least hospitable places on the planet aren’t inherently reckless has at times been difficult. And while I suspect I have a healthier appetite than most for challenge, solitude, hardship and risk, outright danger is something I’ll go out of my way to steer clear of.
Gale-force winds and a blizzard warning in Resolute this weekend have meant grounded planes and long delays to flights; if I were to try again this year, I’d now be starting in early April. To my mind, the combination of unseasonably balmy temperatures (-8 C. in Resolute on Saturday and a scarcely-believable -4 at the Catlin Arctic Survey’s Ice Base) along with a full moon (and the biggest tides; never good news when you’re walking over the sea), high winds and a lot of thin first-year ice off the coast of Cape Discovery spells conditions that will not just be difficult, but irresponsible to take on. And even were I to make it through the first degree or two unscathed, I’m not sure I’d be on time for the sub-36-day schedule I’m aiming for.
The best way to stack the odds in my favour is to pack up, head home, regroup and come back stronger and wiser next year. There’s one brief time window each year to start a geographic North Pole expedition on foot. My fast and light strategy already means starting late in that window (fractionally warmer temperatures later in the spring mean it takes less fuel to melt snow for drinking water, and I can get away with a lighter sleeping bag and gear - I had a custom-made Primaloft vest this year but no down jacket). It’s an excruciating exercise in margins and tolerances. Even a 100 metre sprinter’s time is affected by wind speed, air pressure and temperature, and covering 765,988 metres of sea ice at the pace I have in mind is only going to happen by travelling when at least some of these variables look promising. Now the optimum window has passed, even though my heart wants to man up and give it a crack when the chips are down -to risk it for a biscuit as Andy would say- by head knows that I’m far, far better off coming back next year.
So that’s the plan. We’re heading back to the UK this week, and my aim is to document a lot of the preparation that happens over the next eleven-and-a-bit months. I’m profoundly grateful for the support I’ve had from Land Rover, Bremont, Mountain Equipment and Sunspel, and if anyone makes a non-leaky fuel bottle they think could handle being in a tumble dryer at -40 degrees C. for about five weeks, I’d love to hear from you.
About this journal
This journal is coming to you from the high Arctic, where Ben Saunders is attempting to set a new world speed record from Ward Hunt Island to the Geographic North Pole. The current record was set in 2005 by a guided team using dog sleds and numerous re-supplies in a time of 36 days 22 hours. Ben’s expedition will be solo and unsupported and on foot. Read more about the expedition and Ben
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46 comments
Tough call Ben, very tough, but made with your vast knowledge of all the variables. Well done. Heck, if it was easy everyone would be doing it! Makes for a better story when you do crack it, which I am sure you will.
sir, you are not only in the best position to make such a determination, but also the one with the most at stake…
my interest in your effort has been in your firsthand experience with the current conditions there…
your comments regarding temp, ice and tide are very intriguing…
I applaud you, and your decision, and wish you well in your future…
Ben, so sorry to hear that you’re heading home. I still believe you’ll be ‘third time lucky’!
“The road to success may be steep to climb, and it puts to the proof the energies of him who would reach the summit.” - Samuel Smiles (1859)
I’m off to Morocco for the MdS tomorrow, hopefully my hot desert will be more forgiving than your cold one.
Nick
Hi Ben
Wow, I’m gutted so I can just imagine how you must be feeling!
It must have been a very tough decision - but wise!
The most impresive things for me is the sensibility, perserverence and patience it will take for you to complete such a tough adventure.
Well done. Look forward to next year but until then…what’s next??!
Elina
I cannot imagine the courage it took to make that decision. Sometimes not going forward is far harder than going forward.
Will continue to follow you and am looking forward to your future expeditions.
So sorry to hear of you problems, but don’t have any regrets about your decision. You’ve made it clear that you have made the right decision this time, subject to all the conditions. All the best for the future.
Really sorry to hear that you have postponed your inevitable success to 2010. I can’t imagine how tough it must have been, and in many ways more courageous to step down from the challenge this year.
Nemo Facilis Esset Dixit.
well played master ben.
for i’ve been following your progress.
stay positive brother.
my family and i have been keeping you in our thoughts prayers.
live well good sire.
now its back to the potting shed for tea and biscuits!!!
Better a live donkey than a dead lion….
Tough decision to have to make, but whichever way you decided to go, it’s the right one.
Seems mother nature just wasn’t on your side this year.
To 2011!
A tough decision but well made….next year will be round soon enough.
Think it was Michelle Shocked who sang “the secret of a long life is knowing when it’s time to go”
All the best ....
It’s a tough nut to crack but you’ll have your shot at it next year with a bigger nut cracking thingymajig.
Respect.
Stand and be recognised!!!
It’s a tough break, but your reasoning is certainly sound. This experience makes for a better chance of success when the time is right, plus you got to hang out in the ice for a bit ;)
Safe travels & all the best
Although it must have been hard to bow out for this round, obviously the factors working against you made the decision quite clear. An intelligent choice. Glad you are safe. Onwards…....
Hats off for making the right decision - it’s not worth playing dice with your life, at the end of the day. All the best for 2011!
Not an easy call to make I’m sure, but likely a very good one. There’s always next year!
Ben,
The longer I am trapped here in Resolute the more vindicated your tough call becomes.
The husky dogs lie outside in the snow, hard as nails, as the blizzard continues into its 4th day (you would still be stuck here).
And the French divers up at the pole continue to find great leads for diving in (read: terrible leads for you!)
Let’s go for a Mirch Masala in May and plan big,
Al
Hi Ben
Well done so far, I have to take my hat off to you for trying, still the right decision though.
Regroup and aim again. Hope to see you soon, we’ve had good practice weather here this year.
regards Paul & Jane
Have been following your latest adventure and really felt for you when I read your disasterous news. Having been there in the past with you through these difficult decisions I know how tough it is to balance your desire to suceed with safety. I believe you have made the right decision even though it is a tough one. Here’s to success next year
So sorry to hear the news, and cant imagine how difficult a decision that must have been. The greatest achievements are often reached only through the toughest of adversities, and many of the great explorers have been defined by their strength and ability to deal with set-backs and yet find a way forward into the unknown. It’s never easy to be the first! Ellison made 10,000 mistakes until he invented the lightbulb, so you’ve some ways to go yet… best wishes and we’ll have a few drams in the local and put the world to rights. Ol
Hide the ammo time!
Thanks everyone. I’ve had an overwhelming amount of support, and some moving emails and texts from a handful of people that used to be my childhood heroes.
I’m in Ottawa today and will be home on Friday. Amusingly I’m still several kilos overweight, so I’m looking forward to getting my teeth back into some serious training (probably in disguise until the belly has gone) and I have a couple of decent challenges in mind for the next few months…
Discretion is better than disaster…the ice will still be there next season…make sure that you are also!
It takes guts to make a decision like this after all the planning, promotion, etc. Well done. Everyone respects it. And if they don’t, they’re a douche.
Very sad to hear about the postponement Ben but certainly sounds like a well thought-out and prudent decision. What a whirlwind few weeks you must have had!
Looking forward to cheering you on next year.
Tim.
Ben,
My respect for your mind and spirit has grown yet again.
Thank you for being.
All my best always,
Anton
I can only imagine how you must be feeling at the moment Ben. I’m sorry the attempt was halted again so frustratingly. When you do eventually get to stand on the geographic North pole your success is going to be SO SWEET!
I look forward to following your next attempt in 2011 mate!
All the best
Simon
Sorry to hear about the delay Ben - very tough and frustrating but you will nail it next time. I’ll look out for you around Richmond Park!
Hey Ben,
Sorry to hear you are coming home so soon.
Safe return to you and the lovely Krystal
Allie
Wise Man - we will be looking for this next year.
Ben,
A fantastic expedition that is testing you and your patience. I am in awe of people like you and the inspiration you provide to others to push the limits.
Never underestimate the impact your solo attempt makes on others and your tenacity I am certain will be rewarded as you attempt this for the third time next year. Silver linings come to mind…
Ben Ben Ben what happened! with the combination of a new baby, lack of sleep, me being away working etc i ‘ve missed the drama of the past week… i have just checked up to see how you are doing… Man what a gutter! So sorry to hear what’s happened, if only the gear was as unbreakable as you are. When you’ve got yourself back to blighty, a pint down the sloaney pony sounds like a good idea to me. All the best fella.
Hey Ben,
so sorry to hear of this setback…as Adam said- you are tougher than your own kit, i recon it needs to be BSA (Ben Saunders approved) ....not BSA (British standard approved) gear :)
Pick yourself up dust yourself off…and all that…..
Third time Lucky-2011.
Good luck in 2011. I love following your training and adventures. Chris
Tough luck, Ben. Fingers crossed for next year.
Tough decision Ben - but the right one. Roll on 2011.
Ben I´ve just literally heard of your situation and the very difficult decision you have had to make on Edd Staffords blog. I´m gutted for you I really am.
I´m currently following Ed´s progress myself (literally, i´m in the Peruvian rainforest, travelling the source of the Amazon to the Sea. But by boat though so nothing really like Eds gigantic effort at all!) And we thought we had it tough when we sunk our dugout in some pretty hairy water a week back, losing 30% of our kit. So I truly am with you on this one. I have no words of stirring encouragement or inspiration, only an enormous amount of praise for evaluating your situaution so well and making the tough decision. Its men like you that made me want to get in to this game. Live to fight another day then and one day, hopefully i´ll meet you in some God forsaken inhospitable enviroment and be able to shake your hand. Andrew
Ben. Really tough call. You had all the facts at your fingertips. Can´t have been easy.
Still musing joint plans for years to come…
Ed x
Ben
if everyone played it safe & had a job - what a boring world it would be! we need inspiration like this to liven up the world.
Good on you & gear up for next year!
Paul
Hi, Ben we were following you with my students in Spain. We just wish you good luck for next spring 2011.
Juanjo
Sorry for the late entry, I have been out of the for a few weeks.
I was expecting to finally catch up with your incredible journey this time around and found that while still incredible, it came to a rather unfortunate end - or more importantly, delay.
I am sorry for you poor luck, I can’t wait for the spring. You are always an inspiration.
Hey Ben, I just stumbled over your blog. The whole thing is very exciting. Please keep more pictures coming.
Tough decision… but I am sure it is a wise one! I admire your determination… Good luck for 2011! Looking forward for more inspirational ‘talks’ somewhere in London…
Sorry to hear about the bad conditions. But good call. You can always try again. This is a great site btw!
In the words of the great Ed Viesturs “getting to the top is optional, getting back down is mandatory”. I applaud your brave decision, which must have been all the tougher knowing the eyes of sponsors and followers were upon you. Wishing you the best of luck in 2011, I’m sure success will taste all the sweeter for doing the right thing.
Live to fight another day.