The most northerly ? in the world…
I arrived at an extraordinarily large aircraft hangar at Spitsbergen airport this morning along with other skiers heading out later this week. It was a hive of activity, teams had formed and relationships were beginning to be built. Sledges were being packed and rations allocated. Quite what KAWKA MUHYMKA, BEKOH, or PYKOHT is I don’t know, there are some blueberries on the packaging of one portion and another looks like a pack of bacon but I just don’t know. I will have to remember that old adage, if you a hungry, you will eat it….My guide, Victor, is Russian (notice the theme emerging here) and does not speak much English – although to be fair, my Russian is not that good either! However, I am relived to be spending the time on the ice with Luke and Ivan who are both Belgians but speak perfect English. Ivan was trained in Siberia and Greenland whilst Luke has just come back from a South Pole Expedition. I think I’m in good company. Most of the day was spent preparing sledges, checking food and making sure clothing was packed for the North Pole expedition although we did get a chance in that time honoured fashion to do some male bonding over a few beers in Svalbar, the coolest place in Spitsbergen. I still haven’t seen Prince Harry yet in what must be the smallest town in the world but I did see Ben Fogle in a coffee shop this afternoon. He was passing the time of day with a couple of people I met last night at the briefing in the SAS Polar Hotel and seems to be a great chap. He is someone who understands the pressures and rewards that only a north or south pole can offer. His ‘Pole to Pole’ BBC documentary shows in vivid colour, how tough the polar environment can be. If it can break someone as determined as James Cracknell (Ben’s skiing companion), it must be respected. Its good to see him out here. It is a small group of us, less than 30 people, who will get to the pole in 2011 (including guides who go time and time again) and to put it into context, over 300 people ascent Mount Everest each year so it is still a real achievement. Last night, I met Victor Byorsky who is a legend in the polar fraternity as well as someone else who is well respected in his own right, Doug Stoop. I ended the day with a shopping spree; energy drinks, another flask and a brush – who said it’s not exciting this far north – and am now heading out for a welcome meal at Huset, the most northerly ‘restaurant’ in the world. Just as well I got some money out of the most northerly ATM in the world (do you think they are over playing the geography a bit?). As they say in Russian….Nyet rest for the wicked…
