April 27, Grand Marais, Minn.
We leave Minnesota in a few hours. Good bye spring and summer, hello ice. However, the latest satellite image from our departure point off the north coast of Ellesemere Island shows spring coming to the Arctic as well.
Last year, we abandoned our attempt to make the first summer crossing of the Arctic Ocean due to unfavorable ice conditions and ocean currents. But as you know, we are again teaming up with Greenpeace and returning to thin ice with a new mission: to protect what could become global warming's first victim-the polar bear.
Greenpeace is at the forefront of taking action to rescue the polar bear from extinction, including a groundbreaking lawsuit filed with other environmental groups to list the species under the Endangered Species Act due to global warming. If successful, it would be the first time a mammal has been listed as endangered and given protections as a result of global warming.
Greenpeace climate experts have teamed up with scientists from the National Snow and Ice Data Center, who have equipped the explorers with tools to document melt water pools, snow depth and ice thickness. Since no one has undertaken an expedition like this in the Arctic in summer, the explorers will provide scientists with measurements that have never been taken before. Scientists are calling the data that the explorers will gather the "Holy Grail" of sea ice studies.
The Arctic Ocean and the polar bear have a dramatic story to tell. Hopefully our journey on the Arctic Ocean will help better illustrate the need for immediate action.
April 21, Grand Marais, Minn.
One week. That's it. However, amazingly enough, things are relatively calm. Our new Jytte hats arrived as did our Rudy Project Sunglasses (they're very cool by the way). Perhaps our tranquility is due in part to Greenpeace's technology genius Mike Johnson's arrival in Grand Marais.
Mike arrived two days ago replete with computers, gadgets, cables, flashing LEDs, a multi-tool, antennas and more. He has been working diligently on updating our equipment needs to make sure we are able to update our web site daily, send pod casts and travel safely. Mike also managed to acquire a ruggedized palm pilot that we are able to use in conjunction with our satellite phone. This new unit is solid state and charges easily off of a new solar panel which Greenpeace has also acquired on our behalf.
Having Mike around is like owning our own personal technology genius. If we have any question or concern, all we need to do is call Mike and an answer is soon to follow.
Other news from Grand Marais is fairly normal. With our equipment in Resolute, we are making a few last minute changes to our personal items. For example, we found a new dictionary to take as reading material. Also, the quest to find the perfect play list for our mp3 players continues. Lonnie's top choices: ZZ Top and Ray Charles. Eric prefers U2 and Jack Johnson with a little Modest Mouse for good measure.
Earth Day. Now more than ever, we need to embrace the philosophy of this day. The world is a fragile place and our job is not to conquer, but to protect. As explorers, we have seen the dramatic effects of Global Warming first hand. This year, our goal is to save the polar bear and the only way to do that is to stop Global Warming. The technology exists today to reduce carbon emissions and reduce the threat of Global Warming. What can you do? Go to www.greenpeaceusa.org to learn more.
April 11, Grand Marais, Minn.
The important news first and then the details. Thanks to all who attended our going away party. Our canoes, food and gear are on their way to Resolute Bay, Nunavut, and lastly, we are going to be on the Tonight Show on Thursday the 13th.
With a little over two weeks until our departure from Minnesota, we've managed to pack all our gear and ship it to Resolute Bay, Nunavut. Last night we loaded the One World Expedition truck with 120 days of food, two canoes, snow shoes, paddles, skis and much more. It is a huge relief to have this task completed and we can now focus on the last few logistical details. At the risk of jinxing ourselves, we may even have a day to relax before we leave.
Our Polar Meltdown Party was a huge success. The music, food, friends and dancing were all fantastic. We appreciate all the support - both morally and financially. Thanks to all who attended as well as those not present who donated time, money, resources or other gifts.
Now, on to this one last piece of business, the Tonight Show! We didn't really believe it ourselves at first. We decided to check out the Tonight Show web site and there were were on the actual guest list. We will be chatting up Polar Bears, shifting sea ice and more with Jay Leno. We are really looking forward to being able to further our expedition goals on such a popular venue. Be sure to tune in on Thursday night!
April 2, Grand Marais, Minn.
It's been over three and a half years since the One World Expedition crystallized from grain to full fledged expedition. In that time, we've faced many challenges, and despite outward appearances, the least of which involve our actual 2005 attempt. Traveling on the ice is relatively easy compared to the mountain of planning and preparing required to organize a major expedition. As with last year, it will be a big relief to finally step on the ice.
With nearly everything set for our departure in Russia, we were dealt a devastating blow. Our Russian logistics coordinator informed us of a 50% rate increase that essentially eliminated, even worse, helicopter rescue should a worst-case scenario happen.
That was one week ago. one week! Luckily, crisis management is often what expeditions are all about. We agonized over logistics and routes for several days until finally realizing the best option. Yet, with the decision made, there is still more work until all the arrangements are final.
The One World Expedition will now be departing from Ward Hunt Island in northern Canada on May 1st. We will travel to the North Pole and return to land at Cape Morris Jessup, Greenland, a total distance of 921 statute miles (as the crow flies). This route has never been attempted before in the summertime and it is therefore reasonable to calculate that the total distance will be 25% more due to deviation around obstacles. This will bring our actual route miles closer to 1,150 miles.
Although our route has changed, the goals of the expedition are still the same. Our priority is to use the expedition as a tool to highlight the crisis of global warming and the consequent plight of the polar bear. Whether we start in Siberia or Canada, the effects of global warming are everywhere.
March 30, Grand Marais, Minn.
One World Expedition headquarters received some much needed reinforcements last week. Straight from California, boxes and boxes. and boxes of Clif bars. (If you look close enough, you can even spot the polar explorer in the picture.) With our departure looming only a few weeks away, we were pleased to have this valuable shipment finally arrive.
You see, Clif Bars are no ordinary energy bar. For starters, they taste great (not an easy feat for an energy bar). Plus, they contain several organic ingredients. We also received some Builder's bars (with extra protein), MOJO bars and Shot Bloks. These bars are a vital part of our daily caloric intake, providing a healthy mix of protein, fat and carbohydrates.
At the risk of sounding too much like a commercial, the company is pretty cool, too. Climate cool, that is. Clif Bar is working to reduce their carbon footprint to neutralize carbon emissions. Through their web site www.clifbar.com you can purchase a Cool Tag, a renewable wind energy credit that will keep an estimated 300 pounds of CO2 out of the air. Clif Bar is also working on offsetting CO2 emissions during some of their events like the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, among others.
Other news of Grand Marais is more nuts and bolts. The gunwales arrived from Esquif in Quebec and we are making final adjustments to the canoe sleds, working on a bit of PR to promote our upcoming Polar Melt Down Bash, giving a newspaper interview here and there, and of course doing the ever-exciting daily tire pull.
March 19, Grand Marais, Minn.
It may be a bit of a stretch, but sorting out all our equipment, clothing and gear is more nostalgic journey than expedition preparation. Most of our supplies were stored at the end of last summer, and now opening up the different bags and containers for the first time in so many months, we have been time traveling between past and future, then back to the present.
Even our small tent conjures images of safety and comfort. After all, the mighty Hilleberg held up even when a polar bear jumped on the vestibule. While these images flood forward at various and usually unexpected moments, we are still most concerned with the future. In one month, we will leave Minnesota and drive to New York. In case the previous sentence was laced with too much subtlety, that's ONE MONTH.
One month to finalize logistics, one month to work on the web site, one month to get visas, one month to fundraise, one month to fly to Boulder, Colorado and the Snow and Ice Data Center, one month to test our electronic gear, one month.
Last week, we flew to Washington D.C. to meet with the folks at Greenpeace and discuss the upcoming plans and preparations. The trip was full of visiting with old friends and planning for the future. Working with Greenpeace has been an honor and joy for us and we are pleased to be finalizing our partnership for 2006.
Our tent, friends at Greenpeace, the Arctic Ocean, Grand Marais, our lives are juxtaposed with so many contrary images, yet amazingly, they all point to one place - the Arctic Ocean - the place we will call home for four months.
Look for lots of exciting news in the upcoming month.
March 8, Grand Marais, Minn
With only six weeks until our Minnesota departure date, we have few idle moments. First and foremost, we are still fundraising to fulfill our remaining budget requirements. There are several opportunities to help. Join us in Greenland, come to our going away party, attend the Duluth, Minn. Aquarium fundraiser event or contribute directly or online.
We are delighted that Greenpeace will again act as the expedition's environmental education and communications partner. Our collaboration last year resulted in millions of people receiving the global warming message. And tens of thousands took action through Greenpeace's Project Thin Ice to advocate for renewable energy, U.S. involvement in the Kyoto Protocol, and more. We are confident that this year's partnership will be as successful in putting a human face on global warming.
Lonnie is also working with Greenpeace, the Center for Biological Diversity, and the Natural Resources Defense Council in an effort to protect the polar bear and its habitat, and to list the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act. Polar bears, the Arctic's keystone species, are threatened by extinction due to airborne toxins as well as loss of sea ice. Scientists estimate that by 2050 the Arctic Ocean could be ice-free during summer if global warming continues unchecked. This outcome would eliminate the bear's habitat and ability to catch seals.
We're asking you today for your continued financial support of the OWE. Although Greenpeace is a major sponsor, we are short of what we need to meet the expedition budget. We leave for the edge of the Arctic Ocean via Moscow in just about six weeks. Major expenses we are facing include transport to the ocean's edge, rental of an emergency transmitter beacon, and charter flights from Canada or Iceland to pick the team up at the finish at Cape Morris Jessup, Greenland.
We hope you will make a gift to this year's expedition so we can begin the journey to encourage everyone, especially U.S. citizens, to take action against global warming. Thanks again for your interest in the One World Expedition.
We will be presenting at the Great Lakes Aquarium in Duluth, Minn. on April 6th. Our Polar Meltdown going away party in Lutsen, Minn. is on April 8th. Finally, we are selling seats on the plane that will pick us up in Greenland. That's right, you could actually visit Greenland and see what two explorers will look like after nearly four months on the Arctic Ocean. For more information, please contact us at 218.387.3177 or email oneworld@boreal.org.
On more practical note, we are busy with all the other things required for our expedition. In fact, tomorrow we will be packing food for 120 days. This year, we'll be carrying over 800 Clif bars alone!
Again, thanks to everyone for all your support in the past and we hope to hear from you or see you soon.
