Ten years ago, Eric spent over a month north of Great Slave Lake dog sledding across the tundra. Seems like just yesterday. Of course the large collar, royal blue fleeces aren't quite as fashionable as they once were. And the hair? Its pre-pony tail length with a four-week grease factor. Hey, you can't blame the guy - it was the '90s. The Internet barely even existed. From those humble beginnings, Eric has gone on to dogsled over 10,000 miles in locales ranging from Michigan to Montana to Hudson Bay.
And what was Lonnie doing in the '90s? Pretty much the same thing he's doing today: exploring. It was in the middle of the last decade that Lonnie conceived, planned and embarked his Greenland Expediton, the first circumnavigation of Greenland by dog sled and kayak. It was during this adventure that Lonnie first imagined a trip across the Arctic Ocean might be possible.
While Lonnie and Eric are both experienced dog mushers, the One World Expedition will find their roles a bit juxtaposed. This time, they are the dogs - pulling and paddling their fully laden slacs for 1,240 miles.
With temperatures hovering at a balmy -10 degrees F, the One World Team spent a few hours playing in Lake Superior. The cool dip was a welcome break (if you can believe that) from the strenuous business of fundraising. Appearing in Salt Lake City at the Outdoor Retailer and at several talks in Minneapolis, Minn. Lonnie and Eric have been more like road warriors than polar explorers. Mad Max look out!The numbers don't lie.
With only 93 days until Lonnie and Eric's official departure in May, life at OWE headquarters has taken a decidedly different tone. While fundraising is still a priority, there is a palpable trend towards arranging logistics and finalizing gear selections. The trip to Salt Lake City and the Outdoor Retailer was crucial toward filling the minor gaps. Time now is spent tinkering: a heat exchanger here, a new boot gator design there. The list is check and rechecked.
The team is pleased to have ASNES Skis a sponsor. Special thanks go to Gary Neptune of Neptune Mountaineering who made it all happen. Also thanks to Bill Rogers who stopped in Grand Marais to snap a few pictures (like the one above).
The One World Team would like to introduce Joel Sheagren. He has been shooting commercially for advertising for 25 years. His photography draws on the pulse of the human spirit. He uses the sense of place, environment and natural lighting to give an epic feeling to an assignment, whether it's commercial or personal work. Achieving photography awards since 1991, his photography is currently being honored in the American Photography 2004, published in America 24/7's book called Minnesota 24/7 and republished in the second printing of Selina Oppenhiem's Portfolios That Sell.
Joel shoots traditional film and digitally for stills and has recently moved into professional digital video as well. His Minneapolis studio offers production services with national and international experience. He has spent many years in the outdoors, traveling in the Arctic Circle, leading trips for four years through the Quetico and Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. He is a certified scuba diver and experienced dog musher. Sheagren lives in Minneapolis with his wife and business partner Kim, two children and three sled dogs. The One World Team is proud to have Joel on board.
Russian Victor Boyarsky will be handling all OWE logistics and permits in Russia. Anything that happens in the Russian sector of the expedition (from Moscow to the start at Cape Arctichesky to the North Pole) is Victor's domain. This means all travel, cargo and helicopter logistics for placement of the expedition team at the Cape as well as search and rescue in case of emergency. While the expedition intends to complete an unsupported crossing, Victor will aid in coordination of rescue flights from Russian ice breakers if needed. Lonnie and Eric will depart on May 11. Their expected arrival at the Pole: July 11. The team then hopes to finish at Ward Hunt Island, Canada, in mid-August. No problem! Of course without Victor's help, getting to the starting point would be even more difficult.
What do you get when you cross two polar explorers, below zero temperatures and Lake Superior? If they're wearing specially modified Kokatat dry suits, then you get two completely dry and warm explorers.
Lonnie and Eric had a chance to test and train in their new dry suits. Recently shipped from California, the dry suits will be worn by the team when ice conditions are more broken and unstable as well as larger ocean crossings. Today, Lake Superior. Tomorrow, more Lake Superior, but in four more months... the Arctic Ocean!
Lonnie and Eric recently made an appearance at North House Folk School's Winterer's Gathering in Grand Marais, Minn. Lonnie instructed a full day course on what he knows best - winter camping! It was a great chance for folks to learn some of Lonnie's secrets and see One World's gear like Brunton's solar roll first hand. Eric presented a short seminar on winter training tips and capped off the show with a tire pulling contest. Just wait - people everywhere will be pulling tires. It's soon to be latest fitness craze.
Of special interest was the traction kiting demonstration which Eric attended. He was able to learn more about using kites to pull heavy loads while on the expedition. With a steady wind, the team could use these large kites (or ski sails) to increase daily mileage totals. Using kites on the expedition is no easy task. Making good time only happens when the ice is smooth and there are few pressure ridges and open leads. In fact, in big winds kites can be very dangerous. The team will be testing several kites and ski sails over the next few months.
On a Midwest tour that stretched from Grand Marais to Chicago, Lonnie and Eric hit the road last week to spread the One World word. Pati Holman and Paul Mozina hosted a fundraising evening at Lapham Peak State Park located just outside of Milwaukee, Wis. Who knew that southeastern Wisconsin was an explorers' mecca? Of special note were the posters (shown at left with Pati and Paul) Great Big Pictures, Inc. made specifically for the event.Also included in Lonnie and Eric's whirlwind tour was a stop at Chicago's esteemed Adventurers Club. With honorary members like Edmund Hillary, Theodore Roosevelt and Ernest Shackleton, the One World team was definitely in good company.The list of guests was equally impressive. Lonnie and Eric met adventurers who had traveled the world. Zbigniew Bzdak (pictured right) was the photographer for the first full descent of the Amazon River. Andrew Pietowski (pictured left) led a National Geographic expedition to find the true source of the Amazon in 2000.
Lonnie and Eric were very grateful for the opportunity to speak in front of such an esteemed group. A special thanks goes out to Scott MacPherson who helped organize the event.
