North Pole Challenge

Take part in this once in a lifetime trip to the North Pole. In 1909 Robert Peary, his partner Matthew Henson, and four Inuit reached the North Pole. They were recognised as the first, although there is still controversy surrounding this claim, as some believe the men missed the North Pole by several miles. Following many further failed expeditions, by sled, balloon, airship and ship, the Pole was next witnessed in 1926, but it was 1948 before anyone actually stood there. 

Travelling across the dynamic polar ice requires patience and agility, not to mention a flexible attitude to deal with the many obstacles that pop up over the course of each day and which ultimately make reaching the North Pole all the more satisfying.  

You will ski and sledge for around 8 hours per day, in the process encountering many challenges and breathtaking scenery. If conditions are good, your route will take you across large pans of flat ice that present few obstacles. When conditions are less favourable, however, you will have to manoeuvre around open water leads and over pressure ridges that can range from 1-5 meters in height. 

On your expedition you will really have to ‘muck in’.  You will participate in all aspects of the expedition including setting up camp and cooking.

This is all part of the challenge as you reach your goal - the geographic North Pole. Only a select few make it each year. This is your chance to add your name to the short list of adventurers who have made the ultimate journey to the top of the world! 

Click here to read one of our clients experience of the North Pole Challenge.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The following information is intended to better inform you of the environment in which the challenge will take place, and also some of the extra measures that we have put in place to manage any unforeseen changes that need to be made to the itinerary. The information also gives you an indication of the costs to you in the unlikely event of an extended delay or change to your North Pole expedition.

Please read the following information in full and ask any questions that you may have. If you are not 100% prepared to accept the nature of the challenge environment and the points clearly detailed below, please do not book on to the challenge.

• The North Pole trek takes place in one of the last true wildernesses in the World.
• Temperatures can be as low as -45 degrees centigrade 
• The essential Barneo Ice Camp and runway is only set up for one month of the year (April) and this is when we have the very narrow window of opportunity to trek/ski to the Geographic North Pole.
• The whole challenge takes place on the frozen ice on top of the Arctic Ocean. The ocean ice pack is moving and the ice can and does crack causing open leads and pressure ridges.
• A moving ice pack has implications for journey times. If it moves in your favour (towards the North pole), you will have to walk less distance to reach the Pole. If it moves against you, you can go to sleep and wake up to find yourself with a few hours walk just to get back to where you were the night before.
• The Barneo base camp is set up by first airlifting a bulldozer on to the ice, creating a runway, landing a plane with the equipment and building a base camp for the duration of the one month North Pole season. Issues with poor weather, mainly visibility for the helicopter to make the initial drop, or for the plane to land at any point, can delay flights on to the ice to start the challenge. Even once the base camp is set up, the runway can crack and have to be repaired or relocated.  

All of the above means that even before the ski challenge itself begins, there can be major delays and changes to the programme. Once on the ice, your progress will depend on the weather conditions, the physical state of the group, whether the ice is flat or broken up, whether you encounter any leads (breaks in the ice) or encounter polar bears. There are so many variables that you absolutely must be prepared for any changes and delays that might occur. Weather can also delay the flight home, or your return from the ice cap may have been delayed.

Please do note that our standard itinerary does already include contingency days and this Important Note is to inform you of what we have planned and what you should expect in the unlikely event that your North Pole expedition encounters delays and changes. You will be asked to sign a separate waiver that acknowledges the above info. Click here to review the disclaimer.

Want to find out more? Listen to this informative webinar presentation recorded recently by Operations Manager Josh