So Near Yet So Far
By Mark Beaumont
We are now within 50 miles of our goal - the 1996 location of the North Magnetic Pole. Yet we can't get any closer for a number of days, as the ice and forecasted high winds keep us pinned to our spot on Thor Island.
Sea ice off the north shore of the Grinnell Peninsula
This week, our fourth since leaving Resolute, has been by far the toughest yet. The temperatures have dropped and we have been covering big miles, rowing through days and nights to get as far north as possible whilst the weather allows.
Decision making, reading the daily ice and weather reports
After nearly a week stuck on the north shore of the Grinnell Peninsula everyone was getting frustrated with the lack of progress and confined living conditions. We had become stranded by the dense sea fog and fast moving ice floes being swept along by coastal currents. As soon as a brief clear window appeared we made the three hour dash to Table Island. No sooner had we got there than the fog descended again and we were unable to move for another two days. However, it turned out to be an amazing place to be stranded - completely different from the rocky lunar scape we had seen so far, this small island was sandy and thriving with coarse scrubby plants. Musk Ox and polar bear prints were spotted near our camp and an abundance of bird life, far greater than we had seen before. It was at Table Island that we had our first snow - the first time I have seen snow in August in the Northern Hemisphere!
Filming on Table Island
When the forecasted clear skies and a south easterly wind came around we decided to make a bold move and attempt a long crossing to Ellef Ringnes Island, via Cornwall Island. I will pick up what happened in my next blog, as my fingers are getting too cold to keep typing! However, as you can see, Billy Gammon, a keen golfer from the county of Cornwall was delighted to reach the island by the same name. The rest of the crew were also delighted/relieved, because Billy had committed not to change any clothes until we made landfall on Cornwall! Not a pleasant pledge for us all to endure!
Billy playing golf on Cornwall Island
