North Pole Odyssey
Follow the Paths of History's Polar Explorers to the Geographic North Pole
Duration: 10 days/ 9 nights
Our 2010/11 North Pole Odyssey generally follows the routes of history’s famous polar explorers, such as Dr. Frederick Cook who claimed to be the first to Pole in 1908 and Commander Robert E. Peary who claimed to be the first in 1909. Our journey carries us north via the Magnetic North Pole, Eureka and Nansen Sounds, and Ellesmere Island’s Cape Columbia. Our return south will incorporate Etah, Greenland, where Peary collected his Inuit support teams. A seasoned polar escort will lead the Odyssey.
The Odyssey begins at the scheduled arrival into Resolute, and ends at the scheduled departure time of the southbound flight from Resolute. To access Resolute, it is expected that most trip participants will route through the Ottawa International Airport.
Day 1
- Fly to Canada in preparation for the onward journey.
- Overnight in Ottawa or Edmonton and have chance to adjust time zones.
Day 2
- Fly to Yellowknife and then Resolute Bay. This will be the end of jet service in the north. Following check-in at the hotel, you will be free to spend the remainder of the evening getting acquainted and exploring the community.
Day 3
-
Leave after breakfast via chartered turbo-prop Twin Otter for the Eureka Weather Station. Eureka is located on the Fosheim Peninsula, on the west coast of Ellesmere Island. En route, we will fly over the islands of the Arctic Archipelago and the region of the historic Magnetic North Pole. As we approach Eureka, we will pass over Eureka Sound, which Dr. Frederick Cook followed on his trek North in 1908.
-
We will land at Eureka, which lies on the 80th parallel (it bisects the runway). At Eureka, there are often icebergs frozen into the sea-ice to explore, and Arctic wolves, fox, and hare are often seen at close range. You will be free to tour the weather station, as well as witness evening and morning weather balloon releases.
Day 4
- We will head for the Pole today, weather permitting. From Eureka, we will essentially fly Commander Robert E. Peary’s claimed northbound route, which skirted Lake Hazen and Cape Columbia/Ward Hunt Island. We will land on the polar ice cap at about 87° North latitude where we will top off our fuel at our manned fuel cache, previously placed by either a Twin Otter or a Hawker 748. After fueling, we are off to stand on top of the world!
- The length of our stay at the Pole will depend on the comfort level, determined by the air temperature and the wind chill. The average stay is 45 minutes. On our return to Eureka, we will fly the reverse of Dr. Frederick Cook's claimed route North on the 95th meridian. Though the Otter normally returns to Eureka, if weather deteriorates, Grise Fiord or Resolute will be the alternatives.
Day 5
-
Fly to Qaanaaq, Greenland, where we will spend one night. Qaanaaq is located on the northwest coast of Greenland, about 65 miles north of the U.S. Air Base at Thule. Upon reaching the western-most point of Greenland, we will make a low pass over Etah where Robert Peary gathered his Inuit team and sled dogs on his journey that "claimed" the Geographic North Pole. We are typically greeted in Qaanaaq (historically Thule) by an enthusiastic local contingent, particularly children, some of which are likely descendants of Commander Peary and his companion, Matthew Hensen, as well as their Inuit expedition support teams. Qaanaa q provides an opportunity to further investigate the history of Polar explorers, as well as to enjoy the outstanding Danish influence in the architecture and the unique beauties of Greenland's iceberg coast and ice cap.
-
After lunch, there will be dog sled trips with Inuit guides across the sea ice among the icebergs. Some of the bergs are gigantic, but all are intriguing with surrealistic shapes that offer photographers the opportunity of a lifetime. Winter and spring provide the only safe times to get close to large icebergs.
Day 6
- In the morning you will be free to explore the community of Qaanaaq. After lunch, we continue on to Grise Fiord (on Ellesmere Island's south coast). The setting will overwhelm you. It is one of the most beautiful in the Canadian Arctic. This hamlet rests on a narrow beach at the foot of an almost sheer 2,000-foot cliff marking the entrance to the Fiord.
- In the afternoon, we will travel by snowmobile across the sea ice to an old village site to see ancient stone polar bear and fox traps.
- The evening will conclude with an igloo-building demonstration.
Day 7
- Depart after a leisurely breakfast for the return trip to Resolute. En route, weather and sea ice conditions permitting, a landing will be made either on the beach or on the sea ice at Beechy Island. This area is famous as the wintering site of the ill-fated 1845-1846 expedition of Sir John Franklin in his quest for the Northwest Passage. After examination of the gravesite and the remains of Franklin's winter quarters on the island, we will continue to Resolute.
- Upon arrival in Resolute, we will transfer to the hotel, dine, and relax for the evening.
Day 8
- You will be free to sleep in, relax, or venture out-of-doors to explore the community of Resolute and enjoy the ice-bound High Arctic scene.
- Conditions permitting, there will be an excursion to an ancient Thule culture tent ring site.
Day 9
- You will be free to sleep in, relax, or venture out-of-doors to explore the community of Resolute and enjoy the ice-bound High Arctic scene on final day.
- The flight to Iqaluit/Ottawa will depart mid-afternoon. Night in Ottawa to allow for any overstay in the arctic should weather conditions have demanded it
Day 10
- Flight back to the UK
Price £17,495pp
* Price is inclusive, per person, double occupancy, and based on 7 participants. Single supplements are not normally available in the Arctic; however, single participants are not required to pay a surcharge. Price is subject to change as conditioned by such variables as the number of participants, fuel costs, the monetary exchange rate, and a surcharge of $350 (USD) to partially cover the cost of additional nights that may be spent at the Eureka Weather Station in excess of the two nights provided for in this itinerary. (In the 27 years that we have made this geographic North Pole flight, there have been five instances where one additional night was required.) The additional cost is necessary due to the extremely high costs associated with such remote accommodations. In order to achieve the Pole, if it is necessary to land at or take off from Qaanaaq when the airport is not open, an additional airport fee of $1,200 USD will be split between the participants. The alternative to these charges is to arbitrarily increase the cost of the basic trip to provide for such potential contingencies. The price reflects the rebate of all the seven percent Goods and Services Tax (GST) that are permissible.
Price £17,495pp
