Row to the Pole: Exploring through melting sea ice

By Richard Webster
The idea of rowing on open water to one of the notorious hearts of the Arctic – the 1996 Magnetic North Pole – begs belief. The Row to the Pole expedition is a foremost a pioneering world first Arctic Ocean adventure. This said, the situation that makes this expedition possible is the changing Arctic landscape. No one has ever tried to row to a pole, because it was just not thought to be possible! Only with 30 years of receding summer sea ice has this epic expedition been made plausible. Famous polar explorers, like Shackleton and Scott, never had this opportunity.

(c) Richard Webster
Embarking on an ocean rowing journey in the Arctic, one is sure to encounter sea ice. Ice conditions have affected day to day rowing progress and been the highest safety concern to the expedition.
Check out this video on the who’s who of ice. Find out how we used knowledge of sea ice to safely navigate these Arctic waters:
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLqUz4GdAZ8[/youtube]
EXCLUSIVE update, August 22:
The guys are on Thor Island waiting for wind to blow from the East and moving the ice away from the final headland. There are just 50 miles left.
Mark, one of the crew, has heard some good news. He has become a dad. His wife, Helene, gave birth a hour ago to they first son.  There is a hot discussion to name him Thor, after the island we are currently on.