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BACKGROUND
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I have been writing about a project for a long time without telling what’s going on. It’s a long story, but I make it short.
Lets start in 1996. Together with Torry Larsen, we crossed Greenland lengthways unsupported, from the Southern tip to the very Northern tip of Greenland. During 86 days we covered 2930 km. This was a world record in unsupport distance at that time. For us it was the REAL expedition, operating both in sea – air – land. It was a very contrasted expedition that gave lots of challenges concerning planning, preparation and execution.
In 2000 we attempted and succeeded on our unsupported Arctic Ocean crossing. Started in mid February from Cape Arcticheskey in Siberia – North Pole – Cape Discovery in Canada, 3rd of June. 1940 km was covered in 109 days. So fare none has repeated this, and so fare so well, except from Torry’s “retirement”.
But, I have something to fulfill. I have not been to Antarctica yet, which certainly is a challenge for me.
This is what’s going to happen:
Late October 2005 I will commence on an unsupported crossing of the coldest, highest and most wind-swept continent on Earth; the Antarctic. This time, I will have to do it alone. Torry has retired, and I cannot find a person who fit his boots.
The main goal is to become the first person to cross both the North and the South Pole, unsupported.
Second, the route will cross some of the widest part of the Antarctic. During 110 days,
4,600 km (2,800 miles) will be covered on skis, without re-supplies or support from the outside. It will be a world distance record, approximately 800 km longer than the previous record, and 1,700 km longer than any solo expedition.
In the Antarctic, I could pick a shorter route. But, having previously held the world ski distance record together with Torry, skiing Greenland lengthwise, I feel to have the record back.
Third, in 2005 it will be hundred years since the union between Norway and Sweden was dissolved by peaceful means. The Antarctica project will be my marking of Norway’s Centennial Anniversary 1905-2005.
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SEAL-
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