The Last Degree
The first thing you notice is the biting cold...
You’ve been dropped off at 89° north / 120° east to ski The Last Degree. Once the helicopter that delivered you here from the temporary Russian polar base takes off, there’s no turning back. But you’re in good hands with our long-time friend and polar explorer Marc Cornelissen, who will lead you and your small team safely across the 112 kilometers of frozen sea to the Geographic North Pole.
Marc has reached both the Geographic North Pole and South Pole under his own power and has been leading North Pole and arctic research expeditions for more than a decade. You have trained with him for the past six months and have the benefit of his experience. You are well-prepared for the week-long ski trek across the frozen sea ice and know that activities that are so easy in warmer temperatures are challenging in -30°C.
Along the way to the Geographic North Pole you encounter open water, called leads, and cross pressure ridges while pulling your sledge loaded with everything you need to survive. But you’re here for more than just the thrill of skiing to the North Pole — you’re also contributing to science by taking measurements that will be used by scientists to verify the thickness of the ice. Are you up to the challenge?