In May 2005, the One World Expedition will embark on a four-month unsupported journey across the Arctic Ocean paddling and pulling their kayak through broken sea ice. Seasoned polar explorers Lonnie Dupre and Eric Larsen will travel from Henrietta Island, Siberia to the geographic North Pole, then on to Cape Morris Jessup, the northernmost point of Greenland.
The expedition hopes to highlight the growing crisis of global warming by completing the first ever summer crossing of the Arctic Ocean. "I just want to give something back to the Arctic," said One World Expedition Leader Lonnie Dupre. "After 13,500 miles and 17 years of Arctic travel, it seemed fitting."
Two years ago, Dupre completed the first ever circumnavigation of Greenland, a 6,500- mile adventure using dog sleds in winter and kayaks in summer. The expedition has been featured in such publications as Readers Digest, Sports Illustrated, Australian Geographic, Outside and National Geographic Online among others. His book, Greenland Expedition - Where Ice is Born, is based on that expedition as well as the film Polar Grail produced by Creative Touch Films in London for National Geographic that will air overseas this fall.
Using a travel strategy that Dupre perfected while circumnavigating Greenland, Dupre and Larsen will pull and paddle specially modified kayaks over 1,400 miles of shifting ice and open ocean. Cold water immersion and hypothermia will be a constant threat as the team faces dangers like thin ice, pressure ridges, open leads, pockets of deep snow and debilitating fog.
So difficult is this crossing that Dupre comments, "There have been a few expeditions that have crossed the Arctic Ocean, but never before has anyone crossed only in the summer."
Dr. Paul Mayewski from the University of Maine and the director of the Climate Change Institute (CCI) will guide the expedition's science program. The team will collect snow samples across the entire ocean for analysis.
"Observing and documenting the changes in the Arctic is a big story that we definitely want to bring to the public's attention," said team member Eric Larsen.
Prijon Kayaks, Kokatat Water Sports Wear, Granite Gear and Midwest Mountaineering have already signed on in sponsorship roles.