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"Above and Below" the North Pole
12th to 26th April 2010
Hard on the heels of the success of the First Everest Skydive in October last year, plans are now in place to Skydive onto the North Pole and make a circumnavigational safari dive under the ice.
The adventure was born in the Arctic last April when Nigel and Lars Petter Ole, who is one of the few people to have dived at the North Pole, were with the Sámi herders during the reindeer migration. “It was a meeting of minds in the right location”. “Skydiver and Ice diver together in the Arctic can only lead to a joint adventure!” explains Lars Petter.
When we were in Nepal, I asked Ralph Mitchell and our Doctor Ryan Jackson, if they wanted to be part of “The Pole”. “Lets get this one finished first was the reply”. I knew that I needed people I could trust, rely upon, who were great company and good with people” and yes, they are coming to be the tandem masters and help manage the adventure. They are both qualified divers too.
As some of you already know, Ralph and Ryan are amongst the best in the world in extreme environments, as are Lars Petter and his fellow diver and Russian national, Anton who is reported to have made more ice dives than any other person. Te team also comprises Arctic guide, Inge Solheim and Jenna Viney, renowned for fabulous food in far off, frozen places. |
The adventure begins on 12 April 2010 with ice dive training in Kirkenes at Lars Petter's dive school. Once this is complete the team of 16 people fly to Spitzbergen and then onwards to Ice Station Borneo by Antonov A-74 before flying the last 100 Km by MI-17 helicopter to the Pole. After establishment on the ice,the skydive is first with the canopy’s open straight after exit for this highly charged and emotional view over the top of the arctic world. The ice dive takes place immediately after with Anton and Lars Petter amongst the undersea frozen ice sculptures of this surreal world.
The adventure is also a platform to bring awareness to our changing world and the climate changes that are taking place, no matter what the reasons may be. As in the 1950s, it is highly likely that the ice at the North Pole will have gone by 2013 and adventures like this may not be possible for several years, if at all.
For the full organisational plan, details of the crew, and the costings down load the "North Pole Above and Below" PDF. Should you wish to be considered to participate in this world first adventure, please email northpole@nigelgifford.co.uk.
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