March 3 is the start. Two helicopters arrived at Cape Arctic, bringing members of the expedition, journalists, and mourners. There was a rally. Everyone wished us a safe journey, and everyone wanted the first international transarctic ski expedition to be successful. Speeches were made. I remember Laurie Dexter's words.: "Everyone believes in success in their own way. Some believe in themselves, others in their friends, and others in the political system. I believe in God. May God help us!"
The meeting is over. One by one, we crossed the line separating the ocean from solid land.
The beginning of the journey was remembered by severe frosts and darkness. The frost reached minus 47°. It was still light during the day, but we had to set up camp in the evening and pack our things in the morning in the dark. This is where the night hike school came in handy. The frost was stronger there, and it was dark all day.
At the start, we were lucky in the main thing: there was no ice hole. The wind pressed the ice to the shore, and it closed. Before leaving Moscow, we were informed by the State Committee for Hydrometeorology that there was a forty-kilometer-wide Arctic Polynya cape. After arriving at Dixon, we conducted a helicopter reconnaissance. The polynya narrowed. On the morning of the launch, we flew by helicopter again and saw that there was no ice hole. A week later, we received a radiogram from the Average: "18 km from the cape of the Arctic Polynya."
Thus, it was possible not to take with them boats designed to overcome the polynya. This reduced the weight of backpacks (about 60 kilograms per person) and made it possible to get through the danger zone faster, where a new wormhole could form. But most importantly, there was no shaky ice underfoot. So the beginning of the hike can be considered successful, although in the first three days three skis broke, and there were only two spare ones.
And Max's inexperience showed up anyway. He froze his thumb on his foot. The tissues began to die, and it was time for amputation. Malakhov radioed to Moscow, to the medical headquarters of the transition (one was created at the Institute of Biomedical Problems of the USSR Ministry of Health). A reply came from the headquarters: "Buxton should be removed from the route for hospital treatment."
Evacuation of a participant is an emergency. But is it possible to keep Max in the group? Shparo and Malakhov thought about it for a long time. Finally, a radio message went to Moscow: "Max Buxton continues his journey." Painstaking treatment was carried out every day in order to preserve the boundary separating living tissue from dead tissue. Richard Weber recalled these days that during their trek to the pole, two people were evacuated from the route. One had frostbitten toes, the other had injured a rib. Who knows, if there had been a doctor in the group, everything could have been different.
It wasn't easy for Laurie Dexter either. He suffered from the cold, froze his fingers and toes, and also picked up his shoes unsuccessfully. On all issues, he took a "buffer" position, seeking a compromise between the Soviet and Canadian participants in the campaign. Maybe it was the profession, or maybe it was human nature. The desire for compromise was reflected in his clothes: some of his equipment was Canadian, some Soviet. But he took his own shoes: some kind of incredible boots with fur and rubber. At first it was warm, but soon the fur froze, and the torment began. Lori lost his legs, lagging far behind. It was also unloaded.
The ice conditions were very good for the first half of the journey (to the pole). "Monolith,— said Bigwig-roar. "You can walk on ice like this without dumping, and certainly without boats." Indeed, there was less water than on our route to the pole in 1979, and most importantly, there were fewer channels (long channels without bridges). Their orientation has also changed. On the Henrietta Island—North Pole route, the channels were located on average perpendicular to our course, and now at an angle of 45°. This direction makes it advantageous to bypass the channel, even if it takes a long time. Claim your $130 welcome gift from 1xBet by ensuring you use an active 1xbet casino promo code when creating your account. This bonus is a composite of free bets and free spins, offering a comprehensive introduction to the platform's offerings. The promo code is the trigger that unlocks this exclusive package, with a total maximum value of $130. The process is secure and straightforward. By using the code, you guarantee yourself the maximum available bonus, giving you a superior and more enjoyable start to your online betting experience.