COVID-19 Update     |     Fireside Chat Series
  • Contact
  • News
logo
  • logo
  • Trips
    • Close
      • ALASKA
      • Alaska Ski & Sail
      • Heli-Accessed Ski Touring Expedition
      • ALPINE MAVENS
      • Alpine Mavens – Alaska Ski & Sail
      • Gulmarg Kashmir Ski Touring
      • Lyngen Alps Ski & Sail
      • NORWAY
      • Svalbard Fat Bike
      • Svalbard Ski & Sail
      • ANTARCTICA
      • Antarctic Adventure Cruise 2023
      • Antarctic Adventure Cruise 2024
      • Antarctica Aboard the Australis
      • Antarctica Fat Bike
      • GREENLAND
      • Greenland Ski Tour
      • NEW ZEALAND
      • New Zealand Hut Tour
      • ICELAND
      • Iceland Ski & Sail
      • EXPEDITION TERRA
      • Amazon River SUP & Yoga Cruise
      • Sri Lanka Surf & Yoga Expedition
      • West Sumatra Surf & Yoga
      • IDAHO
      • Backcountry Skiing Yurt Trip
      • INDIA
      • Gulmarg Kashmir Ski
      • SOUTH POLE
      • South Pole Full Expedition
      • South Pole Last Degree
      • South Pole Fly In
      • South Pole Fly In Luxury
      • MOROCCO
      • Skiing the Atlas Mountains
      • SOUTH AMERICA
      • Andes Volcano Ski Tour
      • Bariloche Backcountry Skiing
      • Cordillera Blanca Ski Expedition Peru
      • NORTH POLE
      • North Pole Express
      • North Pole Last Degree
    • Close
  • Courses
    • Close
    • First AID
    • Wilderness First Responder (WFR) Course
    • Wilderness First Aid (WFA) & WFR Refresher
    • Antarctic Wilderness Medicine CME Course
    • POLAR EXPLORATION
    • Polar Expedition Training Course
    • SKI MOUNTAINEERING
    • Ski Mountaineering Training on Mt. Shasta
    • CME
    • Continuous Medical Education Course
    • Close
  • Resources
  • About
    • Close
    • Iceaxe Guides
    • Customer Testimonials
    • Close
  • Partners

BREAKING NEWS: Entire North Pole Season Cancelled for the first time ever due to Political and weather reasons at Barneo Ice Camp

April 15, 2019

For the first time in 18 years, the North Pole expedition season at Barneo ice camp has been canceled. That means that hundreds of participants including 10 last Degree teams, will have to forfeit their opportunity of reaching the Top of the World. After almost two weeks of exasperating delays, the season has been canceled due to a lengthy political crisis, as well as weather and inability to have the proper aircraft to transport the andenturers safety to Barneo Ice Station.

The Russian operated ice camp, Barneo Ice Station, established in 2002 on an ice floe somewhere north of latitude 89 degrees north. The ice camp typically opens early April and only remains open for up to three weeks. Towards the end of April, the sea ice cover is usually no longer stable enough to support North Pole expedition – a 111-kilometer ‘last degree’ which usually take about 7-10 days.

For the first time in 18 years, the North Pole expedition season at Barneo ice camp has been canceled.

“It has been an emotional roller coaster with ups and downs over the last two weeks,” states International Polar Guide and Founder of Ice Axe Expeditions, Douglas Stoup “but in the end, the cancellation of the North Pole season means that my 18 seasons to the North Pole will elude me. I am confident my clients will want to come back next year, but overall, it feels like it has been a waste of time after jumping between six different hotels during high season.”

Victor Serov, Barneo Basecamp Manager, states, “This season was very difficult for us for different reasons. An Antonov-74 was chartered from the Ukraine by a Swiss company and actually flew here [Longyearbyen] but they didn’t want to do the work, according to the contract.” Ken Borek Air, a Basler DC-3 arrived on April 10 to potentially take expeditioners to the North Pole, but decided that they need to carry too much fuel. The DC-3 could only carry 1,100 kgs per flight to Barneo station, which made the transportation of North Pole participants unrealistic.

Expedition leaders and North Pole hopefuls at Friday’s meeting voiced a range of frustration and concerns of this ‘fiasco’ after weeks of unreliable updates. Bengt Egil Rotmo “It is actually very difficult when you have five clients that you have to give you professional advice and to inform them in a professional manner is hard when you have so many ups and downs.”

At 11 am on Friday, a specific flight schedule was presented to all guides and teams. The season cancellation announcement came shortly after 12:30 pm adding insult to injury after numerous supposedly promising updates. The North Pole marathon was also canceled depriving Barneo ice camp of 64 additional participants.

For the first time in 18 years, the North Pole expedition season at Barneo ice camp has been canceled.

Polar Explorer Eric Larson “to have this season get canceled creates a situation where essentially everyone loses. The participants lose who were looking forward to this incredible experience. The outfitters and guides lose because it’s our business. The logistics companies lose because they have already pumped money and resources into setting up the base.”

Barneo has been experiencing increasingly hectic seasons in recent years due to political and climate issues. This year’s ‘opening’ on April 1, proved to be a joke after several delays due to issues completing the ice runway after it collapsed into political turmoil due to Russian officials banning Ukrainian pilots and crew from flying expedition participants to the camp.

“But overall, my clients have been extremely supportive. I hope to fulfill their dreams because I know that if I can help get them to the North Pole, it will be something they will think about the rest of their lives.” – Bengt

For the first time in 18 years, the North Pole expedition season at Barneo ice camp has been canceled.

“I hope the sea ice will allow us to return next year because I have seen a significant change in multi-year ice thickness over the last 20 years of North Pole expeditions,” stated Doug Stoup. Polar Camp officials state that operations will commence next year with plans to give priority to those who had booked expeditions this year. Stoup continued, “Barring any political, environmental or economic reasons, I hope to return to the North Pole next season.”

Other News

  • COVID-19 Update
  • Avalanche Gear Rentals – Winter 2021-2022
  • At Polar Velocity: Doug Stoup | Good People Interview # 20
  • The Purpose and Planning Behind a Polar Expedition

Reserve Today!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

CONTACT US

Ice Axe Expeditions 12242 Business Park Drive, Suite 4 Truckee, CA 96161

+1 530 582 1246 – Phone
+1 530 582 1279 – Fax
questions@iceaxe.tv

logo

RESOURCES

  • Polar Logistics
  • IAATO Visitor Guidelines
  • Antarctic Reader
  • Client Downloads and Resources
  • Videos
Member: One Percent for the Planet

SUBSCRIBE FOR UPDATES

  • All Rights Reserved
  • Copyright © 2023
  • Ice Axe Expeditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Checkmate Productions Web Design