DAY 7: NORTHWARD DRIFT AT LAST...
Sat, 28 Jan 2006 // 16:36

Quote of the Day:
'Don't forget to live while you can! Life is very short so each minute is important!'

MIKE DATA LOG
Latest Position: N 81°30'28.1' E 101°28'3.1' (28.1.06)
Temperature: -30° (and dropping)
Conditions: snow with cold SW wind

DAY 7: MIKE & BORGE SLEDDING ON THIN ICE...
After drifting south for nearly a week, Mike and Borge are finally making progress in the northward drift but walking cautiously on the thin ice...

'We've had the best day since we started! We've done 17 km in the right direction!

The weather is still very bad and the temperatures have dropped drastically to around -30°C. It has snowed all day long with cold winds coming from the south. Later in the afternoon the wind turned to the SW and brought even more snow. The snow rapidly covered all the leads and turned the icecap into a potential minefield. In the dark we cannot distinguish the differences in the colour of the icecap so have to test it with our ski poles by tapping the ice in front of us before placing our feet. Borge narrowly escaped disaster when the thin ice started to give way under his weight and the weight of his sled.

We swam 3 times over open leads today while the ice was moving and quickly closing up. We are still on very thin ice and hope to make rapid progress to more stable ice soon.

Enjoy your weekend and don't forget to live while you can! Life is very short so each minute is important!'

DAY 10: BEWARE OF THE BEARS...
Tue, 31 Jan 2006 // 15:17

NEW WEBSITE FEATURES: IMAGE GALLERY and watch the Mike Horn PROMO VIDEO

Quote of the Day:
'If the bear sets off the gun I hope we will wake up before it is too late...'

MIKE DATA LOG
Latest position: N81°50'6.3' E103°53'6.2' (31.1.06)
Distance to go: 907km

Since starting the expedition 10 days ago, Mike & Borge have been pushing hard but have only been able to progress 97km in the right direction (north). This is due to the drifting icepack which has been taking them south for the majority of the trip so far. Hopefully the icecap will change direction soon...

EMAIL FROM MIKE:
We have had very strong winds and cold temperature today with broken ice and arctic water. One of the photos I have sent shows the polar bear trip wire we set up, it is connected to a gun, so if the bear sets off the gun I hope we will wake up before it is too late. We're still drifting to the south east at 0.8 km/h. When will our luck turn...
Best from a cold tent
Mike

Click here to view photos of the polar bear warning device and Mike and Borge skiing over the broken ice

Please note: this polar bear warning device is intended to deter polar bears if they come prowling around their camp, the trigger system is set up in such a way to avoid any harm.

Nelson Kruschandl:  We're with you all the way.

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