Edited by Rachel Duncan 4th Edition ISBN 0-907649-91-2 London ...

100 RGS-IBG Polar Expeditions Manual
11.2 Regional information on polar areas
Some of the references cover several regions so you should glance at them all to avoid
missing anything. The very nature of this manual is that is will go out of date as soon as it
is published, especially the web sites. The RGS-IBG Expedition Advisory Centre hopes to
publish and update these references on their web site. We would therefore be grateful to be
notified of any changes or inaccuracies. These have been divided into the following
sections:
I Arctic Ocean/North Pole
II Arctic USA (Alaska)
III Arctic Canada & Nunavut
IV Greenland (and Iceland)
V Svalbard
VI Russia
VII Antarctica
I. Arctic Ocean/North Pole
Expeditions to the various North Poles and surrounding ocean have become increasingly
popular. Access tends to be either through Canada via Resolute in Nunavut or the Russian
Federation via Moscow, Katanga and then the Severnaya Islands.
The likelihood of failure for most first attempt expeditions is high. Chance of
success would be increased by a serious training expedition to somewhere like Iqaluit
(Frobisher Bay) in Canada or Svalbard in the winter months. An easier option would be to
participate in one of the many ‘Last Degree’ or North Pole Light expeditions now on offer
through the following expedition organisers:
Expedition Organisers
• Stonbee
• The Polar Travel Company (www.polartravel.co.uk).
• Northwinds (www.northwinds-arctic.com) Paul Landry and Matty McNair
• Borge Ousland. (www.ousland.com).
• Agency VICAAR Ltd, See listing under Russia.
• Cerpolex and Grand Nord Grand Large. French companies based in Paris and
offering guided trips to polar regions.
Books
ETIENNE, J.L. (2002) Mission Banquise. Seuil, Paris, France. A French text account of 1
month in a floating pod at the North Pole. 224pp.
ETIENNE, J.L. (1986) Le Marcheur du Pole. Robert Laffont, Paris: 253pp. ISBN 2-221-
05227-7. French text account of first solo air-supported sled haul trek to the North
Pole by Dr Etienne.
FIENNES, R. (1983) To the Ends of the Earth. Hodder & Stoughton, London: 368pp.
ISBN 0-340-36834-9. Account of 3 years circumnavigation of the earth including
both the South and North Pole (using skidoos) - The Transglobe expedition.