Our 1/2 Degree ski expedition is perfect for people who like the idea of participating in a North Pole expedition, but don't have the time, or desire to embark in a full last degree expedition. This expedition incorporates all the challenges and fun of the longer expeditions, in a fraction of the time. More...

Expedition Dates

2011 Tentative dates: April 6-14, 2011

2012 Tentative dates: April 6-14, 2012

Expedition Pricing

Download Application

Choose your expedition...	Price if paid in full before Dec. 1, 2010	Price if paid after Dec. 1, 2010
1/2 Degree "Standard"	€21,800	€22,800
1/2 Degree "Complete"	€24,800	€25,800

•1/2 Degree "Standard" - Includes all group equipment, sled system, ski system, sleeping system, boot system & team anorak
•1/2 Degree "Complete" - Includes all of the above plus our 5 day Polar Shakedown Training, accommodations, dinners and breakfasts in Longyearbyen

"All-inclusive" packages available that include your full kit, hotels, in-town meals and more... Contact us for details.

Daily Itinerary

Day 1:	Arrive at Longyearbyen, transfer to hotel, evening welcome reception & dinner. Review of clothing and equipment.
Day 2:	Final equipment review, warm-up ski in Spitsbergen. Last chance to get goodies and/or clothing or equipment in town!
Day 3:	Charter flight to 89 degrees north. Once at the ice station we will have time to make final preparations. We may spend the night at the ice station, or we may head out directly for the North Pole.
Day 4:	Depending on the ice conditions and the location of the ice camp we will fly to within 20-30 miles from the Pole where we'll start skiing to the North Pole. The shorter duration of this expedition means that sleds are very light and relatively easy to pull! We'll spend this night camping on the pack ice in expedition tents and polar-worthy sleeping bags.
Day 5:	Continuing our trek north towards the Pole, we'll navigate over pressure ridges and around open water leads. Arriving at the Pole we'll have a grand celebration! Celebratory toasts, calls home and plenty of photos will be a part of the party. We'll either get picked up by helicopter and transported back to Barneo for the night, or we may spend the night camping near the Pole.
Day 6:	After our return to the ice station, we'll board the return flight to Longyearbyen, where hot showers, and a final celebration await us at our hotel.
Day 7:	Optional breakfast, departure for Longyearbyen airport and flights home.

Contact us for a more detailed itinerary!

Qualifications
This expedition is for people who are in good shape, and who are eager to push themselves physically and mentally. Though the skiing is quite demanding, it does not require significant skill (it is very much like walking with skis on).You will need to have very good cardiovascular endurance and the ability to pull a sled (between 20-25 kilos) for several hours at a time. Towards the end of the day when we stop skiing, it is critical that you have the energy reserves to help set up camp and keep yourself warm. Most importantly you need to be able to regulate your body temperature so that you do not get too cold, or too hot while you are on the move. This expedition will encounter extremely cold conditions, and living in such cold conditions 24 hours a day can be very challenging. You do not have to be a world class athlete to participate in and enjoy this expedition, but every ounce of training and preparation will help to make the expedition more enjoyable and safer. Please contact us with further questions!

Equipment
Upon registration, you will receive a comprehensive gear guide including an instructional DVD that explains the importance of each item as well as gear recommendations from our past participants.

• 1 pair skis and ski poles (supplied by PolarExplorers)
• 1 pair skins covering the full length of your skis (supplied by PolarExplorers)
• 1 pair snow pack ski boots (bring your own or let PolarExplorers supply this item)
• 1 pair extra boot liners (bring your own or let PolarExplorers supply this item)
• Sleeping bag rated to at least -35° Celsius (bring your own or let PolarExplorers supply this item)
• Bivy sack (bring your own or let PolarExplorers supply this item)
• 2 sleeping pads (PolarExplorers will provide one pad)
• 1 wind anorak with hood (supplied by PolarExplorers - your to keep)
• 1 wind pants
• 1 insulated parka with hood
• 1 warm fleece jacket and pants
• 2 sets wool or synthetic underwear, medium weight top and bottom- 2nd set optional
• 3 sets mitts: 1 regular, 1 overmitts, 1 spare regular mitts or gloves
• 2 pair working gloves
• 2 hats: 1 lightweight balaclava, 1 ski type
• 2 neck gaiters
• 3 pair socks and sock liners
• 1 face mask
• Sun glasses and/ or mountain ski glasses
• 2 pr. anti-fog goggles
• 1 sturdy small backpack with waist belt and sternum strap
• 2 Thermos bottles or insulated water bottles
• 1 set eating utensils with bowl
• Pocket knife / multi-tool
• Personal toiletries
• 1 pee bottle (small plastic bottle)
• Face cream, lip protection
• 4 carabiners

What's Included:

• PolarExplorers expertise in planning and preparation (call us anytime!)
• PolarExplorers guides (world-class polar guides having guided a combined 40+ polar expeditions & adventures)
• 5-day Polar Shakedown Training as a part of our "Complete" expedition package (THE best polar training available!)
• PE's popular "North Pole Slideshow" (a ready-to-go PowerPoint presentation about the North Pole, expedition travel, and the polar environment.) We've prepared this for you to use as a stand-alone presentation or to edit/ incorporate into your own presentation about your expedition. Share the North Pole with your friends, family & community
• PolarExplorer's "Polar Prep" DVD covering personal clothing & equipment and tips for training.
• Expedition anorak with expedition patch (yours to keep!)
• Daily online expedition blogs for friends and family back home
• Pick up at Longyearbyen airport and transfer to hotel
• Welcome reception on first night of expedition
• All charter air transportation from Longyearbyen and return
• Up to three nights lodging in Longyearbyen (with dinners and breakfasts) - not included in "standard" package
• Skis, poles, sleds (quality gear that's tried and true in the polar environment)
• Boots (use ours or bring your own)
• Sleeping systems (sleeping bag, bivy and pads)
• Tents & all group camping gear
• Expedition patch
• All food while on the ice
• North Pole celebration
• Official framed certificate
• Satellite phone call from North Pole
• Communication and safety gear
• Baggage allowance up to 77lbs (35 kg)
  

What's Not Included:

• Round trip airfare to Longyearbyen
• Polar Shakedown Training (if registered for the "standard" expedition package)
• Personal clothing and accessories
• Full medical, baggage, trip cancellation and evacuation insurance (required)
• Excess baggage costs
• Additional phone calls from the ice (one call from the North Pole is included)
• Extended stay fees associated with weather delays
• Food and lodging in Longyearbyen if booked on the "standard" package
• Taxes and gratuity
• Travel to Polar Shakedown location

Full Expedition Description
Three nights in Longyearbyen, 4 nights on the ice. Our 1/2 Degree ski expedition is perfect for people who like the idea of participating in a North Pole expedition, but don't have the time, or desire to embark in a full last degree expedition. This expedition incorporates all the fun of the longer expeditions, in a fraction of the time. Departing from Longyearbyen, Norway, you'll board a charter flight to the Barneo ice station at approximately 89 degrees north. From here, we'll fly by helicopter to our starting point closer to the Pole. We'll spend five days skiing over the dynamic pack ice that surrounds the North Pole. You'll have all the excitement and hard work of a longer expedition packed into 5 days of adventure!

As with all of our other expeditions this is a "hands-on" experience. You'll be participating in all aspects of the expedition, including setting up camp, cooking, tracking our progress, etc. Give us a call and let us tell you more about what skills you should have prior to the expedition, and what skills we will be teaching you prior to our departure. Our shakedown trip is an ideal way to learn all the skills that are necessary for an expedition of this magnitude!

To ensure that you have the best possible experience, we'll help you with all aspects of your pre-expedition preparations, from choosing the right clothing to learning how to pack your sled. When we finally reach 90 degrees north - the North Pole, we'll celebrate with celebratory toasts, dozens of photos to document your arrival, and calls home from the top of the world. Depending on when we arrive, we will either camp at the North Pole or very close to the North Pole. A helicopter pick-up and charter flight take us back to Longyearbyen where a hot shower, celebratory dinner, and comfortable night in a lodge complete this one-of-a-kind adventure.