#10 Thule Expedition - Cicumnavigating
Participants: Lonnie Dupre, John Hoelscher and Kelly Dupre
"Shifting pack ice, unpredictadable weather, and heavy seas capsized their kayak."
Explorers Complete Historical Arctic Expedition
Ammassalik (Tasiilaq), East Greenland, Sept. 6, 2001 – What began as a dream for an American explorer and an Australian adventurer is now a reality. With five years and 6517 miles (10486 km) of traveling behind them, Lonnie Dupre and John Hoelscher have completed the first circumnavigation of Greenland by dog sledge and kayak.
Greenland has an icecap second only in size to that of Antarctica. For the two men, it seemed more like a continent than an island. At least that’s the way it felt to them after months of traveling one paddle stroke at a time, or skiing with the sound of dog’s paws hitting the snow.
On September 5, Dupre and Hoelscher arrived in Ammassalik (Tasiilaq), Greenland by kayak, completing the third and final stage of the 2nd Thule Expedition, which began on April 16, 2001. The expedition duo set out on their five-year adventure on May 18, 1997, using only non-motorized means of transportation to travel around the world’s largest island. The expedition was divided into three separate legs – International Greenland Expedition, Thule 2000 Expedition and 2nd Thule Expedition.
"Travelling without motor was such a quiet method, enabling us to venture close to wildlife and experience the satisfaction of getting there under our own steam,"said Hoelscher.
For the past five years, the expedition duo has traveled by dog sledge approximately 3442 miles (5538 km) and 3075 miles (4948 km) by kayak totaling 6517 miles (10486 km). Of this figure, 5067 miles (8153 km) represents the actual circumnavigation and the remaining 1450 miles (2333 km) were cultural journeys by dog sledge throughout the lands of Kane Basin, Nares Strait and villages of the Polar Inuit.
The men and their 14 Inuit dog companions endured weeks of polar night, minus 57degF (-50degC), marauding polar bears and blizzards which kept the team tentbound for up to five days. They also encountered shifting pack ice, glaciers calving icebergs, unpredictable weather, and heavy seas which capsized their kayak.
By using e-mail and satellite telephone, the team was able to communicate their daily activities with the outside world.
Dupre recalls:
"Although the journey was long and difficult and nearly claimed our lives the rewards were immense. We were able to witness first hand polar bears, narwhals,and arctic wolves co-existing in this rugged, icy environment. We reflected back on special times spent traveling with the Polar Inuit and learning from their ways. For us the journey meant more than just circumnavigating this island, it gave us an overall insight to what Greenland truly is. This could only be achieved by traveling as we have done. The success of this project was due to good teamwork and staying positive yet stubbornly persistant under difficult conditions. John and I have cemented a strong friendship because of it, and look forward to sharing experiences about this unique, yet vulnerable environment. Education is key to preserving Greenland’s culture, wildlife and pristine beauty. We will be giving presentations to hundreds of schools and organisations after our return."
"Greenland Expedition-Where Ice is Born," a pictorial hardback surrounding the 1997/98 expedition, was released in May 2000. Two additional books are slated for release by December 2002.
An accomplished explorer for the past 15 years, Dupre has traveled more than 13,000 miles (21.000 km) throughout the Arctic Circle, has been a part of seven major expeditions and holds kayaking and dog sledging records in Greenland.
Hoelscher has spent six seasons, including twice over-wintering, at Australian research stations in Antarctica, and has also traveled in the Arctic regions of North America. He accompanied Dupre throughout this epic journey around Greenland.
Frisby Technologies Inc., the developer of the world’s leading brand of dynamic climate control materials, has been a leading sponsor of the historical five-year expedition. With the help of Frisby’s COMFORTEMP materials in their gear (Hotfingers gloves and LaCrosse boots), Dupre and Hoelscher were able to withstand extreme temperatures and winds along Greenland’s chilling coast.
The team was also greatful to have chosen Necky kayaks for their durability and performance in Arctic conditions.
For more information log on to: www.explorers.org/thule.html
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