#gallery4374">Material World: British Trans Arctic 1969 Expedition

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2009/4/1/55611_2.jpg" alt="During their 16-month-long, 3,620 mile journey, the team had to chip their way through vast pressure ridges and traverse shifting ice floes." />

During their 16-month-long, 3,620 mile journey, the team had to chip their way through vast pressure ridges and traverse shifting ice floes.

©Polarworld

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2009/4/1/55612_2.jpg" alt="'Although shown here riding the dog sledges, the team spent the majority of the time running ahead of the dogs to guide them, or pushing the sledges over chaotic ice conditions." />

'Although shown here riding the dog sledges, the team spent the majority of the time running ahead of the dogs to guide them, or pushing the sledges over chaotic ice conditions.

©Polarworld

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2009/4/1/55613_2.jpg" alt="6th April 1969 " />

6th April 1969

On the 6th April 1969 the team (Sir Wally Herbert, Dr Roy 'Fritz' Koerner, Allan Gill and Dr Ken Hedges) arrived at the North Pole itself. It is now widely accepted that they were the first to reach the Pole by surface crossing.

©Polarworld

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2009/4/1/55610_2.jpg" alt="The team's scientist, Dr Fritz Koerner, drilling for ice samples and ice-depth measurements during the long, dark, 5-month-long winter night." />

The team's scientist, Dr Fritz Koerner, drilling for ice samples and ice-depth measurements during the long, dark, 5-month-long winter night.

©Polarworld

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2009/4/1/55614_2.jpg" alt="Sir Wally’s daughter Kari today writes and publishes books about the polar regions." />

Sir Wally’s daughter Kari today writes and publishes books about the polar regions.

©Polarworld

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2009/4/1/55615_2.jpg" alt="Sir Wally spent over 15 years in the wilderness during his career. He died in 2007." />

Sir Wally spent over 15 years in the wilderness during his career. He died in 2007.

©Martin Hartley

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2009/4/2/55641_2.jpg" />

Spending a year and a half constantly on the moving skin of the Arctic Ocean allowed the team to experience fully every season in the High Arctic.

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2009/4/2/55642_2.jpg" />

Some of the pressure ridges the team encountered were several metres high and several miles long - the only choice was to chip their way through them by hand with ice-axes.

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2009/4/2/55643_2.jpg" />

The best time for travelling on the Arctic Ocean is the winter and early spring - although travelling mostly in twilight in temperatures of -45 to -50 degrees celcius with added wind-chill could make it uncomfortable.

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2009/4/2/55644_2.jpg" />

Inspired by the Norwegian explorer Nansen, the team made use of the natural drift of ice and set up a winter camp so that they could concentrate on scientific study, while still heading towards the Pole.

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Material World: British Trans Arctic 1969 Expedition

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(10 Photos)
  1. ?gp=1#gallery4374">2009/4/1/55611_9.jpg" alt="During their 16-month-long, 3,620 mile journey, the team had to chip their way through vast pressure ridges and traverse shifting ice floes." width="70" height="70" />
  2. ?gp=2#gallery4374">2009/4/1/55612_9.jpg" alt="'Although shown here riding the dog sledges, the team spent the majority of the time running ahead of the dogs to guide them, or pushing the sledges over chaotic ice conditions." width="70" height="70" />
  3. ?gp=3#gallery4374">2009/4/1/55613_9.jpg" alt="6th April 1969 " width="70" height="70" />
  4. ?gp=4#gallery4374">2009/4/1/55610_9.jpg" alt="The team's scientist, Dr Fritz Koerner, drilling for ice samples and ice-depth measurements during the long, dark, 5-month-long winter night." width="70" height="70" />
  5. ?gp=5#gallery4374">2009/4/1/55614_9.jpg" alt="Sir Wally’s daughter Kari today writes and publishes books about the polar regions." width="70" height="70" />
  6. ?gp=6#gallery4374">2009/4/1/55615_9.jpg" alt="Sir Wally spent over 15 years in the wilderness during his career. He died in 2007." width="70" height="70" />
  7. ?gp=7#gallery4374">2009/4/2/55641_9.jpg" width="70" height="70" />
  8. ?gp=8#gallery4374">2009/4/2/55642_9.jpg" width="70" height="70" />
  9. ?gp=9#gallery4374">2009/4/2/55643_9.jpg" width="70" height="70" />
  10. ?gp=10#gallery4374">2009/4/2/55644_9.jpg" width="70" height="70" />