Is it safe to sail through?
The Arctic pack ice prevents regular marine shipping throughout
the year, but rising of global temperatures associated with climate
change are making the passage clear at certain times, allowing safe
sailing. The ice packs are breaking up and the thick, multi-year
ice is being replaced seasonally by a thin layer of winter ice,
that usually disappears each summer. This happens during two months
only, August and September.
On 21 August 2007, the Northwest Passage became open to ships
without the need of an icebraker (read article in the National Geographic here). On
2008 it opened again.
Nevertheless, in 2009 the Environment Canada agency
reported:
An unusual combination of factors is making navigation more
difficult in the Northwest Passage this year after two straight
summers of virtually clear sailing.
In both the wider, deep-water northern corridor and the
narrower, shallower southern branches of the passage (...) pockets
of more extensive winter freezing and concentrations of thicker,
older ice at several key "choke points" are complicating ship
travel.
So a lot of questions remain in the air, and most probably the
team will not know how safe it is until the journey starts!
Water leads
Although certain ice pack areas may seem safe to stand on and
walk around, thin ice must be avoided at all cost. Water leads are
very dangerous, and it's a danger especially typical to the late
season and unsupported expeditions. If someone falls through, there
will be nothing to get back up on except for weak pans of thin ice.
The person will not be able to swim or paddle through, as the ice
will pile up between them and the shore. At these temperatures
someone will only last a few minutes in the water.
Polar Bears
The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) lives within the
Arctic circle. It is the world's largest land carnivore and also
the largest bear - an adult male weighs around 350-680 kg
(770-1,500 lb)!
Polar bears spend most of their time at sea and can hunt
consistently only from sea ice, therefore spending much of the year
on the frozen sea. Polar bears are the second biggest danger in the
Arctic, after water leads.
The best protection against polar bears is a gun. A shotgun is
the standard of Canada, and these can be purchased at e.g. Resolute
Bay. Flares or rubber bullets can be used to scare bears off, and
as last resort there is a "bear spray".
The team will be carrying flare guns and are also looking into
additional solutions: some sort of simple perimeter wire, to use in
case they are forced to camp on the ice or shelter in a storm.
The polar bear is classified as a vulnerable species and it's
likely to become endangered unless the circumstances threatening
its survival and reproduction improve. Unrestricted hunting and
global warming are the most significant threats.
Dehydration
Dehydration is very common in cold temperatures, where fluid
intake doesn't seem important and people are not usually thirsty.
The team members need to drink several litres while on travel, and
even more when reaching the several stops. Lost body salt can also
be replenished with added salt in food.
Insomnia
Insomnia is a common ailment for those exploring the poles. It's
usually due to muscle and joint pain, stress, perpetual sunlight,
the hard wind rattling outside, or all of these together.
To help with a good rest, the team will carry foam earplugs and
eye covers. Weak sleeping pills and painkillers could also help in
extreme situations but should be avoided because they could make
you drowsy the next day.
Sunstroke and snow blindness
Besides drinking plenty of water, hats and sunglasses should be
worn at all times during the trip. It is very common to suffer from
your eyes in overcast conditions when navigation is difficult, and
especially if the sky is cloudy and it seems safe to remove
sunglasses. Red whites, a vague sensation of irritation in the eye
and yellow residue from the eyes in the mornings are the initial
signs.
Problems with hygiene
In between stops it will be hard for team members to keep a
"normal" hygiene. There is not so much need to wash as the ice is a
sterile area, and the cold prevents bad odors. The outer layer of
body fat provides, in addition, a good isolation from the cold.
First layer clothing can be changed to help with feeling
cleaner!
At night it is common to pee in pee bottles, which should be
emptied very frequently if temperatures are below freezing
point.
frostbyte and hypothermia
Frostnip, frostbite and hypothermia are not a serious risk in
the temperatures that the team expects to encounter in late August!
(Unless someone falls in the water...) These are usually dangerous
only in severe cold (below -30 C) and high winds, and many times
associated with mountaineering, due to the lack of oxygen at high
altitude.
First signs of hypothermia are shivering, weakness and
depression. The symptoms persist even when moving around and
working hard, and more layers of clothing are not enough - you need
hot liquids and to move into a warmer temperature.
Frostnip/frostbite usually affect local areas only, like toes,
fingers, nose and cheeks. Stage one (Frostnip) shows as white
patches, resulting in temporary loss of sensation in the affected
area, for up to one year. If untreated, the spots will grow into
black areas (Frostbite).
Keeping a good blood circulation, wearing several layers of
clothing and drinking hot liquids should be enough to avoid feeling
cold during our trip...
