Questions

At the Pole - June 2nd 2002
© North Pole 2002 Ltd

The Pole from the air
Caroline and Ann are in the bottom right corner
© North Pole 2002 Ltd

Seal for dinner at Resolute Bay !
© North Pole 2002 Ltd

Pom's feet - frost bite forces her to stop at day 47
© North Pole 2002 Ltd

The team at resupply - farewell to Pom
© North Pole 2002 Ltd

Testing the prototype tent in London
© North Pole 2002 Ltd

The team in training on Majorca
© North Pole 2002 Ltd

The team in training ! - good luck card
© North Pole 2002 Ltd

Please send photos of the team to go on the web site to webmaster at m.m.knight@qmul.ac.uk

congrats on a great achievment.have read any book I can get my hands on about polar travel.mind blowing stuff,well done again.
jacquie freeman, northumberland G.B

Congratulations on achieving your goal!
On behalf of myself and all Canadian men ........ well done!
Bob, Woodstock Ontario, Canada

We have been following your progress throughout the entire journey.
Wow, hats off to the entire team.
Well done!!!!
I am sure it will be great to reunite with family and friends, also to share a drink or two. A warm bath will feel wonderful, we are sure. It has been a wonderful experience for us to have been able to share in your adventure.
Carroll @ Gary Prince George, BC Canada

Congratulations!!! Well done!!! You are awesome!!! In April 2002 I skied the last degree North Pole so I know what you have achieved. In January 2001 I read Caroline's book "South Pole 2000" and it was my final inspiration to ski the South Pole last degree, which I did in Dec. 2001. I would love to do a longer trip. Enjoy your success and rest well. Hope Pom's frostbite recovers well. Polar
regards.
Correne Coetzer. South Africa

A great big HIP HIP HOORAY from East Tennessee, USA! I have been following your website since the beginning. The weather here has been MUCH better than what you have been experiencing! (I shudder everytime I do the conversion from C to F!!) Sorry that Pom couldn't make the whole trip, but Ann and Caroline, you are my heroines!
Melanee

CONGRATULATIONS!!! I've followed your adventure since you started. This is so exciting.
Q. Will you have to trek back to camp or will a plane fly in a pick you up?
Once again - CONGRATULATIONS. Most excellent work.
Liz Scott, Madison, Alabama, USA A. They were picked up by a twin Otter at the Pole and flew back to Eureka. It was a lovely suprise for Ann and Caroline, as Paul and Doug (the pilots) had dropped them off at ward Hunt at the beginning.

I check the site most days to see how you are all progressing. Just 29 miles to go. What is the one thing that you are most looking forward to when this is all over?
Pam Savage, Alma, Canada.

A hot bath, kids (Ann) family and friends. A vodka and tonic (Caroline) Jack Daniels and coke (Ann)

I am currently reading your book about the South Pole expedition in 2000 (To The Pole, Caroline Hamilton), you have just reached the Thiel Mountains!! I decided to look on the internet to see if there was anything about you guys on here (having not heard anything before now about you) and found out you are in the Arctic right now. How bizarre when I am reading about your last adventure. You truly are amazing women. Good luck out there and I'll enjoy reading the updates on the website.
Julia Cornes, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

Q: What time zone are the team in, relative to GMT?
Also, I'd be interested to know whether they can see the moon?
Please wish Pom a speedy recovery from her back problems!
Iain Banks, Reigate, Surrey A: As regards our time zone - we are UK minus 6hrs and yes we can see the moon and the sun
>at the same time.

Q: what time does the sun rise and set? and are you still on schedule?
all at the "pride" (Caroline's local pub) are very proud of you and wish you well, and we all wish for your safe return.
Luke, The Pride, London A: Sunrise is around 3 am and sunset at around 9 pm, but this changes by 10 minutes each day.
We should be increasing our daily mileage by now, but the ongoing conditions are preventing that. When these improve, we will catch up.

Q: How on earth do you wee at -40 ?
Christine Knight, WinchesterA: Very carefully is the answer……..We have very cleverly designed clothing that means when we have undone the essential zip, we can fall forward onto our knees and using part of the main jacket as protection proceed in relative safety, having checked which way the wind is blowing beforehand. The aftermath is completed inuit style, by selecting an appropriate ice wedge. Trying to perform any normal bodily functions in these conditions is quite a feat and has to be planned well in advance!

Q: How long do you expect difficult passage through pressure ice to last?
Bob, Woodstock, Ontario, Canada A: Hopefully we are now through the worst of the pressure ridges, but time will soon tell……

Q: Have you seen any animals or birds ? What happens if you meet a polar bear ?
Jody, Watford, UK

A: No wildlife yet, but we may see some birds especially whilst we are still near Ward Hunt, and we may see seals at some point when there is more open water. It is highly unlikely that we will meet a polar bear as it is unusual to encounter one this far North. If we do, we have had training on how to deal with the situation and we carry a gun. The best wild life so far was seeing the Arctic foxes back at Resolute.

Q: How does living in the North Pole compare to living in your home environment?
Sara, Nova Scotia

A: It's so far removed from 'normal' life, it's difficult to compare. It is very liberating and a privelege to be up on the Arctic sea ice. The scenery is spectacular, and life comes down to the basic needs. Having shelter, food and water

Q : "Read about the expedition in our local paper. Good luck in your quest to be the first all-female team to trek to the North Pole without guides. How are you coping in -46c. Have heard that Ann Daniels comes from my old home town.....Bradford, is this correct?
Pam Savage, Alma, Canada

A: Thanks for that Pam. The low temperatures make life tricky for us and our equipment. When we are out on the ice during the day, we can't stop for very long. We are very careful with the equipment, because the materials become very brittle and are more likely to break.

Ann. Bradford born and bred, and I have the accent to prove it!

Q : "Looks like it is tough-going. At this very early stage of the expedition are any doubts creeping in already as to the chances of success?What is the projected ETA at the Pole?"
Steve Scott-Fawcett, Rainy Holt,Norfolk,UK.

A : Thanks for the question - No doubts - these conditions were expected and planned for. ETA at the North Pole is still early May.

Q : "Hi. Have been following the team on the net, how long will the trip take? Good luck to the team"
Bob Imesch, Red Dee, Alberta, Canada.

A : Thanks for that Bob, we are hoping somewhere between 60 and 65 days.

Q : "Do you have any strange dreams on the ice ? "
Hazel Screen, London.

A : At the end of a long day, you are ready for your sleep. We normally sleep very well and don't dream very often.

Q : "How much chocolate do you eat ? - Chocolate is apparently the greatest source of magnesium which is depleated during exercise."
Hannah Heywood, London.

A : We eat quite a lot of chocolate in the form of bars and Sainsburys Polar biscuits. Considering the amount of calories we are trying to pack in, we try and keep the diet as balanced as possible and supplement it with additional vitamins and minerals.

Q : "How dangerous are polar bears? What's the plan if you meet a hungry one?!."
Mike.

A : Polar Bears are extremely dangerous - we have been armed and trained in recognising behavioural patterns. We also ring the camp every night with a trip wire attached to a very loud thunderflash.