ONCE FROSTBITTEN but still not shy, serial adventurers Pat Falvey and Dr Clare O’Leary are to renew their attempts to reach the North Pole.
Their previous attempt had to be abandoned after just five days in March last year when their travelling companion John Dowd developed frostbite in his fingers and the three had to be evacuated from the Canadian Arctic.
Mr Dowd’s frostbite would have delayed their attempt on the North Pole by 13 days, making it impossible for the remaining two to rendezvous with the Russian aircraft which was due to take them home.
Mr Falvey and Dr O’Leary will set out for Iqaluit Canada next Sunday for three weeks to acclimatise themselves to the Arctic cold before flying out to the starting point at Cape Discovery, Canada on February 25th.
They hope to make the 784km journey to the North Pole in 55 days.
If they complete the journey, they will have done the Three Poles Challenge – the North Pole, South Pole and Mount Everest.
The two, who are on their 22nd expedition together, will attempt to haul a sled to the North Pole without the assistance of sledges and dogs.
Mr Falvey said they had “unfinished business”.
They are hoping to emulate the achievements of Robert Perry and Dr Frederick Cooke, each of whom is credited with getting to the North Pole first.
Mr Falvey said their obstacle this year could, ironically, be the unnaturally warm winter which the High Arctic has had, which has contributed to the colder than normal winter in northern Europe.
Temperatures have been an astonishing 32 degrees above the norms in places.
Mr Falvey said it would be difficult to traverse the melting ice.
