Kerry mountaineer Mike Barry has been forced to abandon his trek to the North Pole due to extreme weather conditions which have driven back several other expeditions.
Barry's three-strong group was one of five expeditions which left for the North Pole from Ellesmere island a fortnight ago, only to hit temperatures of minus 50 degrees. The Kerry climber became the first Irishman to trek to the South Pole two years ago and had hoped to complete the "double" this year in aid of Crumlin children's hospital.
"The temperatures were 10 degrees lower than normal for this time of year, and the worst seen by our US/Canadian guide, Matty McNair, who has been to the Arctic and to the pole several times before," Barry told The Irish Times by satellite phone from Resolute Bay.
"Our clothing and gear were getting very wet due to the humidity. We were burning a lot of fuel in the tent to try and keep warm and to dry the gear, and unfortunately we wouldn't have had enough fuel at that rate for 50 more days."
Pressure ridges posed a particular challenge, but the trio had made good progress in covering some 20 nautical miles of the 412-nautical-mile route in the first week.
"Unfortunately, the weather wasn't as anticipated. This is the way it fell, and it is far better to make a controlled exit than to find ourselves in an emergency," Barry added.
Though disappointed, he said he would consider making another attempt next year.
