As the team for North of Disko 11 have progressed, we have stumbled over various issues and now have realigned our aims and objectives as more important issues have raised there head. We believe these more focused thoughts will actually make the whole experience for those watching - following, as well as us, more topical and interesting.
The desire to prove the concept of using just the wind to travel on the ice cap has proved beyond our financial ability. The insurance costs themselves for this aspect of the trip, that you have to have to get a permit for, exceed E7000. The amount of equipment that you are also required to carry for permit, is also complex and costly. Therefore, while I have not given up, we have to win the Lotto or find a brave sponsor who shares our interest and beliefs.......!
Of more practical measure, the Atlantic appears to be more vigorous in May than expected and strong weather has delayed departure plans. Also, despite the general trend of melting ice due to climate warming (Whether or not we are responsible - it is happening.) the ice remains extensive. If we had left in mid May, our destination of Uppernavik would not have been open for our arrival and this is the web site I watch to see ice conditions:
Ice Charts
And an interesting development of a cold water spot S of Greenland is pause for thought this side of the Atlantic. Perhaps we will be skiing during the winter after all if the 'Gulf Stream warm water conveyor belt' slows or stops......
Link
As the quandary continues between man and animal, no less so than in Greenland, a timely article of issues that threaten the Inuit:
Link While we were there in 2013, we were invited to celebrations that included partaking of Inuit traditional food. This included: Polar bear - Walrus - seal - whale meat in various forms, basically all that they had hunted for 1000's of years. Not to extinction but to survive and of course, only to eat for that reason.
Also, on the other side of the N American continent, sea kayakers make a point:
Link Name familiar.....? BUT, are we prepared to consider and invest individually in alternative energy solutions.....: turning down the dial - cycling not driving - recycling - composting - etc. The temp dial on the wall is now an expensive climatic global option, no more than the accelerator pedal.... and we have a serious obesity problem in Ireland! How mad is that!
So, our aims and objective have solidified more around the visuals, both under the water with Daragh, but we now have a film maker Matt Boyd:
http://mahoo.ie/ and a further still - drone - underwater video maker, Andy Stuart:
www.andystuartfilm.com
We now believe we wish to record as much as possible of both the geography and the people, to see that the climatic effects of us as individuals is as strong as the likes of Shell and other energy companies - think global, act local.....
We aim now to bring back images and video of exceptional clarity and content that will make you think....... am I part of the problem or part of the solution?