TRANSPOLAR SKITREK PROGRESS REPORT #8: March 18, 1988 Prepared by Rich Ensign, N8IWJ, AMSAT Science Education Advisor For Use With The AMSAT Teachers Guide "Exploring The High Arctic From Your Classroom" The first air drop of supplies to the 13 man Transpolar Skitrek Expedition took place on March 14th. Eleven drops were made in two passes over the skiers. All supplies arrived safely on the ground including fresh fruits and vegetables. The skiers constructed a large igloo to serve, along with the tent, as a more permanent home for their two day stop. They also used the igloo for drying damp clothing, a problem they could not solve earlier. The numbness in their limbs which the skiers complained of several weeks ago is now gone. All skiers are in good health. The group conducted scientific research during their stay including medical exams and stress tests. On Wednesday, March 16th, the 13 trekkers packed up and continued on their journey. Rick Burke, VO1SA Portable UA0, at Sredniy Island, CI8C at Resolute and North Pole 28 Ice Island Station 4K0D are all on RS-10/11. Listen for them on the northern portion of passes in the 29.417 - 29.420 MHz range of the 10 meter downlink. Rick's daily routine includes a 1 km walk from his quarters to the shack during which he has an armed escort in case of polar bears (he hasn't reported seeing one yet). The weather has been severe at both Resolute and Sredniy with strong winds and snow. Winds the skiers have encountered lately have been about 15 km/hr with temperatures around -35C. As of Thursday, March 17th, the skiers had made excellent progress since continuing their journey. Their location was 83d 11.7'N, 97d 26.6'E as they completed Thursday's trek. This brings them to a total trek distance to date of 225 km. Since the digitalker and 2 meter beacon onboard UO-11 have not been functioning continuously due to programming problems, schools and others following the trek may access any position information they have missed on the W0RPK AMSAT Bulletin Board (1-515-961-3325) or in ASR. Many of the elementary schools following the trek will be contacting each other and comparing trek watching activities. These include schools in the U.S., Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. This sharing is being coordinated by AMSAT's Science Education Advisor Rich Ensign. If you want an elementary school you are helping to become a part of the sharing, contact Rich for a list of schools involved. His address is 421 N. Military, Dearborn, MI 48124. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * A continuing series of Progress Reports like this one may be accessed via packet BBS, AMSAT Nets and the main educator source, the W0RPK AMSAT Bulletin Board. Progress Report #9 will be issued on March 25, 1988. TRANSPOLAR EXPEDITION POSITION/CONDITION REPORTS VIA NORDSKI COMM & HF MARCH 9 TO MARCH 17, 1988 REP# PRIOR. DATE/TIME(GMT) LAT (N) LONG REMARKS ====================================================================== ======= Celestial Nav 09MAR88 12:30 82d 09.3'N 97d 47.0'E UO-11 Re-programming Today's conditions are rough. Current temp -40C wind 25km/hour. Expect -47C today with dropping temp tomorrow. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- Celestial Nav 10MAR88 11:58 82d 16.9'N 97d 24.6'E UO-11 Re-programming SARSAT/COSPAS 10MAR88 11:57 82d 18.7'N 97d 22.1'E -45C ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- 07 000 11MAR88 11:36 82d 28.8'N 97d 13.0'E ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- 12MAR88 Skiers via HF: -42C Skied for 9 hrs. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- 08 000 13MAR88 11:16 82d 52.2'N 97d 19.8'E by celestial nav Skiers via HF: -42C and winds at 3-4 Meters/sec from NW -20C and snowy at Resolute ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- Skiers Via HF: Skied from 01 to 07 UTC and waited for air drop which occured at 09 UTC. Temp -38C. Set up drop camp #1. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- 09 000 14MAR88 12:00 83d 01' N 97d 07' E Drop site location. Skiers Via HF: Skied from 01 to 07 UTC and waited for air drop which occured at 09 UTC. Temp -38C. Set up drop camp #1. Doing science, clothes drying in large igloo, and R & R with fresh fruits & vegetables. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- 15MAR88 Day 2 at drop camp #1. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- 16MAR88 13:00 82d 58.7'N 97d 28.9'E Drop site location Will press on from drop camp later today. Position indicates possible drifting of ice away from pole. Wx at Sredniy -38C and 10km/hr wind. Wx at Resolute -25C and windy. Poor visibility. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- 17MAR88 83d 11.7'N 97d 26.6'E Celestial nav -35C and 18 km/hr from the SE. Lots of cracks in the ice but with ice bridges crossing so progress not slowed. 24 km today. 225 km total progress. Resolute wx -36C and high winds. Sredniy having full gale snowstorm. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- TRANSPOLAR SKITREK / PROJECT NORDSKI COMM - SKI TEAM POSITION LOG ----------------------------------------------------------------- DAY/TIM UTC LATITUDE LONGITUDE REMARKS ----------- -------- --------- -------------------------------------------- 22MAR 13:02 84d19.0m 97d02.9mE Everything good ice, temp, progress 28km 21MAR 13:00 84d03.5m 97d40.4mE -39dC ice excellent few leads&hummocks 21km 20MAR 11:40 83d51.8m 97d27.4mE -36dC wind 1-2mps good ice & spirits 26km 18MAR 13:00 83d37.9m 97d21.7mE -31dC no wind no open water good cond 22km 17MAR 13:00 83d11.7m 97d26.6mE -35dC wind 3-5mps from SE 24km 16MAR 13:00 82d58.7m 97d28.9mE <1st air drop successful of 14MAR. Team 15MAR Camped in igloo