FAQs
- How far away is the North Pole?
- What is a nautical mile?
- How long will it take?
- What has Rosie done before?
- When will Rosie depart the UK?
- Where is the North Pole?
- Is there a pole at the North Pole?
- Why is it interesting for explorers?
- Who was the first person to reach the North Pole?
- How will Rosie get to the North Pole?
- What is a pulk?
- Is the Arctic solid?
- What if Rosie meets open water?
- How cold will it be?
- How will Rosie keep warm?
- Will Rosie live in an igloo?
- How will Rosie know when she has reached the pole?
- What’s the difference between the North Pole and the magnetic north pole?
- What will Rosie eat?
- What does Rosie drink?
- How does Rosie go to the loo?
- Is Rosie going to spend 60 days without a bath?
- Will Rosie be able to talk to her friends and family?
- What wildlife do you find in the Arctic?
- Polar bears never eat penguins. But why?
How far away is the North Pole?
The North Pole is 415 nautical miles from the coast of Canada.
What is a nautical mile?
1 nautical mile is equivalent to 1.15 statute miles
A nautical mile is based on the circumference of the planet Earth. If you were to cut the Earth in half at the equator, you could pick up one of the halves and look at the equator as a circle. You could divide that circle into 360 degrees. You could then divide a degree into 60 minutes. A minute of arc on the planet Earth is 1 nautical mile. This unit of measurement is used for air and sea travel.
How long will it take?
Approximately 60 days depending on the ice conditions that Rosie encounters.
What has Rosie done before?
In 2003/4 Rosie completed her Snickers South Pole Solo Expedition and became one of only three woman to have walked solo to the South Pole. She did this in just 43 days and 20 hours beating the time set by Liv Arnesson in 1994. In the same year Fiona Thornewill completed the journey from the Hercules Inlet in just 42 days. Before that, Rosie was part of the first all British Women's expedition to the South Pole in 1999.
When will Rosie depart the UK?
In order to get to her start point on Ward Hunt Island, Rosie will first travel to Toronto in Canada and then make three additional flights further north to Iqualuit, Resolute Bay and on to Ward Hunt Island. She will leave the UK on approximately 16th February.
Where is the North Pole?
The Geographic North Pole is where all lines of longitude converge and is located at 90° North latitude. It is also known as True North. It marks the northern end of the Earth's axis, the imaginary line around which the earth rotates. The North Pole is one of the two points on the Earth's surface that receive six months of continuous daylight followed by six months of continuous darkness.
There is a town called North Pole in Fairbanks, Alaska which is nowhere near the North Pole. In fact, it isn't even north of the Arctic Circle!
Is there a pole at the North Pole?
No. If you were to place a marker at the North Pole it would eventually drift elsewhere because the North Pole is covered by floating sea ice, moved by ocean currents.
Why is it interesting for explorers?
The Geographic North Pole has captivated human imagination over the centuries. The first Arctic explorers were the Inuit people themselves. Then, in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, explorers travelled there in search of valuable scientific data. The polar ice caps hold a unique record of the earth’s climate and are increasingly being studied to support theories into global warming. Today, international adventurers still attempt to conquer the Pole by plane, hot air balloon, dogsled, foot, skis, snowmobile, icebreaker, and other means.
Who was the first person to reach the North Pole?
Robert Peary, his partner Matthew Henson, and four Inuit are generally credited with being the first to reach the North Pole on April 9, 1909 however many suspect that they missed the pole by a few miles. If this was the case then British Explorer, Sir Wally Herbert was the first to make a surface crossing of the Arctic ocean in 1968.
How will Rosie get to the North Pole?
Rosie will travel alone to the North Pole. She will ski or walk depending on the terrain underfoot. She will have to drag with her everything she needs for 60 days, including food, fuel for her stove, a tent, a radio for communication, a gun and flares, skis, and additional protective clothing. These will all be contained in two pulks.
What is a pulk?
A pulk is the Norwegian name given to a sledge that is used for polar travel. In the past, explorers used teams of dogs to pull the pulks. Rosie will wear a harness attached to the pulk and she will pull it behind her for the entire expedition. To train for this Rosie has been dragging several car tyres for long distances.
Is the Arctic solid?
No, there is no land beneath the ice of the North Pole. The Arctic ice cap is a shifting pack of sea ice approximately 2 to 3 metres thick—floating above the 4,000 metre deep Arctic Ocean. During the winter the Arctic ice pack grows to the size of the United States. In the summer half of the ice disappears.
What if Rosie meets open water?
In areas where the ice is thin and might crack, Rosie will wear an immersion suit. In the event that Rosie falls through the ice she will be protected from the icy water by a water-tight suit. She will still need to haul herself out of the icy water as fast as possible to avoid suffering from hypothermia. Rosie’s pulks are designed to float so she won’t lose all her equipment.
How cold will it be?
Temperatures are likely to drop as low as -45 decrees Celsius. The effect of the wind will make this seem even colder.
How will Rosie keep warm?
Rosie will wear many different layers as this is more effective than just one thick layer. These will include long-sleeved thermal tops, thin and thick fleece layers, a wind suit as well as an immersion suit when she is near open water.
She will take several pairs of gloves; silk, wool, mittens and some which will extend all the way to her elbows! She will wear a balaclava on her head as well as fleece protection around her neck. A fur ruff around her hood will protect her face and skin from the wind and loose snow.
Will Rosie live in an igloo?
No, Rosie will be taking a 2-person tent with her. She will have to put this up every night on her own even in very bad weather. Inside the tent Rosie will be able to bring the temperature to just above 0 degrees Celsius when she uses her stove.
How will Rosie know when she has reached the pole?
To get to the North Pole, Rosie will be using solar navigation techniques as well as the wind, drifting snow, a compass and a GPS System. She will use her GPS system to double check that she has reached 90 degrees latitude.
What’s the difference between the North Pole and the magnetic north pole?
The earth's magnetic pole is the focus of the planet's magnetic field and is the point that traditional magnetic compasses point toward. It is approximately 600 miles from the Geographic North Pole.
What will Rosie eat?
Rosie will be burning an enormous amount of energy during her expedition. She will need to eat in excess of 6,000 calories each day. It is impossible to stop for long periods of time in the Arctic because of the sub-zero temperatures so Rosie will be eating snacks all day long. These include chocolate, cheese, and energy drinks. At night she will cook herself a hot meal by adding boiling water to dehydrated mixes e.g. chicken and pasta, beef casserole and rice.
What does Rosie drink?
Rosie will need to drink at least 4 litres each day. To do this she will have to cut blocks of ice which she will then melt using her stove. Hot drinks include hot chocolate, tea (English and herb), coffee and orange flavoured crystals. During the day she will keep these inside her suit to prevent them from freezing.
How does Rosie go to the loo?
Very quickly! Rosie’s clothing will have a special zip which runs from front to back allowing her to go to the loo without getting too cold.
Is Rosie going to spend 60 days without a bath?
No, Rosie has a quick 'snow bath' every day. She will get handfuls of snow and rub this all over her body to help remove some (not all!) of the sweat and dead skin.
Will Rosie be able to talk to her friends and family?
Rosie will have daily contact with her support team in Resolute Bay. Her progress will be charted on the website and also in her son's school where they will be watching with interest.
What wildlife do you find in the Arctic?
The arctic sea ice and the surrounding coastal waters are also home to a variety of mammals; seals, walruses, sea otters, whales and of course the Polar Bear.
Polar bears never eat penguins. But why?
Because they are found at opposite ends of the Earth! Polar bears roam within the Arctic Circle—including the North Pole. Penguins are found only in the Southern Hemisphere, mostly near Earth's South Pole, in Antarctica.
