Background information:

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Altitude: Sea Level (plus 5' of ice above the ocean surface)

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Tidbits:  The lines of time converge at the pole, so time is anything you want it to be. More people make it to the top of Everest than make it to the North pole.

 

Pole Achieved, April 10, 2009

 

Time Zone: All of them

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When to go:

Due to the incredibly difficult logistics, there is a very narrow window to get to the pole on foot, usually from the first week through the third week in April. I timed my arrival at the pole as close as possible to the 100th anniversary of the first conquest of the pole by Admiral Perry (who reached the pole on April 6, 1909).

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Route Selection:

The trip to the pole involved 10 flights, 2 helicopter shuttles, 18,000 miles of (roundtrip) air travel, and a short walk (or long ski) starting from my home in San Francisco, connecting in Newark, flying to Oslo, then a flight to Tromso (the northernmost city in mainland Norway), then a flight to Longyearbyen (the northernmost inhabited town in the world located on Spitsbergen Island in Norway, about 1,000 miles NORTH of Iceland), followed by a flight on a Russian AN-74 cargo plane supplying the Barneo Arctic floating research station, then a flight on a Russian MI-8 military helicopter to the vicinity of the actual pole, then a hike to the actual pole itself.

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Hotel and Climb Reservation:

The pole can only be achieved with massive logistical support. I used the services of the famed Russian Arctic Explorer Victor Boyarsky who runs the Barneo Floating Research Station. Arrangements should generally be made at least 5 months in advance, but many people make arrangements one year in advance since only a limited number of people can be transported to the pole at a given time due to logistical limitations. In Longyearbyen there are a limited number of hotels and guest houses that are expensive and fill up quickly.  Book early. I stayed at the SAS Radisson Hotel (the northernmost hotel in the world, but then again, everything in Longyearbyen is the "northernmost"). The cost for a room was about $275 (US) per night. Another hotel that I recommend in "Basecamp" located about 300 yards from the Radisson and is completely decorated in a trapper's theme with wood, furs, etc. (the restaurant at Basecamp was exceptional, especially considering where you are).

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Packing List:

The weather during my trip was a little colder than usual (-40). My gear consisted of a wicking underwear layer, a flannel shirt/pants, a wool sweater, and a Thinsulate-insulated pants and coat, thermal socks (worn over thin nylon socks), waterproof boots, an insulated wind-stopper hat, balaclava (in addition to the insulated hood on my jacket), and a pair of insulated gloves. I was told that Gore-Tex jackets are not really necessary due to the lack of precipitation and I found I was quite warm with all of this equipment. I also carried a small backpack with an insulated water bottle (which began to freeze in less than 2 hours) and a GPS to find the actual pole. You should note that high-power rifles are absolutely required at all times due to the risk of Polar Bear attacks. Some groups choose to take a large-caliber pistol, but the stopping power of this type of weapon against a hungry attacking bear is questionable.

 

Getting There:

There is only one option to get to Longyearbyen, which is to fly SAS Airways.  The cost from Oslo is about $500 roundtrip. Nearly all flights stop in Tromso. If your schedule permits, you may want to stop over for a night an enjoy this picturesque city which bills itself as "The Paris of the North". It also claims to have the world's best vantage point for viewing the Northern Lights. Getting from Longyearbyen to the Barneo research station and then to the pole must be coordinated through Dr. Boyarsky's company, VICAAR, based in St. Petersburg Russia. Roundtrip arrangements including flights from Longyearbyen cost between $15,000 and $20,000. You can book through other companies, but they will ALL use Vicaar's services and you'll end up paying more.