Routing Means Winning
Published on 02.03.2007 - The Arctic Arc
Routing techniques do not only priviledge great transoceanic races. For several years, our satellites have also helped great polar expeditions through their respective headquarters.
There's no longer any secret about it: nowadays, satellites can photograph anything on our planet, and with amazing accuracy â as car drivers with SatNav systems know so well.
Of course, the Arctic pack ice has also been photographed from every angle, as indeed have the vast ice floes of the Antarctic.
Consequently, today we receive satellite photographs as a result of our cooperation with the ESA.
On the radar photograph A (taken on February 28), the immense stretch of water which has formed off Cape Arktichewski island's coast is clearly visible. This is why Alain has decided to be dropped off 70km further north, thereby avoiding to have to struggle with the open water. This stretch of water was created in just five days!
On photograph B, one can see that the Russian router Andrey has indicated two things: a rectangle drawn in red at the level of 83 degrees and, beside it on the right, an arrow drawn, for its part, in purple. He has used these signs to inform the expedition of the dangerous open water within the red rectangle, therefore supposedly on their trajectory. The purple arrow is purely and simply the router's advice who thinks that, according to his knowledge of the terrain, it would be preferable for the two men to walk a little more eastwards and follow the route indicated with purple rather than the route a few minutes to the west.
Latest news
- Position on 02 March: 82°10'11"N / 99°01'56"E (on Friday, they covered 12.5km in 5.5 hours).
- Temperature: -40°C.
- Terrain: good ice, flat and thick.
- Wind: Beauffort 4 to 5.
Alain has a touch of frostbite on his fingers and is suffering from stomachache. He's not on top form. Dixie's OK.
