Guest post by Steve Goddard
It is easy to become cynical about the motivations of some prominent figures in the global warming movement, but there are a few people who feel passionately enough about their beliefs to put their own life on the line. The Catlin explorers Pen Hadow, Ann Daniels and Martin Hartley are among the most dedicated. They have endured consistent minus 40 degree weather, frostbite, polar bear encounters, frozen sleeping bags, sleepless nights and general misery in their quest to prove that the polar ice caps are warming and melting.
Over the past 24 days they have traveled 84km of their 950km journey to the North Pole, averaging 3.5km per day. Every inch is hard fought across drifting and cracking ice. If their average travel rate were to continue, it would take another 250 days to reach the pole – stretching into the next Arctic winter.
Below are the titles of their most recent blog posts, which hint at the unimaginable difficulties they are facing.
# Mind games
# Like being in a milk bottle
# Frostbite (N.B Graphic Images)
# Spring in our step
# Stabbing pain
# Muscle Immobilisation
# Perran on Power Supplies for the expedition
# The difficulties of filming in such extreme environments
# Chivalry on the ice
# The Quitter
Compare their dedication and grit to Al Gore, who lives in a 20,000 square foot house, has a 150 foot yacht, jet sets around the world, and has made tens of millions of dollars promoting global warming.
No doubt Al is very appreciative of the foot soldiers in his infantry, willing to put their lives on the line for his Nobel cause.
Below is a headline from my personal favorite newspaper the UK Guardian, highlighting the brilliant thought process of AGW entrepreneurs.
Life vests for polar bears on melting ice
To raise awareness for the endangered species, a design company has come up with a life-vest for displaced polar bears.
Read about Polar Bear Life Vests at The Guardian (No, they aren’t made of Gore-tex – Anthony)
So whom do you admire? The entrepreneurs making millions off AGW, or those risking everything to help out the first group (and save the planet.) I know which group I would prefer to belong to.
One more question. If the Arctic really resembled the tropical paradise presented by The Guardian et Al, wouldn’t the explorers have a tough time walking across the (non-existent) ice?
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Jakers (09:52:22) :
It seems unlikely they’ll be able to collect useful data, and it also seems there’s little point in them doing it at all, considering useful data is already collected by other means. It is *effectively* being done – regardless of the intent or convictions of these three people – for the publicity, as callous as that may sound. And it will continue to be whipped into the ongoing media frenzy over AGW, blotting out genuine scientific work being done by equally passionate – and true – scientists. *That* is the irksome part.
However, I have to re-state that these are human beings prepared to risk a lot, if not all, in service of something they (not I, I hasten to add!) believe in. They deserve admiration for that. These are not thrill seekers climbing a mountain for selfish pleasures. They really do believe they’re doing the right thing, and however misguided I may think they are, I wish them well and a safe return.
Even if they end up looking like Mick Jagger…
Shackleton, Amundsen, Scott, Mallory and Irvine, are amongst my boyhood heroes; who dared to brave unknown dangers to push forward the frontiers of knowledge; and it cost most of them their lives.
It is totally offensive to me; beyond any words in my lexicon; to abide publicity stunt fools like these people; who venture into these still hazardous regions simply to push a misguided agenda.
No doubt they will expect to be rescued by some other true heroes, when they get their sorry carcases in over their heads. I can only hope that Mother Nature deals with their foolhardiness; in her usual appropriate fashion.
“To strive, to seek, to find; and not to yield !” Robert Falcon Scott 1912.
George
Jihad?
Useful data?
Professional operation?
Give us a break. This is nothing more than a bottom drawer publicity stunt.
It’s a joke.
But the real joke comes when the global warming jihadists use their scant data to irrefutably conclude “rapidly melting ice cap” – no matter that the oceans of satellite data tell a different story.
bill (05:51:59) :
Would all your comments be so inhumanly despicable if GW was not one of the areas of investigation?
I am very saddened by your poisonous comments on this endeavour.
Would your over-the-top description of the comments here be so hysterical if you weren’t such a True Believer in the CAGW/CC nonsense?
Describing this expedition as an “investigation” of “GW” would be laughable if it weren’t so pathetic. The AGW part they’ve already decided on, the only thing being “investigated” is the “C” part, and that is only the matter of degree – i.e. “we KNOW we’re heading for Climate Catastrophe, we just want to know How Big of one and How Soon it will happen.” Yes, real scientific.
HYPOTHERMIA
Indeed somone may wish to relay the following link to our three heroes in the Arctic:
http://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/science/cold_hypothermia.htm
A fascinating read.
In fact everyone should read this in preparation for the oncoming global cooling and little ice age.
Maybe that’s the problem with all them stubborn, obstinate warmers – they’re all suffering from hypothermia!
At least they are certainly exhibiting all the symptons of stage 1 and 2 hyprothermia with all their uncooperativeness and trembling.
Forward progress will be an issue.
http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/data/satellite/hrpt_dfo_ir_100.jpg
By George that’s it!
The warmists are suffering from hypothermia.
SYMPTONS:
1. victim denies initial symptons.
2. has impaired judgment.
3. loss of ability to make rational decisions.
4. fails to follow simple procedures.
5. shows an unawareness of the cold.
6. appears to be in a state of suspended animation.
7. hallucinations – may become “giggly” and regress to a child-like state.
Fits like a glove.
Their hypothermia most likely due to them turning down the damn heat to save CO2!
Today’s LST image.
http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/realtime/single.php?2009086/lst2.A2009086152000-2009086152500.1km.jpg
No open ice… yet. The polar bears are getting hungry, Arctic Fox tracks have been seen. The bears have very poor eyesite, but they make up for that with their sense of smell. It’s a good thinking to put their sleeping bags on top of their sledges in the sunlight to dry out the 3+ pounds of 25+ day unwashed moisture. Just wait til it warms up a bit…
Anthony, do you really think as others do here that these 3 humans deserve to die?
~snip~
Bill
Bill,
I have read every comment. You are not representing what is being discussed.
I for one hope that they collect as much data as they possibly can AND share it with the public. I hope they make it to the North pole and arrive home safe.
They are merely ignorant of their cirrcumstances.
Bill,
No one is advocating the deaths of these misguided individuals and you are leaping on some overblown hyperbole. What is of great concern is that lives of other people will be risked to pull these snow-blind fools off the ice. I have flown in the Arctic and it is very unforgiving, with dramatic weather changes and few alternate airfields. My sympathies lie with the Twin Otter and Turbo-Dakota crews who will be risking life and limb to supply – and ultimately rescue – the so-called expedition. Take your AGW blinders off.
Having spent two peace time Korean winters as a soldier in the field it certainly made me appreciate how much more challenging it was for those who fought there during the Korean War. We were well supplied and well fed and only had to spend no more than 14 days actually living in the field and it was a real challenge. For those reasons I can appreciate the hardships they are enduring but at the same time it is self-inflicted to no good purpose so I am not too sympathetic overall.
I feel much sorrier for those people in North Dakota flooded out of their homes, snowed upon, cold, hungry, and all through no fault of their own. I am sure they would be praying for global warming.
Ta, John
LOL I wanna see a video of the person putting the vest on the polar bear..
There’s a whole lot of issues stirred into one strange stew here.
Adventure is one thing and should have the best available preparation – but it seems short-changed here, thus putting lives at risk unnecessarily. Or are they more aware and prepared than we have given them credit for – since they cannot answer us here?
Scientific work is another thing – but surely all the science of this trip could be done far more safely and accurately and usefully in other ways – or perhaps already exists?
Publicity stunts is another thing – and for something the stunt people sincerely believe is worthwhile, is to be applauded.
What frightens me is the way so many good people have been conned into believing AGW.
Yet the AGW fear is also driving inventiveness in developing energy alternatives that actually work.
But here on this thread, most folk are probably like myself, distressed by the global con of AGW which is truly life-threatening (cold=famine, unprepared=worse; conned into expensive but useless mitigation=even worse; having a trustworthy science silently eroded=unimagineable consequences because it’s a retreat into the mentality of the Inquisition).
Lies, damn lies, and IPCC statistics don’t sit comfortably with me as a good basis for anything. I want to see these three doing stunts for something that is a real issue, like waking up to global cooling. I want them visibly in cooperation with local wisdom, and aware of Arctic history longer than just the current generations who have only known warming. I want to see their faith in “scientific consensus” shattered. I want them to know that debate matters and has been suppressed. I want them to know that a lot more of us would support them if they weren’t supporting what we know is lies and misrepresentations about the climate. I want them to know that for all we are exasperated and distressed by their actions, we don’t wish them dead.
My post was trimmed of the more important statement – I’ll not repeat it – but it changed the purpose of my statement.
DaveCF (12:20:52) :
No one is advocating the deaths of these misguided individuals and
Rachelle Young (20:52:54) :
I would be content to see all three of them freeze to death or be eaten by ‘endangered’ polar bears.
They have also been called fools, martyrs, selfpublishists, delusional, idiots.
Experienced?
“Pen is also the first Briton to trek without re-supply to both North and South Geographic Poles. He has been a professional polar guide for 18 years. Pen will be responsible for all surveying and observational procedures for gathering the water column, sea ice and weather data. ”
“It was during this expedition that Ann (44) fell in love with the polar regions and the challenges of expedition life. In 2000 she co-led a five-strong, 700 mile sledge-hauling trek to the South Pole which became the first British women’s team to complete this journey. Then in 2002 Ann became one of two women, in an originally three-strong team, to reach the North Pole after a gruelling 500 mile, 80-day epic trek in atrocious conditions”
2 out of 3 is not bad!
Hasse@Norway (23:09:01) :
Yeees! People who try to find melting ice 40 below always gets my respect, or not. Survival under extreme conditions require a clear head and common sense, a trait not normally found among the extreme AGWers
For goodness sake, Every year some of the ice melts – the temperature of the air/water must be the cause – it is not -40 all the time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ps… for three supposedly experienced explorers, I find their planning lacking. In a case where your life depends on planning… that means disaster. The sheer fact that they nearly ran out of supplies is an example of such poor planning.
I do not wish them bad luck, however I think they are extremely reckless and stupid.
Meanwhile folks in N Dakota and other recent disaster victims, hit by mother nature’s wrath, need good neighbors:) They are in their circumstance through no fault of their own. I would rather focus my time helping them and worrying about them then 3 Darwin award candidates who are risking their lives for “data” that will mean absolutely nothing as far as CLIMATE discovery.
Bill,
Given that they are all so experienced are their dramatic and breatless reports only playing to the gallery?
“Ien,
“If they were smart they would admit they didn’t prepare properly and didn’t know what they were doing … and come home and do it next year with better gear.”
But this year is already the “next year”.
Look for “Vanco Arctic Survey – Expedition” in google.”
I just looked at that website, and I see the same picture they have on the NEW website, which I mistakenly assumed was from THIS expedition…the one with someone swiming through open water, pulling their supplies, wearing a submersion suit. So that’s not from NOW, and it’s not even from 2008…must be file footage??? That’s a bit misleading.
“Jakers (09:52:22) :
Should I be surprised by all the mean-spirited comments posted here? Are most people posting here really that wound up in anti-AGW jihad that they wish evil on people who are out collecting useful data in dangerous conditions?”
anti-AGW jihan…LOL…that’s pretty good.
Now, seriously, the problem here seems to me to be that you believe the data will be useful, and I do not. That’s why I believe it’s a selfish endeavour on other people’s nickles. Call it what it is. So let’s start there. What use will the data be put to?
JimB
John Laidlaw:
“However, I have to re-state that these are human beings prepared to risk a lot, if not all, in service of something they (not I, I hasten to add!) believe in. They deserve admiration for that. These are not thrill seekers climbing a mountain for selfish pleasures. They really do believe they’re doing the right thing, and however misguided I may think they are, I wish them well and a safe return.”
I’m not at all sure what they believe in. There are several possibilities, and without actually spending time with them and knowing them much better than I do now, I’m not willing to make that leap of faith.
For instance…they may have just wanted to walk to the North Pole, and figured out that if they put the jaunt in an AGW wrapper, they could get it paid for. Deep down, they may care nothing about GW, and have an incredible desire to hike to the pole. Nothing “honorable” about that…and I don’t admire them.
Having said that, I wish them no ill… but what they’re doing is pretty silly.
JimB
Their problem is that they started so early in the season, the thermometer used by the experienced Pen ends at -40 C, that is an indication that they did not expect such extrem temperatures as thay now have experienced.
Their comments so far is not supporting AGW just the opposite.
More “suggestions” from computer modelling about the Arctic ice disappearing:-
http://www.ucar.edu/news/releases/2008/permafrost.jsp
Bill,
I said I would be content to have these Paris Hiltons of AGW freeze to death or be eaten by polar bears. As Dave CF pointed out:
“My sympathies lie with the Twin Otter and Turbo-Dakota crews who will be risking life and limb to supply – and ultimately rescue – the so-called expedition.”
Members of my family, and some of my friends, have flown in the Arctic. It is dangerous; people die doing it under usual conditions. It is made much more dangerous when idiots wander into a situation that calls on pilots to fly into sub-marginal conditions they would normally avoid just to rescue fools out to win publicity. If these three would-be AGW celebrities perish, just maybe it will put an end to publicity stunts like these that put the lives of real heroes at risk.
Sooner or later, somebody is likely to die because of these stunts. Better the fools than the folks called upon to rescue them.
As an afterthought, if they freeze to death, in a way it will be because of ‘global warming’–or, rather, their belief in it.
These guys had better get off the ice soon, as it is all going to melt 🙂
Well, several posts have commented the the 3 are fools and don’t know what they’re doing, but a quick look at their bios seems to show they are very experienced polar explorers.
Others have suggested that subs and buoys are getting enough data, but the navy seems to have better things to do with the subs because it’s not collecting much thickness data, and the buoys must be stuck in the ice, right, and just giving a point of data – which may even be influenced by the buoy frozen into the ice. This expedition can create a baseline measurement of the cross section, can it not, to compare to in future years?
Also, if they are just “publicity stunt fools” they aren’t doing a very good job, as it isn’t very high-profile. I see their science partners are the US Naval Postgraduate School, Cambridge, and JPL.
And I still think the death-wishes are a sad indicator.
Lucy Skywalker (12:36:34) :
There’s a whole lot of issues stirred into one strange stew here.
Great post, Lucy….Thanks.