Transpolar Arctic autonomous ski trip, 1998

The second WEB-page devoted to Transpolar Arctic trip, 1998

The Expedition Center "ARCTICA" was set up on the basis of a scientific and sports expedition in 1992. That expedition involved preparing and carrying out trips in the most unreachable regions of Russia's Far North, including the Central Arctic. The Center was established by the Moscow Regional Center of the Russian Geographical Society, the Traveler's Association, and the Russian Pole Explorers Association.

The Center's origins began in 1979, when a group of people of great endurance and physical strength carried out ski trips in the northern part of Russia. These trips emphasized a maximum autonomy of the group. During each trip, all members could only rely upon themselves, food stocks and equipment carried with them.

Since then, these ski trek teams have covered more than 20,000 km along the Arctic coastline, islands, and drifting ice. About 140 people have taken part in expeditions of the "ARCTICA" Center. Twenty people reached the North Pole during the ski polar expeditions in 1989, 1990 and 1994. Two of them were on the Pole twice and one three times.

In 1994 a team of eight skiers managed to reach the North Pole absolutely unaided from beginning to end. In other words, there were no reinforcements, air support, evacuations, etc. and the entire group started and finished the trip as one. This was the first time in the history of polar trips that such a trip was accomplished.

The Center's activities are supported by well-known Russian travelers, polar explorers and scientists, such as Yuri Senkevich, Artur Chillingarov, Igor Zotikov, Vitaly Volovich.

Vladimir Chukov,
President of "ARCTICA" Expedition Center.

Please send your questions and suggestions to: kaz@classic.msk.ru

That site is still under construction. Please, visit us periodically.

This page last updated on April 3, 1998.