Expedition pictures update

During the expedition we have had hard time to charge all the electronics, mainly because we were in a valley and some days with cloudy weather. It became to much electronic equipment for the solar panel we used, and a hard lesson learn. Next time I will use the same as on all of my polar trips. Big lithium batteries. Another challenge and experience was using the sat.phone in a rivervalley like we had. It was sometimes hard to get signals and too short airtime to transfer a picture.

Back home

Well back in Norway after six fantastic weeks on Madagascar. The four weeks journey down the river has been even more exciting, more challenging and more beautiful than expected. It will take time to digest all the memories, and they will never be forgotten. One of the best memories is all the friendly and helpful people during the whole travel. Big smiles everywhere! The wildlife and scenery has been breathtaking. We have had really good and exciting white-water canoeing. Times to time impossible river, where we had to carry instead of paddle, but it was part of the expedition, expected, and we enjoyed it. Being first to paddle down Mananantanana was also a great feeling. Already missing the daily life and challenges on Mananantanana and Mangoky River J

Follow the expedition on Google Maps!

You can follow the expedition on map here:Madagascar Expedition

Madagascar expedition on schedule!

19th of July we will depart for Madagascar for six weeks. Mangoky River and Mananantanana River (upper part of Mangoky) will be our playground for 640 km. But first we will visit the Capital, Antananarivo. We will need some time to get the cargo (canoe and other gear) through the custom and shopping provision for the entire trip. Then do the last preparation and packing before the 12 hours drive down to Ambalavo and further to Andringitra National Park, where the expedition starts.

Follow the expedition: Madagascar Expedition
Link VG(Canoeing in Sjoa River): http://www.vg.no/reise/artikkel.php?artid=568379

Canoe training on Oppdal and Sjoa

First weekend in July, we had some really good canoeing in Oppdal- and Sjoa River. Heavy white water and good fun. 100 % sure that everything went wrong, but ended up laughing “down-stairs” the canyon, have done something we thought was no possible. Well equipped, but forgot a spray-skirt, and had problem taking in too much water. Sjoa had huge amount of water, because of hot weather for weeks and heavy snow melting in the mountain. We had to take the easy part. Clever! That was enough. Used the spare time to do some modification on the canoe and get control on the equipment. We sent the cargo the 10th and hopfully we will see it the 20th of July in Tana:)

Medical training

Both of us have several medic courses, but it’s always important to do a brush up before each expedition. We had one evening with Dr. Kjell, specialist in anesthetic and he will be the expedition doctor. All the medicine was gone through, and the most possible and common injuries and treats for this type of expedition. Madagascar has tropical climate, and one of the biggest treats is definitely tropical diseases, like malaria, dengue fever, bilharzias, typhoid fever etc. Scorpions and wasps can be annoying. The most important for us will be to take precautions. Cover up bare skin especially in the dusk and nighttime. Further, insect repellant and never drink water without using the water cleaning system.

Cordon Rouge Club

26th of May I had the honor to become a member of the Cordon Rouge Club. This happened on Isle of White. The best was to get the membership together with a expedition hero for myself, which have been an inspiration since I was a little boy, Sir Chris Bonnington. Great! The club was founded in 2008 and was meant to be for UK's best-loved explorers and adventurers . But, the members decided to let me in, even being a Norwegian. Nice! ☺

The club was launched by Champagne G.H. Mumm, and the club was set to be a unique forum for celebrating extraordinary human achievements within the realms of exploration, sailing, adventure and discovery. For showing immense courage and dedication in their particular fields; from conquering mountains to traversing continents single-handed the members are rewarded.

Head of Champagnes at Pernod Ricard UK Chris Seale said at the launch of the club: "Since the House was founded in 1827, Champagne G.H. Mumm has consistently encouraged and supported extraordinary individuals. This spirit is perhaps best summed up by a photograph showing French explorer Captain Jean-Baptiste Charcot, a friend of founding father Georges H Mumm, celebrating reaching the South Pole with a bottle of G.H. Mumm Cordon Rouge in 1904. (Well I do not think Jean-Baptiste reached the South Pole. It was someone else in 1911 ☺ "We wanted to create an official forum to bring together and recognize these outstanding achievers and we’re delighted to have had such an outstanding turnout for our inaugural Cordon Rouge Club event."

North Pole 2009

2nd April – 8th of April I had the pleasure to join and “help” four clients to the North Pole. It was organized by my expedition colleague David Hempelman-Adams. Earlier I have always been walking on skis up there, but this year we did not. We took the Russian airplane from Longyearbyen on Svalbard and up to the Russian station Barneo at 89 degrees 40 minutes north. Then we became airlifted up to the Geographical North Pole by helicopter. A bit strange trip, when knowing my friends John and Tyler is work hard but good, up from Canada on skis. But the travel was jolly good because of very good company and good service from the Russian team. Am I getting lazy? :-)

Winter exercise “on” the border.

Late March I had the pleasure to join the winter exercise for the Norwegian Border guards or Garnison Sor-Varanger. I did participate as a consultant, and gave two lectures and participated in the preparation. Also did some testing and questioning of all the soldiers in co-operation with the Norwegian Defense Institute and University in Bergen. Anyway, the best part was skiing with them for four days from borderpoint Treriksroysa, where the border between Finland, Russia and Norway is, and up north. Temperatures down to minus 34, but beautiful sunny days with motivated and clever people, was a good experience

AO 2000 team link up again, in deep powder.

Torry and me had a perfect weekend at Stranda Mountains and did some insane good down hill Telemarking. We had perfect conditions with lots of powder and nice slopes from the top of the mountains down to bottom of the walleye. Five years since last time Torry and me had similar weekend. Good fun and good food during the evenings and excellent ski rides during the daytime. And maybe I manage to convince him that going on some new trips would be a good idea. Time will show. I have an good idea. Very good!

Amundsen and Scott Race for the South Pole, NRK 2.

The BBC reconstruction documentary of the Amundsen & Scott race for the South Pole is on the screen again on Norwegian Broadcasting Saturdays nights next weeks. I had a very pleasant job as the leader of the Amundsen team. Thanks to very good team mates. On such a project, all is about clear and focused goals, and good skilled team mates.

Norwegian NRK2 - Et iskaldt kappløp

Lectures and results.

Have been doing quite a lot of lectures for the military during last months, both national and international units. Feel like being home when doing it for them. Using my background form the military and the expeditions makes a good mix. I am also preparing for the lecture at the Human Factors & Medicine Panel Symposium in Helsinki. The results from the blood samples and physical and mental questioning on the Antarctica crossing will be presented at this NATO conference. For me it’s an great honour to be a Keynote Speaker there. The focus will be “Soldiers in Cold environment”.

The Longest March on the screen. (11.08.2008)

Finally the program from the Antarctica crossing will be on the screen, but yet, only on Norwegian television. TV2 Monday the 11th at 8 p.m.

Norwegian TV2 - program info

Ten Year Anniversary on top of the world (11.08.2008)

Rune & David is once again on top of the world fighting crevasses and freezing temperatures on their anniversary quest to the North Pole. This time they are also joined by another Hempleman-Adams, David’s 15 years old daughter Camilla. If successful she will be the youngest British woman to ski to the North Pole. The 80 mile trek commences out of the Russian ice station Borneo and they are estimated to reach the pole in 10 days, the 14th of April.

Polar Supply sledge (03.07.2005)

Have been working, together with Acapulka, with a new type of sledge for two years. Last winter we had the final product ready after some prototypes. It’s built on the well-tested and successful Arctic Ocean sledge frame. Why making a new sledge? Just because the Arctic Ocean sledge was made for the Arctic Ocean, rubble ice and water. The new one is specially designed for long journeys across big ice plateaus as Antarctica or Greenland. Because of its shape it’s much lighter than the AO sledge, but has kept its strengths and capacity. This one is a perfect sledge for ski sailing as well with its stability. It will be a winner on future long-term Polar expeditions.

The Amundsen experience (10.06.2005)

Back from three months on Greenland. In mid April I joined a film project that aimed to recreate the race between Scott and Amundsen to the South Pole, as identical as possible. This was an experiment and experience I would not have been without. It was my first expedition with dogs (pretty different from pulling a big sled by my self) and very interesting to feel how the real Amundsen team must have felt on their journey. Certainly it could not be the same, but I think we got a good feeling. On the other hand I got very nice work out on ski, which will help me a lot in November.

The Great Race (10.05.2005)

Rune is at the moment training for The Longest March, participating in a film production. Keo Films has been commissioned to make 6 x 1 hour documentary films series for the BBC and international television markets (National Geographic and the History Channel) about the historic expeditions made to the South Pole by Scott and Amundsen in 1911/12.

Project launch (30.04.2005)

The Antarctica project was finally launched in VG (Norwegian newspaper) last weekend, and the project plan is therefore official. At the same time the seal web get a face-lift with a new design and an update on what is going on. The web will be under construction and updated with news and more info in different categories. But, main focus at the moment is sponsorship and more training.

The Arctic Ocean sledge (21.02.2005)

When David Hempleman-Adams and I failed on our North Geographical Pole expedition in 1997, I realized that a new type of sledge had to be designed and developed for the future Arctic Ocean unsupported crossing. Why? The sledge was the reason of our failure. Or to put it in a more correct way, we had not planned and tested the sledge well enough. Everyone knows that there are no shortcuts to any place worth going Spring 1998 I met Haavard Worren and Anders Ramstad who were students of ship-design. I gave them all the specifications and experiences from my two North Pole Expeditions. Also told them what to expect from the new “super-sledge”. For the Arctic Ocean Crossing it had to be as good in water as in snow and ice. After half a year they had finished the model and we went to Acapulka with Alex in head. We made prototypes and tested them in Northern Canada winter ’99. Did some big changes again, and we had the final product. A pioneer product. With it’s egg-shape principle + other new innovative design and material qualities, it made the sledge to a big successes for us during the crossing. Today we can see that others are copying our thoughts and design. This must mean that we did some good work! Only problem with our Arctic Ocean sledge is it’s size. It’s just too big for a “normal” North Pole expedition. We have to do something with that.

The Polar kitchen: . (03.02.2005)

During several expeditions I have used a special cocking system, which I just call “Willy” It is named after the designer and developer of it, Willy Gautvik. Up through the years I have been lucky to experience different prototypes with good results, Mr. Gautvik has optimised it to be a very light and effective cocking system. I do think it is the only one on the market. Well, several producers have made their own, but not as good as Willy’s. The best quality in it is the energy absorption capacity. Approximately 70% of the energy from the stove is used to melt the snow and heat the water. A normal cocking pot just absorbs approx. 40 %. This means if you use the “Willy” you spare quite a lot of fuel on you expedition. Weight is always a challenge, but it’s not just that. Time is also crucial, and with the high-energy absorption, time used for cocking or melting water is cut down dramatically. It has been specially designed for Polar expedition, but can easily be used on other expeditions as well which need to melt big amount of snow for water supply. It weights 810 gram, and the volume is about 3 litres.

New expedition tent finished. (25.01.2005)

Finally the new tent is ready. Have been working together with the designer at Bergans with an expedition tent during a longer period. It is a two man tent, but if necessary an extreme three man tent. Several prototypes have been made and have been tested in different areas. It is made as a one layer (breathable) but will also be available with an inner tent. Weight is just about 3 kg. I normally use four minutes to set it up, from packed until the guidelines are set. The time setting up the tent can be crucial in difficult situations, but with just four minutes…I’m happy. I have different criteria’s for the tent, but the wind resistance will be of high importance on the next projects, and I feel confident with the shape and what it has proved. I have had the pleasure to use the “final” version during the last weeks as shown on the pictures. This is just hooolaaa shaaakeeer!!!