Clinton News-Record, 1986-07-09, Page 15Polar Expedition
The six -person Steger International
Polar Expedition that reached the
North Pole was outfitted in clothing
made of Du Pont -certified insulations`
and fabrics.
Led by Will Steger, 41, and Paul
Schttrke, 30, both of Ely, Minn., the ex-
pedition included Ann Bancroft, 30, a
school teacher from Sunfish Lake,
Minn., the first woman to complete the
trek to the Pole. The three described
their feat at a news conference.
"The expedition's success relied on
the moisture -resistance of the in-
sulating materials we used," said
leader Will Steger. "We were allowed
only 2 percent error in our survival
system. Du Pont's man-made fibers
proved their worth; they really
worked."
Steger and Schurke made limited
concessions to modern technology. One
execptlon was in their clothing system.
Experienced Arctic travellers, they
selected high tech fibers over tradi-
tional skins to protect them from the
harsh Polar environment.
Steger's party began the journey on
March 8 from Ward Hunt Inland, the
northernmost point of Canada, with 49
sled dogs• and eight people. Six people
reachedthe Pole. One member, Robert
McKerrow of New Zealand, was
airlifted to safety in mid-April after in-
juring his ribs when a one -and -a -half
ton sled rolled on top of him. Another,
Robert Mantell of Anchorage, Alaska,
was evacuated a few weeks later, suf-
fering frostbitten toes.
In their unsupported journey, the
group was required to carry all its food
and supplies from the beginning. Each
of the team's five spruce sledges weigh-
ed more than 1,600 pounds from the
onset, most of the weight in food for ex-
plorers and dogs. The explorers con-
sumed 6,000 to 7,000 calories daily of
mostly fat and carbohydrates.
In the early stages of the trek the
team battled 40 to 70 foot pressure
ridges: "mountain ranges" of ice caus-
ed by shifting Arctic currents. By April
1, the party had covered only 102 of the
500 -mile journey.
During the 56 -day trek, temperatures
dipped to 71 degrees below zero –
literally off the scale on their weather
instruments – with winds up to 50
m.p.h. The team encountered mile -
long stretches of open water. After
Sports
CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 1986—Page 15
Naturally Speaking
By Steve Cooke
Lawries still1e
Men'
Lawries
Dynamos
Merners
Norholme
Vikings
s Fastball Standings
GP W L
13 11 1
14 10 4
12 6 5
12 3 8
13 0 12
Top 10 Batters
D. Riehl (M)
B. Bromley (L)
G. Collings (N)
B. Van ivmnuys (D)
D. Bartliff (M)
$. Millar (D)
L. Van Wonderen (N)
B. Millar (D)
S. Cook f L)
D. Allan (L)
T
1
0
1
1
1
AB H
38 19
32 16
27 l};
44 21)
33 15
41 18
37 16
40 17
39 16
40 16
Last Week's Scores
July 2:
Merners 4, Lawries 6:
Dynamos 11, Vikings 0.
Pts
20
13
7
1
RA
.500
.500
.481
.455
.455
.439
.432
.425
.410
.400
reaching the 86 -degree North latitude
mark, however, ice became smoother
and the group„ began their final run to
the Pole, averaging 20 miles per day.
Navigating by sextant alone, the
team guided themselves to within 200
feet of the Pole. Navigation in-
struments on the Twin Otter airplanes
sent to pick up the team confirmed their
final destination: 90 degrees North
latitude.
Three teams of male dogs were
selected for the expedition from Inuit
villages:in the Canadian Arctic. Most of
the others were bred by Steger in his
Minnesota kennels and were part
husky, part wolf.
In addition to Steger, Schurke, and
Bancroft, those who completed the trek
included Geoffrey Carroll, 35, of
Juneau, Alaska, a wildlife biologist;
Brent Boddy, 31, of Frobisher,Bay, Nor-
thwest Territories, an Arctic outfitter;
and Richard Weber, 26, of Cantley,
Quebec, a four -time Canadian cross-
country skiing champion.
When trekking to the North Pole,
sleeping, eating and staying warm
were primary concerns. On the Steger
International Polar Expedition, all
three activities were usually carried
out in a sleeping bag.
"Every moment not breaking trail or
setting up camp was spent in our sleep-
ing bags insulated with Du Pont -
certified `Quallofil'" ", explains leader
Will Steger, "We changed our clothes
inside the bag and even ate our meals in
it."
The team's sleeping bags were
specially designed for the Expedition
by Sierra Designs, Berkeley, Calif. Ac-
cording to production and design
manager Paul Kramer, the bag is one
of the most technically complex ever
developed. "It is warmer than sleeping
bags used on. Mount Everest, or
anywhere else for that matter," he
said.
Steger requested a single bag con-
struction, rather than the usual
expedition -style double bag system.
This permitted a fast getaway in case
ice broke up under the tent — the
greatest fear of every member of the
Expedition.
One of the bag's most interesting
•features is a breathing tunnel — an in-
sulating cone that fits above the face to
„permit Expedition members to preheat
ir with their own breath.
"In niinus 60 degrees F. you can't af-
ford to lose heat from your lungs. The
breathing tube helps pre -warm the air
before inhalation," says Kramer.
At the onset, the Sierra Designs bag
weighed 10 pounds, with 13 inches of
loft. Over the course of the trip,
moisture accumulated added nearly 30
pounds to the bag in the form of ice.
"Despite the heavy build up of ice,
which we knew would occur even before
we departed, `Quallofil' continued to
keep our bodies warm," notes co -leader
Paul Schurke. "Almost every other
Polar expedition has failed because of a
sleeping bag probletn. We chose
`Quallofil' for its ability to insulate even
when wet; we were amazed at how well
it lived up to our expectations."
Schurke explains that upon entering
the bag, heat from the body would melt
the inside layer of ice. The moisture
would wick to the outside of the bag,
leavin0 to 4 inches of dry `Quallofil' in-
sulation next to the body.
Towards the end of the trip, the group
abandoned two of the bags, along with a
boat, and the majority of their ice tools.
"We realized we had tolighten our
load if we were going to make it to the
Pole before our food ran out," says
Steger. The team then zipped two bags
together and slept three people in the
two bags. The Steger International
Polar Expedition reached the North
Pole on May 1. Their success marks the
first confirmed self-sufficient journey
to reach‘rtfie Pole by dog sled.
•
n . fastbalI. action
July 7:
Vikings 1, Lawries 8;
Norholme 7, Dynamos 11.
Upcoming Games
,July 9:
8 p.m. Dynamos vs Merners;
Vanastra curlers
If you drove by' the Vanastra Curling Club
on July 5 and saw several cars parked
around, you may have thought that you
were dreaming - it must be curling time
again.
This, however, was not so, as some of the
curlers and their friends were on a bus trip
to Toronto to see a Blue Jays baseball game.
The bus rang with laughter, loud voices
and a few . other familiar sounds, as
everyone thoroughly enjoyed this summer
outing.
New bowlers are welcomed
CLINTON - On July 1 at the Clinton Lawn
Bowling Club, Jitney night was held, with
some newcomers in attendance.
The club members welcome the
newcomers, and hope to see them again.
Dom and Lois Haines were the winners for
that evening.
In Goderich on July 1, Walter Newcombe
and Della Slavin from the Clinton club were
among the winners.
Walter. Newcombe and -Della Slavin. were.
again among the winner. when Mitchell]
hosted M and M on July 5.
On June 29 at a Stratford tournament,
Elmer Murray and Audrey Walsh, both
from Clinton, came in fourth.
Clinton bowlers placed well at the Ellison
Travel Tournament held in Exeter on July 6.
Della Slavin, Walter Newcombe and Ken
McDougal placed third, Bert and Jean
Gray, along with Leo Ryan finished fourth,
and Don and Lois Haines, with Cliff Ashton
came sat fifth, . ,..
9:30 Vikings vs Norholme.
July 14:
8 p.m. Norholme vs Lawries;
9:30 p.m. Vikings vs Merners.
go to Toronto
After satisfying their appetites at Strat-
ford, everyone relaxed for the trip back to
the curling club.
A great time was experienced by all,
thanks to the organizer and congenial host,
Bob Hayter.
Don't forget the club's golf tournament in
August at the Bluewater Golf Course.
Clinton News -Record
Announcing savings you'll find
in the Classifieds.
ATTENTION
All Willy's Mini -Golfers!
Keep practicing for the
*First Annual
WI LLYBURG
OPEN
Coming the endof Summer
FIRST PRIZE
900. CASH
More Prizes
to be
announced!
SUNDAY AFTERNOON
COME AND SEE
QNTAFiO'S BEST AT
CLINTON RACEWAY
*30,000
N f uRSS
FEATURIN'G:.. ONTARIO'S FEST
YgAr4-t t f COLT PAC TS
Bring the whole family
for a fun afternoon at...
CLINTON RACEWAY "a
IEiEECH STREET
POST TIME 1:30 P.M.
BUROIR STOP
"Tile Nein® of the Berger"
HWY. 8 WEST, CLINTON
.pho ,,dhaaa for fasfor ilirvls®-
OPEN, PAYS A WOK 11 Atilt.:14 PM
SAUi't fltr, 8, SAY. 11LL 12 MIDNIGNI
SUNDAYS i1:Sb AM, Via iO PM
101040 !Os Mild$ OOH w).
Miniature golf enthusiasts were out for the opening of Willy's 18 hole mini -golf course on
July 4. The course, located at Willy's Burger Stop on Highway 8, will test the putting
skins of beginners as well as those who have been golfing for awhile. Jason Carter had a
good grasp of the game and was the first one to take a shot during the grand opening.
(Anne Narejko photo)
Ball hockey standings
Buccaneers
Rebels
Rattz
Outlaws
Flying Dutchmen
Bandits
Porch Climbers
Flemings
Top Ten Scorers
G
13
6
8
13
10
4
6
4
4
John"Scruton
Sean Van Dongen
Bob Dupee
Mark Cantelon
Bobbi Badd
Harold VanderGlas
Scott Ducharme
Vince Brocha
Dan Horton
W
7
5
4
4
2
2
1
1
L T PTS
0 0 14
1 1 11
2 1 9
3 0 8
4 1 5
5 0 4
5 1 ° 3
6 0 2
A PTS
7
10
7
2
5
7
4
5
5
20
16
15
15
15
11
10
99
Randy Marriage 3 5 8
Dave Wright 4 4 8
Tykes take
Dashwood, 7-3
CLINTON - On July 5, the Clinton Tykes
,baseball team played Dashwood, defeating
them 7-3.
In the first inning, with Lee Gibbings and
Penny Carteron base, Ben Lobb hita home
run to give Clinton a 3-1 lead.
Clinton increased their lead in the second
inning when Graham Adams hit Danny
Wildfong in.
The next inning revealed good ball play-
ing on the part of both teams.
With Clinton holding the lead in the final
inning, Brian Watson smacked a triple to
send home Kevin Meade, leaving the score
at 7-3.
The Tykes next game will match them
against Lucan, in Lucan on July 10.
(pit
V
E
TRAVEL TRAVEL
EXTRA!
LOW PRICED CHARTER FLIGHTS TO
WESTERN CANADA
(Calgary al t Valncoiuver)
R
A
V
E
99
Round Trip Airfare
LIMITED TIME OFFER
ROUND TRIP
CHARTER
Departing Toronto
Jun 5.0
Jun 26
un 27•
Aug 28
Aug 29 -
Oct 31
CALGARY. Wednesdays
1 WEEK
. 299
329
299
2 weeks
329
359
329
VANCOUVER- Thursdays
1 WEEK
339
359
339
2 weeks
359
389
359
Martel;,
1 WEEK ..
359
379
359
2 wlieeka
379
409
379
[yaw ware
litiornuithincall your
Otlaw4top Trrri'arali Carates
4nrol or linin et , 4424300
E
E