About the human powered ice cap crossing vehicle

There are currently THREE approaches to crossing the Greenland ice cap that are being evaluated. Each concept will be thoroughly tested in the harsh environment, high altitudes and freezing temperatures of the Canadian Rockies this winter.

Your input is appreciated. Please send any comments to greg@pedaltheocean.com

#1. The 'IceMachine'

 The IceMachine is a recumbent bicycle encapsulated by a carbon fiber fairing shell. The streamlined body will protect Greg from the elements, provide storage space for supplies, provide a sheltered environment to sleep in, and improve aerodynamic efficiency.

The IceMachine features the Ktrak tracted rear drive - a new product by Ktrak Cycle designed to provide superior traction on snow and granular surfaces.

Advantages:

  • Since the vehicle body also serves as a sheltered living environment, there is no need to haul a portable tent or to spend time in irrecting a tent up for sleeping, resting, waiting out a storm or cooking.
  • At speeds greater than 15 kph, a streamlined body will be far more effieicnt and faster than a blunt shaped vehicle.
  • While pedalling, Greg will be protected from the cold temperatures and the high catabatic winds that flow from the summit of the Greenland ice cap down to the coasts. The streamlined cody shape will also help deflect the winds up and around the vehicle.

Disadvantages:

  • This fully encapsulated vehicle will be very heavy. Since the first half of the crossing is a gradual climb from sea level to 6000 feet of elevation, the heavy weight will make forward progress to the summit very slow, and as a result, will defeat the advantages of the aerodynamic streamlined body.
  • The side profile of the fairing shell would be very unstable in cross winds
  • Crossing terrain that is anything but perfectly flat and smooth would be very difficult in the IceMachine. There are sections of the ice cap that are undulating and hauling the IceMachine over these moguls would be very difficult - peddling it over this rough terrain would be impossible.
  • Due to the heavy weight and size of the IceMachine, progress through deep power would not be possible.

#2. The 'PulkTent'

 The 'PulkTent' concept is a custom designed light weight carbon fiber pulk (sled, sledge) that will carry all of Greg's supplies. The pulk is pulled by a mountain bike featuring the Ktrak tracted rear drive - a new product by Ktrak Cycle designed to provide superior traction on snow and granular surfaces.

If conditions are not suitable for the Ktrak tread, then the rear wheel can be exchanged with a studded ice tire wheel. The spare wheel as well as the mountain bike itself can be carried on the pulk with Greg pulling it with traditional cross country skis, hiking boots, snow shoes or crampons if conditions make cycling not possible.

The pulk top is hinged at the back, and opens up like a 'clam-shell' becoming a tent. The rear of the 'PulkTent' faces into the wind, and entry to the tent if from the protected leeward side. The pulk would have to be secured to the ground with spikes during windy conditions.

Advantages:

  • Since the pulk doubles as a sheltered living environment, there is no need to haul a portable tent or to spend time in irrecting a tent up for sleeping, resting, waiting out a storm or cooking.
  • Since the tent is so easy to errect, making short stops to eat, cook, rest or warm up is much easier, faster and more efficient than having to errect a tratitional tent.
  • The 'PulkTent' is a very versatile vehicle, as it will allow Greg to maintain forward progress during a variety of surface and weather conditions. The mountain bike can utilize a standard studded ice tire for ice or hard packed snow, or the Ktrak tread for soft snow. For deep snow or powder, the bike can be stowed on the pulk, and Greg can use cross country skis or snow shoes. For undulating, rough terrain, Greg can pull the pulk with boots or crampons.

Disadvantages:

  • The PulkTent might not be very stable in catabatic winds. The tent may require additional awnings to deflect the wind.
  • When pulling the PulkTent with cross country skis, it would be heavier due to having to carry the additional weight of the mountain bike.
  • Pulling a pulk is less efficent than carrying the weight of all the gear directly on the mountain bike.

#3. The 'PannierPulk'

 The 'PannierPulk' concept is a custom designed light weight carbon fiber hinged pulk (sled, sledge)that folds into panniers that are mounted onto the mountain bike. The PulkPanniers will carry all of Greg's supplies. The mountain bike features the Ktrak tracted rear drive - a new product by Ktrak Cycle designed to provide superior traction on snow and granular surfaces.

During certain surface conditions, it may be more efficient to pull the weight of the pulk rather than carrying it on the mountain bike. The hard panniers can be removed from the rear of the mountain bike, unfolded and pulled like a traditional pulk.

If conditions are not suitable for the Ktrak tread, then the rear wheel can be exchanged with a studded ice tire wheel. The spare wheel as well as the mountain bike itself can be carried on the pulk with Greg pulling it with traditional cross country skis, hiking boots, snow shoes or crampons if conditions make cycling not possible.

Advantages:

  • This option is probably the most versatile of all three concepts. It allows for the fastest possible speeds during good conditions (the pulk unfolded as panniers being carried by the bike), and acceptable travel speeds during difficult surface conditions or poor weather (pulling the pulk with the mounatin bike, or cross country skis, boots or snow shoes).

Disadvantages:

  • Since there is no tent built-into the pulk due to the 3-way fold, Greg would have to mantually errect a traditional tent.

Equipment List:

Electronics Other Safety
Trimble Recon PDA computer freeze dried food for 25 days Crevasse rescue equipment: climbing harness, carabiners, climbing rope, prussic, webbing slings, crampons.
Iridium Satellite phone toolkit signalling mirror
BGAN mobile internet satellite terminal stove first aid kit
VHF radio cooking gas flares
personal EPIRB goggles with nose guard fire extinguisher
lithium batteries spare bike parts bear spray
Portable solar panel spare misc parts (stove) air horn
Garmin GPS back-up stove
backup GPS on Recon PDA water containers
video camera eating containers and utensils
still camera compass
iPod epoxy and fiberglass repair
spare iPod

knife
spare headphones, earbuds flashlight
books
matches, lighter

Clothing (list provided by Northwinds-Arctic.com)

Body

2 sets of top & bottom long underwear; 1 pair light-weight, 1 pair mid-weight. Capilene polyester is excellent; untreated polyesters, wick-able polyesters (polypropylene) and the new smart wool are good. Patagonia makes a good capilene; Lifa by Helly Hansen is excellent.

1 set of top & bottom expedition-weight fleece, 100 to 200 wt.

1 fleece jacket or pull-over 200 - 300 wt.

1 windproof jacket & pants (or one piece suit) made of Gortex or other wind-proof breathable fabric such as Ventile or a nylon/cotton blend. Look for goodventilation such as full side zips on pants and underarm zips. The hood needs a wire support around the rim or be stiff enough to hold a fur ruff.

1 mid-weight down parka with insulated hood.

Head

2 hats; must offer insulation, wind protection and cover ears. A fleece with a wind-shell cover is great. Lowe makes a good one.

1 pair of sun glasses that block side light such as glacier glasses or wrap around glasses. Eye protection must block 90% of UV rays.

1 polypro or fleece balaclava

1 wind-stopper head band (can double as eye cover to block out the 24 hour light)

Hands

2 pairs of polypropylene glove liners; one thick, one thin

1 pair (plus 1 spare) insulated ski glove, large enough to fit over your liners or

1 pair wind-stopper gloves, large enough to fit over your glove liners

1 pair expedition over mitts; down or fiberfill, large enough to fit over any of the above gloves.

Feet

2 pair (plus 2 spare) polypropylene sock liners; one thick, one thin

2 pair (plus 2 spare) thick socks; smart wool or synthetic blend to fit over liner

ٱ 1 pair of camp booties or down booties for quick trips outside tent

1 pair (plus 1 spare) VBL (vapor barrier liner) socks

Hiking boots

Running shoes

Ski System

Boots & Bindings

Many ski boot & binding systems have been tried, many have failed, none are fail proof. The system that has proven the best is a stiff back-country ski boot like the Meindl or Alpina with a Rotefella NNN BC ski binding. This is the best system for serious skiers.

1 pair Meindl or Alpina (Alpina boots need an insulated over boots, screwed on)

4 pairs of Rottafella NNN BC (step in) bindings Skis, Skins & Poles

Skis: back-country (BC) cross country ski with full metal edges. Black Diamond Aurora (indestructible but heavy), Fischer Europa 99 or 109 or Asnes BC.

Skins for skis

Ski Poles: Ski poles must be strong but not heavy, handle straps should be adjustable

Sleeping bag rated to -20C

Sleeping pads: either a Z-rest or a Ridge Rest (closed celled foam)with an self-inflating Therm-a-Rest (with repair kit).

Personal Items

personal toilet kit: tooth brush, small tube of tooth paste, comb or small brush,

hair elastics for long hair, nail file or nail clippers….etc.

2 chap stick Recommend Dermetone

2 skin cream

1 small sun screen (face is covered most of the time)

expedition journal pen or pencil