Her cruise started from Murmansk. Russia and traveled to the North Pole on the nuclear-powered
Russian icebreaker, Yamal, used as a 100-passenger cruise ship during the summer.
You might be interested in reading how to set your GPS to UPS Polar Coordinates (HERE)
 The cruise was provided by Quark Expeditions.

(Click on the pictures below for larger sizes)

Sarah Guides the Russian Nuclear-powered Icebreaker to the Proper Spot!

90° North
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Sarah is standing over the North Pole (which is under the ship).  Here Longitude has no meaning.

We have placed Sarah's waypoints and tracks on a GPS map of the Arctic.

The trip starts from Murmansk "EMBARK" (red track), and then back to the Franz Josef Archipelago (magenta).

This is a more detailed view of the northern tracks

Murmansk to the Pole
(Click on thumbnails below for larger sizes)
The first waypoint, EMBARK (July 22, 2007)
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Murmansk, Russia Seaport ° Floating Dry Dock ° Harbor Guarded by a large Statue

WHALE-1 (July 23, 2007)
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Cold water doesn't bother these creatures.

BEAR-1 (July 24, 2007)
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This fellow had a nice breakfast.

NEPTUNE (July 25, 2007)
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Passengers are treated to a helicopter ride. °  The Yamal grinds along.

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King Neptune summons his helpers and has to make sure the people going to the pole are worthy.  He then gives them the
key to the north pole.  Actually, the story of King Neptune is a sailors story and is for when they cross the equator,
but somehow the Russians use it for going to the North Pole too.  After being deemed 'worthy', the guests all dance in circles!

THIN-ICE and 7-27-07-9A
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Yep, the ice is thin. ° This fellow looks a little young to be piloting an icebreaker! ° Here the ship is about 50 miles from the pole.

July 27, 2007, the day the ship made it to the North Pole
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The GPS indicates only about 5 miles from the pole. ° North Pole? It must be out there somewhere.  ° Hey, we made it; let's celebrate!

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OK, everybody out. ° Doesn't look like the captain is the last to leave his ship! ° Now, let's find that Pole.
 

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Everyone is searching for the Pole. ° Yamal would rather 'eat' the Pole. ° The Pole is actually under the ship, 240 feet from Sarah.

Oh heck, let's call it HERE! ° (Sarah is from Madison, WI)

The Pole back to Murmansk
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Accommodations aboard the Yamal are First Class!

July 29, 2007
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Another Sight-seeing Helicopter Ride which can carry 10 to 12 passengers at a time.

BEAR-TRACK (July 30, 2007)
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Bear Tracks about 150 miles south of the Pole

BEAR-2
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OK, so what's all the excitement about? ° -A beautiful bear posing for his picture!

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Approaching the Franz Josef Archipelago

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Interesting reflection of the ship in calm waters.
Sarah is the faint tan smudge at the top of the white taking the picture.

July 30, 2007 Ashore
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The Trusty Three-engine helicopter lands on Champa Island.  The ice-capped mountains are the highest on the archipelago.

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 -To observe huge geodes, one of which was eventually transported back to the ship.  And there aren't many left!

SEDOV-STA (July 31, 2007) Named for Rudolph Sedov, early Arctic explorer, who is buried there.
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Hooker island and the abandoned Thikaya station -which has "Hazardous" Comfort Facilities!

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Rubini Rock in the distance is actually a rookery for thousands of birds.

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Another Helicopter ride to Cape Flora on Northbrook Island.
Here they met National Geographic explorers, Børge Ousland and Thomas Ulrich, who walked, skied, sledded, and
canoed from the North Pole to Cape Flora.  Now waiting to be picked up by ship.  See (HERE) for the complete story.

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Wild life hangs on even in severe conditions.

The Bear Guard?

WHALE-2 (Aug. 1, 2007)
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There appears to also be two calves traveling along.

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This is as low as the sun got on the whole trip

Aug. 2, 2007
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These Russians have lots of rosy cheeks °  The Last dinner aboard the Yamal went off with a BANG!

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Murmansk, Scenic Harbor ° Strange-looking Aircraft Carrier ° Safely back on shore

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