last week alone.” He adds, “So much ice has melted
this summer that the Northwest Passage across the
top of Canada is fully navigable.”
Commenting in Denmark’s Jyllands-Posten
newspaper on August 3, researcher Leif Pedersen
Photo by Chris Rainier
of the Technical University of Denmark, claims “The
Arctic ice cap is at an extreme low. In our 50 years
of data we haven’t seen anything like it. Our latest
satellite imagery suggests the ice cap is more than
40 percent smaller than in 1997 -- a reduction of 2.5
million square kilometers (965,255 square miles).”
One of America’s leading Arctic specialists, Dr.
Mark Serreze, a senior scientist at the University of
Colorado’s National Snow & Ice Data Center, warns
that Arctic ice that has been shrinking for decades
might be reaching a “tipping point that could trigger
a cascade of climate changes reaching the Earth’s
temperate regions.”
He says changes yet to come will be more dramatic
than anything that has happened so far. “A few years
ago I predicted the Arctic might lose its ice by 2100
or maybe 2070. But now I think 2030 is a reasonable
estimate. The Arctic is going to be a very different
place within our lifetimes, and certainly within our
children’s lifetimes.”
Studies link the loss of Arctic ice not only to
a predictable rise in sea levels but to altered
Day 1, South Rim: Andrew on the Bright Angel
atmospheric patterns that cause weather changes
Trail: Elev. � 4420ft/1347m
around the world. Although he doesn’t believe that
Kaibab/Toroweap; Long switchbacks;exposed to
the 4-6 meter (13-20-ft) rise in sea levels predicted
sun and wind; packed dirt, loose rock, fine dust
PHOTO BY JAN BUTCHOFSKY-HOUSER. MS FRAM PUSHES
by some scientists is likely to occur during this
NORTH AS FAR AS THE SEA ICE ALLOWS. ON THIS
VOYAGE, THAT POINT, IN THE NARROW SMITH SOUND
century, Jonathan Overpeck, director of the Institute
BETWEEN GREENLAND AND CANADA’S ELLESMERE for the Study of Planet Earth at the University of
ISLAND, WAS 78 DEGREES 49.5 NORTH, GREENLAND.
Arizona, cringes at the thought of a mere one-meter
(3.2-ft) rise. “A one-meter increase in the sea
level,” he says, “ would see the Maldives disappear;
in collaboration with universities, independent CALCULATING THE OUTCOME OF CHANGING NATURE IS DIFFICULT. STEFAN MAGNUSSON IS ONE OF ONLY documentary Inconvenient Truth has focused make most of Bangladesh uninhabitable, and would
researchers and representatives of Arctic indigenous TWO RANCHERS WHO RAISE REINDEER COMMERCIALLY IN GREENLAND. HE SELLS THE MEAT TO ICELAND world attention on the polar regions, especially inundate low-lying cities like New Orleans.”
peoples. AND CANADA. HE THOUGHT THE DISAPPEARING SNOW WOULD UNCOVER MORE FOOD FOR HIS HERD OF Greenland, and many travelers are drawn to the
Concern over climate change seems to be gaining
2,000 ANIMALS. BUT HE FOUND THAT THE MELTING TOP LAYER OF SNOW REFREEZES AT NIGHT, FORMING world’s largest island (85% of which is still covered
“Greenland’s hunters and fishermen don’t want intensity by the day. As we were leaving Greenland,
A HARD CRUST THAT KEEPS THE REINDEER FROM THE LICHENS BELOW. AND THE NOW-SPOTTY SURFACE by ice) hoping to see it all before it melts.
handouts or the government meddling in their some 200 religious leaders and scientists were
PLAYS HAVOC WITH THE SNOWMOBILES AND HORSES HE USES TO HERD THE ANIMALS. HE MUSES ABOUT
lives. They take pride in pursuing a lifestyle that has “We certainly felt that we should come sooner boarding MS Fram for a week-long symposium
GIVING IT UP. “THIS WAS A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS FOR 17 YEARS,” MAGNUSSON SAID. “UNTIL GLOBAL
allowed the Inuit to survive for millennia under harsh rather than later to see the glaciers,” says Joan entitled “The Arctic: Mirror of Life,” led by Patriarch
WARMING.” (FROM WASHINGTONPOST.COM)
conditions,” says Poppel, “and they are generally Dolian of Dartmouth, MA, who has joined MS Fram Bartholomew, spiritual head of the world’s Orthodox
satisfied with their lives. At the same time we know with her Norwegian husband Per Moen, a retired Christians, and seen as part of a widening spiritual
from this research that a majority of hunters are
Poppel says it is evolving in southern Greenland Another bright spot has been a dramatic rise
cruiseship captain. “We also love the remote drive to combat climate change. In a poignant THE X-1 RACER:
advising their sons to choose different trades.”
where agriculture (chiefly sheep raising and root in tourism. Greenland Tourism reports a 151%
settings and the extraordinary people who make moment, attendees united in silent prayer alongside
crops) has been given a lift due to the longer, increase (to 104,000 visitors) from 2000 to 2006 and
their lives here.” the rapidly retreating Jacobshavn Glacier near
A BETTER TRAIL RACER
Poppel has seen firsthand how the Inuit’s deep-
warmer growing season. those numbers are expected to jump significantly
Ilulissat.
seated cultural traditions make it a very difficult
for 2007 and beyond, boosted by an influx of cruise
While the Arctic ice cap isn’t going to disappear
Wraptor Lite™ support; Stroebel
transition for those who move to town. “There’s
Alfred Jakobsen, Greenland’s minister of the
visitors with the debut in May, 2007, of MS Fram.
overnight, scientists and environmentalists from In his opening remarks at the first-ever United
EVA heel for shock absorption;
a loss of prestige among hunters and fishermen
environment, sees an upside as well. “Global
The new 318-berth, 374-foot (114-meter) vessel,
around the world have expressed heightened Nations General Assembly meeting on climate
who can’t work,” he says, “and the culture begins
warming could result in an opportunity to develop
purpose-built for polar cruising, carried out a
concern about the meltdown owing to a faster than change, September 24, in New York City, UN
SpiderXC™ traction.
unraveling as traditional skills and knowledge are
other resources,” he says, pointing out that several
dozen Greenland voyages following three different
usual loss of ice just last summer. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon put it on the line:
passed on to fewer and fewer children. Unless
oil companies have applied to explore offshore;
itineraries in 2007. According to Monika Tillman,
“Time for doubt has passed…scientists have very
David Adam, environmental correspondent for the
DO more at TEVA.COM
we can adapt to the reality of global warming
mining companies are sniffing out gold, zinc and
U.S. marketing communications manager for the
clearly outlined the severity of the problem. The
UK’s Guardian News, notes in a September 4, 2007,
and its consequences and come up with a plan
uranium, and there’s an aluminum smelter in
Norwegian cruiseline Hurtigruten Group, nearly
world now knows enough to act.”
report that “The Arctic ice cap has collapsed at an
in coordination with the communities affected to
the planning that would utilize gushing glacial For stockists call Ph (09) 373 1460
3,000 passengers signed on during the vessel’s
unprecedented rate this summer and levels of sea For more information: About Greenland: www.
provide a decent future for these people – we will
meltwater for hydroelectric power. Jacobsen
inaugural season.
ice in the region now stand at record lows. Experts greenland.com; about MS Fram’s Greenland cruises:
have a social disaster in the making.”
acknowledges the environmental risks but claims
“it would be hard for Greenland to ignore these gifts No doubt, the media blitz surrounding global
say they are ‘stunned’ by the loss of ice, with an www.hurtigruten.US, and about the symposium,
The original sport sandal. The future
If there is a brighter side to this Arctic meltdown,
from nature.” warming since Al Gore’s Oscar-winning
area almost twice as big as the UK disappearing “The Arctic: Mirror of Life”: www.rsesymposia.org. 
of outdoor footwear. ©TEVA 2006.
WHERE ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS
94612 3 x1-racer NZ Adventure Feb-mar08.indd 1 12/18/07 1:03:49 PM
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3