We are constantly reminded what a small world it is, and today was no exception. While preparing to entertain the team with music, the Oasis basecamp manager, Vladamir, got out his squeeze box. Rick took one look at the squeeze box, and instantly recognized it. He then took a second look at Vladamir and recognized him as the first person he encountered after skiing over 120 miles to the North Pole in 1993. The story of the 1993 expedition to the North Pole is an incredible one, with an 11th hour push to reach the pole in time for a pre-arranged pick up flight. To make a long (and amazing) story short, Rick ran into Vladamir by complete chance precisely AT the North Pole. This was back when there was no polar tourism industry and very, very few people even considered traveling to the North Pole. There were no other humans within hundreds of miles, but there was Vladamir, playing his squeeze box at the North Pole for a small group of Austrian tourists. They were equally as surprised to see Rick and the other skiers appear out of the white horizon. The two teams celebrated together, then Rick gave Vladamir a Magellan GPS. Vladamir recalled this event with great fondness saying that he was "the only person in all of Russia to have a GPS!" We are delighted that they have reconnected after all these years, and at the opposite end of the planet!
(The 1993 North Pole team celebrating after a chance
encounter with Vladamir's group at the North Pole)
The team hopes to fly to the South Pole in two days. Check back tomorrow for another update from the ice!
