Polar Explorers Liv Arnesen and Ann Bancrocft evacuated from Arctic Ocean

Bancroft and Arnesen's attempt to become first women to cross Arctic Ocean ends after 19 days.  
 
According to their Press Release and information from their website www.BancroftArnesenExplore.com (March 31, 2005), the world-renowned polar explorers Ann Bancroft (49, Scandia, Minn.) and Liv Arnesen (51, Oslo, Norway) were unexpectedly evacuated today from the Arctic Ocean due to a business dispute between two competitive logistics companies that transport scientists, tourists and expedition teams to the Arctic region from Russia. A similar dispute delayed the explorers' departure from Russia earlier this month.
 
The evacuation ends Bancroft and Arnesen's attempt to become the first women to cross the Arctic Ocean. Bancroft and Arnesen had been expecting a re-supply of fuel today, but instead were notified that helicopters were en route to evacuate them and the other two expeditions travelling from Russia to the North Pole — Pole Track (U.S., Norway, The Netherlands) and Ann Daniels (England).
 
The mounting dispute between Bancroft and Arnesen's French-based logisitics company and the competing Russia-based logistics company compromised Bancroft and Arnesen's plan for a safe expedition, which included having emergency operations in Russia through March, and a base in operation near the North Pole (Barneo Ice Station) from April 1 until early May to support resupply and emergency situations should they arise.
 
Bancroft and Arnesen said during their call with expedition headquarters that they were extremely disappointed the conflicts between the two logistics companies could not be resolved. They also expressed their disappointment for the millions of kids worldwide who were following their expedition via the web, schools and museum programs.
 
"It's an absolute sucker punch," Bancroft said in a call with expedition headquarters when she learned they were to be evacuated. "We're not sure how to respond now, but we'll handle it like we do everything else on the ice: try to keep our chin up and keep moving forward.
 
"This journey is not over. Our education initiatives have so much momentum, and we're committed to sharing even more stories from the Arctic when we return."
 
Bancroft and Arnesen were making strong progress towards their goal, having travelled approximately 200 miles of their 1,240-mile goal. For more information, visit www.BancroftArnesenExplore.com.

Some people show ways for others. These two brave women, Ann Bancroft and Liv Arnesen, have deserved a better treatment and destiny. They were caught in the middle of something completely unforeseen. Even this expedition didn`t work out the way it was expected, we in Travel Explorations look forward to hear their stories, and we are sure that they have some interesting information to share with all they who have followed them. We also hope that they keep up their good spirit, and we wait eagerly for their next expedition.

Stein Morten Lund, 1 April 2005