Goal of the expedition

The Arctic was the goal of many expeditions in the 19^th century. One of the most important of that time was the “Lady-Franklin-Bay” Expedition under the leadership of First Lieutenant Adolphus Washington Greely (1844-1935 / Photo) and which ended dramatically.
Arved Fuchs sets out on the tracks of the Polar explorer who was one of the founders of the National Geographic Society. Due to the receding pack ice, it is possible – though under great difficulty – to reach the destinations  and the remains of Greely’s unsuccessful expedition. The progressive changes in climate make it possible now to reach regions which were, due to the pack ice, mostly unaccessible years ago.
The ice maps of last year show that the Northwest and also the Northeast Passages were completely free of ice in September, 2008. The ice off the north-west coast of Greenland is constantly receding as well. The “Dagmar Aaen” will therefore attempt to sail as far north as possible in order to reach the historical sites of the Greely Expedition. Given extremely favourable conditions, the expedition expects to cross the 78^th parallel and follow the receding ice.

Tragedy in the pack ice

The goal of the expedition, which started on July 8^th, 1881 under the leadership of Adolphus Greely, was the establishment of a permanent Polar station in Lady Franklin Bay on Ellesmere Island. Numerous scientific observations on magnetism, climate and the tides were planned. With this expedition, Greely opened up a new chapter in Polar exploration. Nations involved in exploration at that time were more interested in national prestige than in a race to the North Pole. Greely’s expedition can be seen, from a present view point, as the foundation of modern exploration of the Arctic and Antarctic and the officer, born in Newburyport, inevitably as one of the founders of this exploration.
In 1881, the USA took part, with the Greely expedition, in the first International Polar Year – a joint exploration project. The research went on most effectively, different tragical circumstances, however, led to a catastrophe. Greely reached Lady Franklin Bay on August 11^th, 1881 with the “Proteus” and a team of 25 members. The ship was unloaded and “Fort Conger”, a shack made of pre-fabricated parts was built, serving as a base station. This marked the beginning of modern exploration. The upkeep of a station, which was manned all year round with the purpose of continually collecting scientific data, was a first at that time. Greely lead his team at Fort Conger with severe discipline, had, however, no experience in travelling the Arctic regions. Prior to this expedition, Greely had changed after the war from lieutenant in the cavalry to the communications corps of the US army.

After one year, the exploration team had gathered an unbelievable amount of data, had done geographical exploration and taken readings and were planning a triumphal return home. But, the “Neptun”  which was supposed to pick up the expedition members at the basis station didn’t arrive and ice masses cut off the route northward. The crew members of the “Neptun” as well as the crew of the “Proteus” and the “Yantic”, both sent out by the American government, failed to set up necessary food depots. In addition, the “Proteus” was shipwrecked not far from Cape Sabine.

Shipwreck at Cape Sabine

Greely decided to abandon the fort in August, 1883. The crew set off with three sloops in a southerly direction and reached an island off of Cape Sabine after 51 days at sea and on ice bergs. Here they found a scanty depot.
Inexperienced in travel in the Arctic regions, the men in Greely’s team made many fatal mistakes, leading to the death by hunger and exposure of 19 from 24 members of the expedition. The men fed on moss and lichens. The German-born soldier, Privat C.B. Henry, was caught putting food aside for himself and was accused of theft and shot – to maintain discipline – just four days before their rescue.
The remaining survivors were found and rescued in June 1884 by the ex-whaler “Thetis”. The sailors came upon a terrible scene; Greely’s men were in hopeless condition. Only 6 of the original 25 members survived the tragedy. Privat Roderich R. Schneider, originally from Chemnitz, died as well just a few days before the rescue. Passages out of his diary were later printed in the New York Times. Schneider was buried in the municipal cemetery in Chemnitz.
Arved Fuchs plans, with  the “Dagmar Aaen”, to sail as far north as possible crossing Smith Sound to Kane Basin and further on to the Sabine Islands where the Greely expedition met with its dramatic fate. Fuchs hopes to find the scenes of the tragedy and follow the different routes the rescue expeditions took, as well as to find traces and depots which might possibly still exist. While it was partially impossible for expeditions back then to push so far north, Fuchs with his ship, fit for travel in the ice and serving as a base station for the expedition, will take advantage of the present ice situation and head for regions which are now accessible. This way the routes of the rescue teams can be followed for the first time.

North Pole Dawn

Arved Fuchs set sail from the harbour of Hamburg in the 9th of June, 2009, for heading for Iceland (Ice-Climate-Education 2009) and further on in direction of Greenland's north west coast and north-east coast of Canada.
This region, with its spectacular high mountain landscape and the largest glaciers in the Arctic, is the goal for the latest expedition - "North Pole Dawn".
This new project will last a whole year, during which the ship will overwinter in the pack ice of the coast of Greenland.
The theme of the project is the Greely Expedition from 1881-84, which ended most tragically. Many expeditions set for the Arctic regions in the 19th century and most of them ended with a catastrophe. Due to the receding pack ice, it is now possible - though with great difficulty - to reach the destination points and remains of this unsuccessful expedition.
Because of the progessive change in climate, it is possible today to reach regions which years ago were mostly inaccessible due to the pack ice.
Besides the search for historical finds, climate changes and recession of the pack ice will play an important role during the project.
Once again, a logbook will be written during the journey along the north-west coast of Greenland.