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From the Desert to Polar Bear Land

Braving extreme weather conditions with temperatures as low as minus 81degrees as well as wind gusts of up to 100kmph, Al Busaidi encountered polar bears, suffered frostbite, negotiated large rubble fields and thin ice on his way to write history as the first Arab to walk to the Magnetic North Pole.

“I am the first Omani, the first GCC national and the first Arab to walk to the North Magnetic Pole,” Al Busaidi claimed proudly while planting the Omani flag on the North Pole.

Leading a 13-member expedition, all from England, Bahrain-based Omani adventurer took only short breaks to eat and drink the ice that melted.

On his challenging journey from Resolute Bay to the North Pole, Al Busaidi dragged 50kg of equipment without any support from skidoo or even dogs and sledges over an endless frozen sea.

Preparations for the expedition had been ongoing for eight months and Al Busaidi had been training hard, particularly in Canada.

“Fitness endurance and aerobic training is a daily routine now,” he said. “Every day starts with running up stairs, or swimming, or on the cross-country ski machine.”

Though he described his journey to the North Pole as the most miserable experience in his life, Al Busaidi told Khaleej Times that he has still very ambitious future plans.

“I am planning to walk to the Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. I am then going to the highest mountains in Antarctica, South Pole and South America, and the Everest.”

Inaugurating the ‘Pledge to Good Health’ campaign at the Arabian Centre Mall in Mirdiff last Wednesday, Al Busaidi, who used to work with Gulf Air, Bahrain, was chosen as ambassador for the cause of good health and fitness. “Good health takes a man a long way. My adventure, achievement and today a moment of pride for the Arab world begins in a regimented health routine,” Al Busaidi said.

Last week, UAE’s Abdullah Bin Butti returned from participating in the International Antarctic Treaty Expedition, a 15-day journey to the Antarctic peninsula to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the signing of the Antarctic Treaty, according to a statement on official news agency Wam.

The expedition was led by polar explorer Robert Swan OBE, along with an international team of 47 participants from 16 nations to focus on leadership towards the strategic climate solutions needed to preserve the planet.

Abdullah Bin Butti from Abu Dhabi was highlighted and reference made to the example of the capital building the world’s only carbon-free city expected to be completed in the next few years.

“Our leaders must use the Antarctic Treaty as an example of one of the great success stories of the past century: nations working together for the common goal of protecting our planet,” Swan said.

The Antarctic Treaty, signed 50 years ago in Washington DC, is a shining example of international cooperation to preserve Antarctica for science and peace, according to the statement.

ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.ae

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