“There is no room for error,” warns Isak Rockström. “Out here, the only assistance would come from the few Canadian Coast Guard icebreakers patrolling the Arctic.”
For the last two months, Isak, 26, and his brother Alex, 25, have been braving the frigid conditions of the Arctic Circle.
The brothers have traversed the treacherous landscape of the Northwest Passage, collecting crucial data on climate change.
Their journey has included perilous encounters with icebergs and fierce winds around Iceland.
One particularly challenging moment occurred just before their recent interview when they faced 52mph winds while navigating a fjord, which nearly pulled them ashore.
“The winds were so strong that we weren’t moving with the engine at full power,” Isak recalls.
Near Devon Island, the largest uninhabited island globally, they risked grounding due to insufficient charts of the area.
They had to quickly adjust their sails and improvise to bring down the main sail, as Alex describes.
Isak describes their most challenging crossing as the lengthy stretch around Greenland in thick fog and ice.
It felt like they were “trudging through relentless gales or fog.”
“One day, the fog lifted just enough to reveal a tunnel in the clouds, and we finally laid eyes on Greenland—a reassuring sight,” he adds.
Every year, only a select few crews successfully navigate this passage, and the Rockström brothers are among its youngest adventurers.
As they near a particularly daunting segment of the journey, emotions are high; they both anticipate the challenges ahead.
Since departing from Norway in June, the Abel Tasman has journeyed around Iceland and Greenland, now entering the challenging northern waters of Canada.
The brothers hope to arrive in Nome, Alaska, by early October.
Isak, now older than Canadian Jeff MacInnis when he completed this journey at age 25 in 1988, is set to become one of the youngest to conquer the Northwest Passage.
Despite their age, they are seasoned sailors; in 2019, they sailed from Stockholm, Sweden, to Mexico.
As captain and first mate, their bond has deepened throughout this expedition, with their small crew forming a close-knit unit.
“We understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses,” Isak shares. “We don’t step on each other’s toes.”
Alex expresses his long-held desire to sail the Northwest Passage, intrigued by maps and stories of explorers, and he acknowledges the impact of climate change on this unique region.
He reminisces about a night of sailing near Greenland that he says will stay with him forever.
“We sailed under the midnight sun, weaving through gigantic icebergs, with stunning light illuminating the landscape. It was breathtaking.”
Initially skeptical about the expedition, Isak was swayed by the unique blend of danger and adventure it promised.
The overall expedition leader has become a guiding figure for the Rockström brothers, fostering a familial atmosphere aboard the Abel Tasman.
Their father, a prominent climate scientist, supports the expedition’s goal of raising awareness about the increasing risks of climate change in the Arctic.
The expedition aims to highlight how climate change amplifies the dangers of crossing the Northwest Passage and affects critical Arctic systems.
Research indicates that regions of the Greenland ice sheet may be at risk of accelerated melting if global temperatures rise significantly.
The Rockström brothers balance their data-gathering efforts with their studies in climate science, underscoring the urgent need for environmental research.
Recent observations show that the waters near Greenland are colder and less saline, suggesting increased ice sheet melting.
As they face significant challenges ahead, Isak acknowledges the anticipation of these difficult waters.
The leader warns that while melting Arctic ice facilitates navigation, it also creates unpredictable icebergs.
Surreal landscapes surround them.
“The scenery resembles Mars,” Keith describes their current spot, surrounded by rugged, desolate terrain.
Aside from a few walruses and polar bears, the crew enjoys the solitude of this extraordinary environment.
