Chapter President Tom Atkins gave a wonderful presentation on the 1988 CANADA / USSR TRANS POLAR SKI TREK EXPEDITION

"Seventeen years ago in February 1988, a joint Soviet/Canadian expedition left the Severnaya Zemlya Archipelago to cross the North Pole to Canada by ski. This long and dangerous journey ended successfully 1435 UTC June 1,1988 at Cape Columbia on Ellesmere Island after a 90 day journey.

It is an historic story about courage and endurance, and is a lasting tribute to the skiers themselves, assisted by Canadian and Soviet amateur radio operators and some other amateurs around the world, who provided constant communications with the “Moving Group” i.e. the Skiers, throughout the 90 days of the long journey across the most hostile environment in the world.

The amateur radio communications network was the safety and logistical lifeline for this truly epic journey, and is a tribute to all those amateurs who participated throughout the three months of the Expedition in establishing and maintaining this unique amateur radio communications network It is truly a piece of Amateur Radio history which at the time was extensively featured by amateur publications round the world ,as well as extensive coverage in the international media.

Tom Atkins, VE3CDM/VE8UA, together with Chief Operator Barry Garrett, VE3CDX/VE8CDX/ 4K0DX, assisted by a dedicated team of Canadian radio amateurs who performed flawlessly throughout this most challenging international expedition.