Signed on the title page by all seven expedition members—Henrik B. Reims, Kari “Poppis” Suomela, Toni Vaartimo, Mikko Vermas, Tero Teelahti, Perttu Ojala, and Jermi Tertsunen—this copy represents a scarce and highly desirable association item tied directly to the expedition itself. The journey, completed on April 29, 2006, stands as the first Finnish expedition to reach the North Pole entirely without external assistance, placing it within the long tradition of polar exploration that includes figures such as Fridtjof Nansen and Robert Peary.

The expedition departed from Ward Hunt Island on March 5, 2006, following extensive preparation including final staging at Resolute Bay. Over 54 days and 23 hours, the team endured temperatures plunging below −45°C, navigating fractured sea ice, pressure ridges, and open leads across the Arctic Ocean. Progress was often slowed to only a few kilometers per day as sledges loaded with food, fuel, and survival gear had to be ferried across unstable ice or open water. The narrative captures the relentless physical strain, sleep deprivation, and psychological endurance required, as well as the team’s reliance on training, discipline, and the Finnish concept of “sisu”—a cultural ideal of resilience and determination.

The book places the expedition within the broader environmental and geopolitical context of the rapidly changing Arctic, highlighting shifting ice conditions, thinning pack ice, and the hazards posed by polar bears and unstable terrain. It also documents the celebratory return to Finland, where the achievement was recognized as a milestone in Finnish exploration history and a symbol of national perseverance.

Richly illustrated throughout, the volume includes extensive color photography capturing the Arctic landscape and the lived experience of the expedition. Photographed subjects include: the drifting pack ice of the Arctic Ocean; pressure ridges and ice rubble fields; open leads and crossings over freezing water; sledges loaded with expedition gear; skis, poles, and survival equipment; Arctic tents and camp scenes; navigation instruments including GPS units; frost-covered clothing and equipment; portraits of expedition members in extreme conditions; group photographs on the ice; the Finnish flag planted at the Geographic North Pole; aerial and map views of the expedition route; and close-up environmental details of snow, ice formations, and polar light conditions.

Additional material includes a “To the Reader” introduction written in Nurmijärvi, Finland (April 29, 2007), summarizing the expedition’s motivations and challenges; a detailed summary of the journey timeline; and reflections on preparation, logistics, and the physical realities of Arctic travel. The book functions both as a visual record and a primary-source narrative of a rare modern polar expedition undertaken in the spirit of earlier exploration but using contemporary techniques and equipment.

Publisher: Poppieok
Date of publication: 2007
Format: Hardcover, no dust jacket
Pages: approximately 200+
ISBN: 9789519837628
Condition: Tight and square binding. Clean pages with no readily visible underlining or writing.