NASA’s top Arctic scientist predicted an ice-free Arctic for 2012, and there are two weeks of above freezing weather left at the north pole. The ice edge only needs to retreat 100 miles per day from all sides to reach that goal.
COI | Centre for Ocean and Ice | Danmarks Meteorologiske Institut
You can keep an eye on the forecast for the polar region here.
http://mag.ncep.noaa.gov/NCOMAGWEB/appcontroller?returnToModel=yes&page=Model&model=POLAR&area=POLAR&pname=&rname=&areaDesc=North+Polar+Region&cycle=&storm=&prevPage=Param&cat=MODEL+GUIDANCE&imageSize=&currKey=model&prevArea=POLAR
The eye witnesses of the “Arctic Row” talk about heavy ice.
“They’re aiming for Flaxman Island, where the ice should be lighter. From there they’ll make their way westward, under the protection of the island.”
http://www.arcticrow.com/2012/07/27/possible-power/
The should have looked at real satellite picture and not at the past ice cover.
http://www.arcticrow.com/route/