Guardian: Every year at about this time, a Russian cargo plane deposits many tonnes of equipment on an ice floe one degree off the north pole. There, at the 89th parallel, engineers begin construction of a private ice air strip and base camp for scientists, adventurers and, more than ever, wealthy tourists.
From the camp, its a seven- to 10-day trudge by dog sled or ski or, for those less fit or in a hurry, a 40-minute helicopter ride to get to a location where they can legitimately power up the satellite...