A ballon challenge

For those people who go out in search of adventure, a long-distance flight in a hot-air balloon is a particularly exciting prospect. Indeed, a round-the-world balloon trip is widely regarded as the ultimate challenge. One well-known adventurer, David Hemplemann-Adams, would not agree, however. Recently, he became the first man to reach the North Pole in a hot-air balloon, a more significant achievement in his eyes. Given that the distance and altitudes involved are comparatively modest, you might wonder why the trip from Canada to the Pole, should present such a challenge.Part of the appeal was that such a flight had not even been attempted for over a century. In those days, such expeditions were huge events, with a nation's pride resting on their success, and so resources were committed to them. Although he eventually managed to secure a substantial sponsorship deal from an insurance company, Hemplemann-Adams had the added challenge of having to raise sufficient funds for his trip. Then, of course, he had to face major survival concerns, such as predicting the weather conditions and coping with the dangerously low temperatures. But most challenging of all was the incredibly complex problem of navigation. As the earth's magnetic field gets stronger, only the most sophisticated of satellite-linked navigation systems can confirm that one has got to the Pole. Without them, the chances of getting anywhere near it are extremely slim. Not to mention an even greater problem that weighed on Hemplemann-Adams' mind: getting back!