Matthias Jeschke has a tough drive ahead of him. It's only a little over 50 miles across the Bering Strait, but by the time Jeschke and his team dodge the ice ridges and open water in their Jeeps, possibly driving north over the Chukchi Sea in search of thicker ice, they will have spent three to seven days out on the ice in what Jeschke says will be the first time anyone has driven across the strait.

The crossing has its challenges, of course, but two factors will ease obstacles faced by earlier expeditions: First, ice coverage this year seems to be fairly thick; and second, so far the Russian government hasn't thrown up any objections to the crossing. A number of earlier expeditions, launched on transport ranging from Jet Skis to foot, have failed after Russia slammed the border door shut.

"I can tell you that without the (cooperation of) Russian officials and Russian people, never ever will a Jeep reach Alaska," Jeschke said.

Right now Jeschke and his team are marooned in Provideniya, a Russian town across the strait from Nome, waiting for some parts. A new pinion and differential are supposed to be en route from Nome so the team can continue with the crossing, but a flight on Thursday was cancelled due to deep snow on the Provideniya runway.

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Once the team fixes the Jeeps, they'll likely leave land near Uelen, across the strait from Shishmaref, and then drive east. Depending on the ice and its movement, the team could reach land in a number of different places.

"We don't know now where we will cross and where we will come to land in Alaska," Jeschke said. "It could be Wales, it could be Kotzebue, it could be Barrow. It depends on the ice."

Accompanying Jeschke on the drive will be another German and two Russians, although one of the Russians is still a maybe as he's waiting on paperwork that would allow him to enter the U.S.

The expedition will use GPS to navigate across the strait, and thanks to hydraulic pontoons and outboard engines, the Jeeps can drive right into the water. The Jeeps do have stereos, and the playlist ranges from German music to a compilation of "The 100 Best Country Songs Ever."

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The expedition, which has a mission of environmentalism, started in Paris, and New York City is its final destination. Besides reaching the Big Apple, one of the group's goals is to plant enough trees after the trip to offset the carbon emitted during the drive.

Jeschke and his team have been getting help from Alaskan Daniel Richards. A resident of Wales, the Seward Peninsula's westernmost community, for the past 30 years, Richards has a lot of experience helping expeditions make their attempts on the strait.

For the Jeschke crossing, Richards contacted towns north of Wales to let them know the Jeeps may be arriving and to arrange for housing and fuel. Once the expedition reaches Alaska soil, it will drive north on the ice close to shore all the way to Prudhoe Bay, where it will turn to cruise south on the Dalton Highway.

Richards hopes Jeschke's team makes it, but he's also realistic about the challenges.

"It's worth the try, but I see the ice all the time and it's a pretty difficult task," he said.

Bering Strait ice has covered more area than normal this year, according to Mark Serreze, director of the National Snow and Ice Data Center. Still, Serreze is skeptical about the idea of a vehicle making it across the strait. One big challenge would be the huge ice ridges formed when the ice pack pushes against itself. It's tough to get a snowmachine up those ridges, he said, let alone a Jeep.

"They are certainly going to have lots of surprises when they get out there," he said.