Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

A week after reaching the Pole and it's just beginning to sink in that I made it to a part of the world that  not many others have visited. After months of preparation pulling tyres up and down the Cotswolds I finally succeeded in reaching the magnetic north pole. The team had a very tight window of opportunity as bad weather delayed our start and we were forced to cover the equivalent of 3 marathons in as many days in order to catch the plane back to Resolute Bay, our base. Even though we were fortunate that eventually the weather was kind (cold obviously but no storms) the walking was still extremely tough. 

The challenge is beyond just physical, it is also mentally tough. Stopping for a quick snack quickly brings home how cold it is - it is 20 minutes before your hands return to a comfortable temperature. The days start early with two and half hours spent preparing breakfast (porridge) and melting snow for the water we will need during the day and preparing noodles for our lunch then packing everything away in our pulks before setting off for 12 to 14 hours of skiing. With exhaustion setting in we then have to pitch our tent and spend another two and half hours melting more snow for our dinner of rehydrated food and drinks. There is no lights out as at this time of year the arctic enjoys 24 hour daylight - so I pull my hat over my eyes and fall asleep an inch above the ice.

I feel fortunate to have been able to see the arctic and cross the ice on foot to reach the North Pole when it seems as if with climate change future visitors will be more likely to arrive by boat. To put it in context, we were told that fewer people walk to the North Pole in a year than reach the summit of Everest in a week.  

 

 Another day in the sun! (Friday 7th May)

The first full day was tough. We managed to cover 10 nautical miles in 7 hours.  We've had another early start today.  The plan is do 16 nautical miles in 10 hours.  We are all rested after a good sleep and feeling very positive.

 

I am  on cooking duty

Was up at 6.30, we have to make 2 litres hot chocolate, 3lt hot water and a litre of soup to stock up for later. I am  on cooking duty this morning and has made us all poridge! Jim and John are not happy!  How is a guy meant to stick to his Paleo diet with porridge they say.

A long day ahead, but beautiful sunny day!

We are well ahead this morning of JP and ED, who are still asleep.

 

Ice Warrier update (Thursday 6th May)

Thankfully weather was good enough for us to fly.  We flew to Twin-Otter to checkpoint 2 with Gary Bullen, our head of training.  We are all so excited to arrive and landing on the ice will certainly be a lasting memory. We skied from 4.30 to 10pm, covering 8 neutical miles.  There is lots of rubble making us work hard. 

We saw the 3 Suns Phenomena, stunning, a halo around the sun.  Saw some imaginary polar bears. too. Had a late dinner and finally off to bed under the sunny sky.

Our first diary call is now on the Polar Challenge web site. http://www.polar-challenge.com/. 

Click: Challenge Live/ Ice Warriers.

 

 

We are all set to go!

Weather is looking good, bright blue sky, and wind has died down. It has been touch and go for the last 24 hours. After all the hard work and preparations we didn't want to get stuck by the weather.   Although we take off, the pilot can't guarantee the landing, so we have to have a look when we get there. The flight is 2 hours and this will take us to check point 2. The weather further north is not great but it is OK for us on the ground.

We have all our pulks packed and are ready to go. This took some time as we were bickering like school girls about who has the heaviest pulk. I'm happy as mine has ended up the lightest and I''m carrying the fuel so It'll get lighter and lighter as we head further north.

With an engery lunch of protein drink, nuts, seeds, dried fruit & chocolate we're ready for anything.  Not forgetting a tipple of Whisky.  Hope to update soon.  Thanks for messages. Love to Fiona, Josh and Imogen.

 

SLIGHT DELAY...

The weather has really closed in with 40+mph winds. We are OK to travel on foot in this sort of weather but the pilots can't fly the planes so we are grounded for 24 hours.  Hopefully things will clear for tomorrow

We've just got back from our first three nights out on the ice. Everything went well and this time has given us the opportunity to hone our new found skills and make the mistakes we don't want to make went we set off properly. The sort of mistakes made so far are:

Two sets of broken tent poles - these are no fun to mend in the cold and wind.

Gear blowing away - once it's gone, there's no way to catch it: gloves, bags, navigation notes have all dissapeared.

Skiing too far with no breaks. This left us shattered when we tried to make camp and then we made mistakes.

Pack more food. The portions for the three of us struggled to feed me!

Apart from that, we are all working well in our teams.

For some reason the organizers felt it best to leave the gun with Jim so John and I are trying to behave ourselves but not suceeding. Jim tried to lead and navigate but after 24 yards John and I went our own way and Jim threw his teddy out of his pulk and refused to navifgate the rest of the day. We've now realised that because Jim carries the gun, we need to stick close if a polar bear attacks so we've promised to follow him properly tomorrow.

Last night, after dinner we even manged a game of cricket with a snow shovel and a massage ball. we needed some extra entertainment as Jim has broken his (the only) ipod speaker.

The weather is still around -15 with and until today clear blue sky so it makes the scenery amazingly beautiful. The light makes everything crystal clear.

We skied 9nm yesterday which is a very good distance for our lack of experience so we are all feeling confident in meeting the daily mileage. When we start it will be 12 hours skiing with hourly 5 minute breaks apart from lunch, when we have an extended 8 minute break. It doesn't sound much but when you stop you get very cold, very quickly.

We are all running around now, making lats minute kit adjustments and considering how much time and money we have all spent over the last year on kit, we are taking very little.

Anyone who has the mobile number please keep sending messages they brighten the day when they arrive.

 

POLAR BEAR WATCH! (Tuesday 4th May)

Polar bear attacked another team ahead of us last night. Held off by shooting in air but bear still stalking.

Second day in Resolute Bay. Preparing kit and medical, shotgun and navigation

First night sleeping out on ice tonight, followed by two days acclimatization on ice.

Medical training focussed on prevention of main cold weather injuries; frostbite, hypothermia, trenchfoot & dehydration.

Anti-polar bear training= Remmington 870 Magnum Express pump action shptgun favoured by bank robbers (big gun plus big bullets)

Weather today clear blue skies but warm -15 degrees

A lot to absorb in short time about kit, cold, polar bear and navigation but feeling confident.

We've just arrived in Resolute Bay (Friday, 30th April)

Not been on a plane before where the pilot says that "there's quite a bit of fog so as we'll just give it a shot" .....

We've stopped at 3 settlements today en route north towards Resolute Bay, each one colder, more iced over and smaller than the last.

Just arrived in Resolute Bay ... blimey it's cold!... so cold it burns the skin.

Surrounded by miles and miles of ice and snow, as far as the eye can see - its brutal, but beautiful. Can't wait to get out there. We've got 3 days of training and acclimatisation on the ice in this area before we head north.

Sending messages with the satellite phone is really slow and laborious. Nearly midnight and still broad daylight ... feels weird.

UPDATE FROM OTTAWA (Thursday 29th April)

We had a very uneventful journey to Ottawa then went straight from the airport to get fitted with our boots. Wow, these are some boots. Like wellys on steriods - and WHITE. 

We have 3 flights today on progressively smaller planes that will take us to Resolute Bay by the evening. After that we have no blackberry or standard mobile only cumbersome sat phones so messages will be much shorter.

We made the most of the city last night by having a huge steak each as our 'last meal' and of course a few beers.

We also met an Inuit elder last might who thought were mad and tries his best to stay a lot further south than we are going. He's in the middle of negotiating with the Canadian government to self govern his own province. He also gave us a great tip - polar bears always attack to the right. So at least I know which way I'll be pushing my team members when I start running! He also told us the inuits have over 200 words for snow - I think we might come up with a few more by the end of the trip! 

Jim has torn two nails, has a streaming cold and missing his wife.

Make the most of this 'long' message. You'll only get a line or two after today. Off to the airport now. Till tomorrow...

In a few days time at the end of April, I will be swapping the challenge of my day job for a couple of weeks, to embark on an altogether different challenge – trekking over 100 miles to the magnetic North Pole. The trip involves skiing, as part of a team, across the wilderness of the Arctic, pulling our own supplies in pulks and camping out, in temperatures that can reach -65c. There may even be polar bears along the way!

I am using this trip to raise money for two charities which are very important to me and my family.

Winston’s Wish is the leading UK childhood bereavement charity, providing services to bereaved children, young people and their families. Some 30 years ago my wife lost her mother in a road traffic accident leaving her father to bring up three young daughters. I am sure Fiona, her sisters and her father would have benefited from such a charity, had it been available at the time. We have also witnessed the help that Winston’s Wish has provided to two other local families, so I would like to be able to support their great work.

Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading charity dedicated to beating cancer through research. Members of both our families, young and old, have been affected by this disease as well as some of our friends. I would like to be able to support this charity in the hope that this disease can be better understood and controlled, and if possible eradicated for future generations.

 

I should be grateful if you would visit my other page supporting Winston's Wish to split your donation.

 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.

 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT