Arctic Training Blog - Day 8

Day 8: 5th November

After a long arctic night sheltered in our tents everyone was eager to stretch our legs for the day. On foot we practiced dragging our pulks up and down hills across the tundra to replicate the effects of sea ice.

AJ & Henry

Joe

  

As we came down one hill someone at the back of the group fell. The alert was raised and we all rushed to help Joe with his sprained ankle. Quickly we worked to keep him warm and grabbed the first aid kit. It was only half way through that we realised this was a drill. The team leaders watched as we worked to shelter the group under the bothy. Once secure we all huddled together to discuss first aid in the Arctic environment. It was quite a test and a dramatic way to begin the day. We battled against a growing wind that afternoon, grateful to make camp that evening.

A cold day on the plateau!

Arctic Training Blog - Day 7

Day 7: 4th November

Today we took to skis for the first time! The day was overcast, but with extra snow during the night we were able to don our skis, hitch up to our pulks and head off for the day as proper polar explorers. It turns out there is quite an art to cross-country ski-ing whilst pulling a laden pulk. It was not something I had ever done before and going both up-hill and down-hill proved to be quite challenging. 

Pulling pulks up hill on skis.

Everyone managed a spectacular fall at some point or other during the day. Antony gave us lesson on how to turn on the spot, go up-hill and control our speed down-hill. It was hard work but we began to progress and were rewarded with a prolonged lunch break under the shelter of our lifesystems bothy – a giant dome of orange material everyone can huddle under in bad weather. Altogether a great day.

Pulk bags finally laden into our sledges.

Camp site huts - if only they were open for use!

Arctic Training Blog - Day 6

Day 6: 3rd November

A fantastic day for training. There was a rare break from the mist and rain and we were greeted with sunshine and fresh snow. We woke refreshed for a day of distance walking. 

 

 

Packing up the tent proved problematic as we found all the guy ropes and straps frozen solid. Trying to release them, whilst wearing giant gloves was challenging - a great test for Antarctic conditions. Finally we were underway and making a good pace across the plateau. 

Rest Stop on a Gorgeous Day

  

Sami Flag & Tent

 

We were greeted half way by our Norwegian guide. There was more snow on the trail ahead so we would be able to use our pulks. We trotted along in good spirits, taking time to look at the local herds of reindeer that were wandering across our path. The conditions were so good we arrived early at our camp site, in time to enjoy the scenery before dark.

Henry & Joe enjoy a well earned snack break

Is that Reindeer on the horizon?!

Arctic Training Blog - Day 5

Day 5: 2nd November

We woke to another spattering of snow, excited that we might finally have the opportunity to practice sledge, or rather ‘pulk’, pulling. We loaded our packs on the sledge before stepping into our harness – improvised from a day pack. We were able to practice pulling our sledges across the hummocky, often water-logged terrain of the plateau.

Geoff Somers adjusts the length of me trace.

Pulk Pulling:  The system we practiced with consisted of a plastic sledge, in which we placed our rucksacks, tied down by bungee cords.  A ‘trace’ or rope is then used to connect you to the sledge.  I used a single trace (so one attachment point) to connect me using a karabiner.  The harness we used was essentially a day pack with a rope attached.  It might sound simple, but it was actually a very effective system.  In the above picture Geoff Somers is adjusting my trace, making it shorter and so easier to pull the pulk over the uneven tundra. 

Ali and I practice pulling our sledges over the tundra.

Away we strode for a few hours pretending the hummocks we had to heave our sledges over were the sastrugi (snow ridges) of the Antarctic. It was a lesson in how to manoeuvre your pulk, anticipating how it moves and when it might roll.  Geoff's an old hand at pulk pulling and nimbly follows us as we try and navigate our way around boggy patchs and steep slopes.

Geoff pauses for a rare photograph by a local cairn.

The afternoon was strength training, pulling large farm tyres uphill in the cold to replicate the kind of weight we might have to drag when in Antarctica. After a few hours we were exhausted and happy to collapse back into our tent as it began to snow.

Arctic Training Blog - Day 4

Day 4: 1st November

South Pole Party: Bowers, Oates, Evans, Scott, Wilson (image from the Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge, UK)

100 years ago today Scott set out for the South Pole. I woke similarly excited to find myself in a tent and surrounded by a winter wonderland. It had snowed overnight! We enjoyed hot muesli snug in our tents before heading off. Our trial night out was a success. As we plodded out of camp in the snow we shared a thought for the excitement and anticipation Scott and his men must have felt as they headed off. 

Joe prepares breakfast in the comfort of the tent porch. Hot muesli - yum!

Packing up camp in the snow.

We quickly restocked at base camp for our main 6 day hike. As we set out, I wondered what it might feel like to set out in Scott’s time, knowing you had months (even years) to go before your return home. It’s a mental and physical challenge. We walked until the light began to fail and set up camp for the night, growing more confident in our expedition routine.

Morning snowfall at our camp site.

Arctic Training Blog - Day 3

Day 3: 31st October

Today was to be a trial run for our main trek. So we spent the morning discussing nutrition and preparing our food rations. Thousands of calories go into every expedition. I like the idea of being able to eat almost continually, but it sounds like you need every last calorie. Forming a breakfast production line, I was in charge of vacuum sealing pouches of muesli, milk powder and a good helping of sugar.

Bagging muesli for breakfast

Sealed muesli breakfast bags

Muesli pre and post vacuum packing!

Once prepared, we headed up onto the plateau, this time with tents and stoves. We found a local spot to camp and quickly set up the tent and started a fire. It soon fell dark and we broke out our dried rations for the first time. Enjoying a warm meal around the fire, discussing expedition life, was a great feeling. The day was topped off by a show of Northern Lights, green streaks dancing across the sky.

Walk up to the plateau

View across the plateau

View across the plateau

Camp Site!

Camp Fire!

Arctic Training Blog - Day 2

Day 2: 30th October

Training Base Camp, Gargia, Near Alta, northern Norway

Today’s focus – camp life! Carefully we dissected each part of a camp stove. We learnt how they worked, how they break and, most importantly, how to fix them. We took it in turns to light the stoves and cheered when each successfully burnt blue and fierce. 

 

Ali with the Primus stove

 

Henry with the MSR stove

Tents were next on the list. We were able to practice setting up those we would be using over the next few days whilst up on the plateau. We all had endless questions trying to understand the practicalities that make a successful expedition. Establishing a slick routine is clearly essential to the safety, efficiency, and comfort of a team. It’s something Scott and his men would have had to perfect in their journey to the pole and the obstacles we may face in Antarctica, 100 years later, are the same they would have experienced. It really brings home the unchanging challenge of polar exploration.

Tent set up and kindling ready for camp fire

Joe, Henry and Per-Thore enjoy the fire