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