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Where it all began

Where it all began

November 13, 2005

A training weekend at Brimpt's farm.


Alan Inglis, Michael Bates & Mark Stewart

Alan Inglis, Michael Bates & Mark Stewart

January 20, 2006

Three card board cut-outs outside their offices in Canary Wharf.


David Farley with his equestrian friends

David Farley with his equestrian friends

January 24, 2006

Shortly after this photo was taken, the horse in red put its hoof in David's tyre and took him for an unexpected spin. Fortunately no injuries but our flask of tea did get smashed.


Brecon Beacons

Brecon Beacons

February 25, 2006

A second training weekend was held in the Brecon Beacons.


Graham getting some assistance from his kids

Graham getting some assistance from his kids

February 27, 2006


Graham, Chris & David after a 20 mile tyre pull

Graham, Chris & David after a 20 mile tyre pull

March 24, 2006

The final training run was a 20 mile tyre pull followed by a well earned lunch. It took approximately six and a half hours.


A bar in terminal 3 - Heathrow airport

A bar in terminal 3 - Heathrow airport

April 06, 2006

It was here that we discovered that Andre had left his sleeping bag at David's house in Harpenden.


A good malt

A good malt

April 07, 2006

We were told not to take glass on the ice. Hence...


SAS go on strike

SAS go on strike

April 07, 2006

SAS went on strike. Lunch at the airport whilst we tried to find a private jet to take us to Spitsbergen. Mike's sister Helen came up trumps with a google search.


The jet arrives

The jet arrives

April 07, 2006

The jet arrives but can he get all our baggage on board. At least we don't have Andre's sleeping bag.


All aboard

All aboard

April 07, 2006

Michael, Chris & Mark get comfortable while Andre gets ready to jump into the cockpit. Andre has a private pilot's licence.


Cosy in the back

Cosy in the back

April 07, 2006

David, Graham & Ian keep the baggage company. Disaster strikes - the crew thinking we were all fit men - took the majority of the alcohol off which only left us one bottle of red wine.


Arriving at Spitsbergen

Arriving at Spitsbergen

April 07, 2006

We got to Spitsbergen at last but we were some what poorer. A journey that should have been a few hundred pounds cost alittle more.


How far?

How far?

April 07, 2006


A regular haunt

A regular haunt

April 07, 2006

The first of many great meals (loading the calories) while we waited for the flight to Camp Barneo.


Wild animals seen from the guest house

Wild animals seen from the guest house

April 08, 2006


Packing the sledge

Packing the sledge

April 08, 2006

Alan Chambers giving a demonstration of how to load a sledge.


Pete Goss getting the skis ready

Pete Goss getting the skis ready

April 08, 2006


The group outside the guest house

The group outside the guest house

April 08, 2006

The group assembled prior to taking a short walk.


Looking back into Spitsbergen

Looking back into Spitsbergen

April 08, 2006


Alan Inglis cutting up the sausage

Alan Inglis cutting up the sausage

April 08, 2006

Alan supplemented the provisions with thirty large sausages that he had brought with him from France.


The only Polar we saw

The only Polar we saw

April 08, 2006

A life size replica of a Polar Bear at the 5 star Radisson hotel - which was not where we stayed!!!


Provisions

Provisions

April 08, 2006

We had to make up ten bags of food for each day that we would be on the ice.


A watering hole

A watering hole

April 08, 2006

Night two and we have exhausted Spitsbergen nightlife.


Back to the Radisson

Back to the Radisson

April 09, 2006

We left on Thursday the 6th and it's now Monday the 10th and we are still waiting to leave. Everyone is fed up.


Away at last

Away at last

April 10, 2006

We are informed just before getting on the plane that the radio has broken at Camp Barneo and that could the pilot borrow a satellite phone if he is unable to locate the airstrip on the ice.


Inside the aircraft

Inside the aircraft

April 10, 2006

Just enough room for passengers and luggage.


Descending to Camp Barneo

Descending to Camp Barneo

April 10, 2006

Low cloud cover so the pilot has to fly very low for a while whilst looking for the air strip. Just as well this is a frozen ocean.


Landed

Landed

April 10, 2006

The plan landed successfully on a run way - only a few hundred metres long.


Ready for the off

Ready for the off

April 10, 2006


Camp Barneo

Camp Barneo

April 10, 2006

Camp Barneo exists for one month of the year for scientific research and supporting expeditions like our own.


Our plane leaves us behind

Our plane leaves us behind

April 10, 2006

Watching the plane take-off in such a short distance is amazing.


First few steps on the ice

First few steps on the ice

April 10, 2006

Cross country skis with a 70kg sledge sliding through inches of fresh snow.


Glorious landscape

Glorious landscape

April 10, 2006


Tackling rough terrain

Tackling rough terrain

April 10, 2006


First Break

First Break

April 10, 2006

Every two or three hours we would stop for a hot drink and a snack.


David starting to feel unwell

David starting to feel unwell

April 11, 2006

David who organised and planned the entire trip over the past eighteen months had started to feel under the weather.


First encounter with open water

First encounter with open water

April 11, 2006

There was much more open water around this year than usual. It was just a matter of luck as to how far you needed to walk to go around it.


Preparing the evening meal

Preparing the evening meal

April 11, 2006

Alan, Andre & Alan melting ice, heating water, filling flasks and adding the boiling water to the dried food for the evening meal. The whole process took 2 - 3 hours.


Another open water lead

Another open water lead

April 12, 2006


Terrain getting rougher

Terrain getting rougher

April 12, 2006


Tough Going

Tough Going

April 12, 2006

We progressed approximately one mile an hour. There was an unusally strong drift against us which meant that we drifted back half a mile per hour. If we slept too long we made no progress at all.


Small Leads

Small Leads

April 12, 2006

It was possible to cross small leads on skis. It was then that you realised that the ice was only a few inches thick.


Crossing a small lead

Crossing a small lead

April 12, 2006

You needed to trust that the skis would take your weight which of course they are designed to do.


The sledge took a bath

The sledge took a bath

April 12, 2006

The trick was to get enough speed to get the sledge across before it fell into the water.


Alan keeping a watchful eye

Alan keeping a watchful eye

April 12, 2006

At tricky points Alan & Pete would ensure that everyone got across safely.


Another testing crossing point

Another testing crossing point

April 12, 2006


On the lookout

On the lookout

April 12, 2006

Visibility was often poor and Alan & Pete would take every opportunity to scale a high point in order to try and navigate as smooth a path as possible.


Single File

Single File

April 12, 2006

In rough terrain and visibility we were forced to travel single file.


Camp Three

Camp Three

April 12, 2006

The best weather was often just after we set-up camp. We tried to stay on the UK clock as much as possible despite the fact that it was 24 hour day light.


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