As you might expect of someone who works in the insurance industry, I’ve been doing my own risk assessments. If you’re set to trek 60 odd miles across Arctic ice in temperatures as low as minus 40^oC, it’s best to have a think about what you’re letting yourself in for – and plan for it.

By far the biggest danger I face is open water. Tumble into that and I’m in trouble because in such extreme conditions it’s very difficult to get the body warm enough again to survive. The only mitigation is that if the worst comes to the worst, our sleds are designed to float so I can clamber aboard to escape the water. We’ll need to try and avoid open water channels, known as “leads.” These are open channels of water which run through the ice and we’ll be really dependent upon the experience and expertise of our Team Leader, Rune, to steer clear of them.  Polar skis are also among our risk management armoury. Of course our polar skis will help to spread our human load on any thin ice we encounter – they’re wider than normal skis and are designed for cross-country trekking rather than for winning the downhill slalom.

An obvious and ever-present danger is the cold. We will never be warm.  Even when in our tent we can expect temperatures of between minus 25^oC to minus 35^oC which is more than cold enough to freeze human flesh, especially extremities such as fingers and toes. That’s why I’ve spent so long researching and shopping for specialist clothing and equipment such as the three layers of gloves which will protect my hands (see the previous blog entry for more on the kit I’m taking with me).

Next on the danger list are polar bears. If you’re a fan of a particular brand of mint (or for older readers, a particular brand of frothy soft drink) you might think these beasts are lovable, cuddly things. Trust me they are far from it. They are in fact highly effective killing machines, combining great speed and strength with precisely no fear of humans. We’ll be constantly aware of the menace they present and will be armed with flares and pepper spray to deter any interest they may show in our expedition. Ultimately, should we come under attack we can protect ourselves with heavy calibre rifles loaded with specialist high-energy ammunition – but to wield these, our survival would really have to be threatened.

Our isolation is the final major concern. Should any of our small party fall ill, it could take up to four days for medical assistance to arrive. We will take our own medical supplies but these will necessarily be limited to what we can pull and freeze. Practising what I preach I am of course insured to cover the cost of emergency repatriation should this be required.

By chance I was able to discuss what I might expect with a couple of fellow members of the Explorer’s Club. I last week attended a meeting of the British Chapter at which Dr. Don Walsh gave a lecture on his record breaking deep sea dive down seven miles. His inspiring talk, which marked the 50^th anniversary of a feat which remains unbeaten, was followed by a dinner over which I was able to chew the ear of other members who have successfully completed polar expeditions. It reminded me of the extreme nature of this challenge and why I must remember that this something I’m attempting, not something I can guarantee achieving.

Of course I’ll be giving it my all, not least because my chosen charities, Riders for Health and BASIC are set to benefit. This brings me to my usual reminder that there’s no better time than now to donate. Please do give as generously as you can by clicking on the links below.

http://www.justgiving.com/DavidNewmanNorthPoleRiders
http://www.justgiving.com/DavidNewmanNorthPoleBASIC

Please support me by visiting his Facebook or Twitter page and becoming a fan!

To join the Facebook fan page go to this link – http://www.facebook.com/charitynorthpole.

To follow the Twitter page, see my tweets here – http://twitter.com/cn_northpole

Best wishes,

David.

There’s just 10 days to go now until I depart for Oslo. The sense of anticipation is becoming quite overwhelming but I have to keep my feet on the ground as there’s still much to be done as well as running the Carole Nash business!

I met with our Team Leader Rune Gjeldnes to get a few last minute preparation tips. For a man who has achieved so much, he’s incredibly humble. With the great feats of exploration he has achieved in a stunning career this expedition probably seems to him just like another day in the office. Of course as an experienced professional ever aware of the real and present dangers the Arctic presents, he shows no complacency and is keen to share his knowledge of conquering the icy wilderness. Among a host of great tips is one I certainly won’t forget; bring a large “pee bottle” for use in my sleeping bag! There will be no nipping out of the tent when the temperature might be an unforgiving -40^oC.

We also have another polar legend, David Hempleman Adams helping us. David, who is a personal friend of mine and who I have helped in a very small way on several of his record-breaking expeditions over the past ten years, is the expedition Director and will oversee our training in Spitsbergen. He won’t be joining us on the trek as he is leading a mountain expedition on Svalbard at the time, but he might make the pick up if we get as far as the pole.

Staying in the same biological area I’ve also been sourcing and testing kit – starting with thermal underwear!  These are lined with Merino wool which is one of nature’s wonders, being a natural body heat regulator, anti-bacterial deodoriser and water absorbent. In short it will keep me warm and relatively fragrant important as I shall not be washing for 3 weeks! It’s also very soft and quite light.

Lightweight wear is a theme. I need light clothing to trek in otherwise I’ll sweat – and sweat freezes. So Merino wool features in my underlayers which are covered by Gore-Tex  trousers and jacket. When I stop I’ll swap the latter for a goosedown garment to halt the familiar sweat that follows strenuous exertion. At such extreme temperatures I need to make sure every bit of skin is covered so my fetching Arctic outfit is finished off with inner gloves, outer and mid mitts, a neck gaiter, goggles and one or two balaclavas. I’m still struggling to get the balaclava I want, a really comfortable but heavy duty bit of headgear. I’ve found it in a medium size but apparently I have a big head – I can see that being a cue for a few ready-made jibes! Anyway if anyone out there knows where I can get a large Gorilla balaclava in the UK please do get in touch!

Talking of large things I’ve been testing out my special boots with a spot of hillwalking. Unlike me these have been tested at both poles and are proven to perform in temperatures of -100^oC. They have no fewer than eight layers of thermal protection and you have to buy a size above your normal – which means I’ve been up hill and down dale in what seem like giant size 13s.

All this effort is very much worthwhile though and just serves to fuel my excitement as I ready for what will be the greatest physical challenge I’ve ever faced. Of course my other great challenge is to raise cash for Riders For Health and BASIC The tally is rising but I still need your help to really make a difference. Please give what you can – see the links below – and remember there’s no time like the present! Special thanks to Chris Guillaume of OGI for his corporate donation this week!

Just Giving pages -

http://www.justgiving.com/DavidNewmanNorthPoleRiders
http://www.justgiving.com/DavidNewmanNorthPoleBASIC

Please support me by visiting his Facebook or Twitter page and becoming a fan!

To join the Facebook fan page go to this link – http://www.facebook.com/charitynorthpole.
To follow the Twitter page, see my tweets here – http://twitter.com/cn_northpole

Best wishes,

David.

The countdown has now well and truly started with just two weeks left to go before I wave goodbye to home comforts and head out towards the unforgiving Arctic. It might seem odd but I really can’t wait, with the very thought of the challenge ahead enough to get the adrenaline flowing.

My preparations are well advanced. An early hurdle has been overcome after a thorough medical revealed no health problems. A clean bill of health was vital because once we touch down on the temporary 900m runway at the Barneo ice station the nearest hospital will be over 1,000 miles away.

I’ve also been training with some vengeance, doing two hours of cardio resistance and core strength exercises five days a week in the gym, with day six taken up with running and walking. I then let my body rest before starting the cycle again. It’s a tough regime but a vital one if I’m to build up the necessary stamina required to pull a sledge all day, make camp and complete simple routines like cooking and boiling water which, in temperatures as low as -35^oC, can really crunch calories.

One of the ironies of my existence over the past year or so is that I’ve really been watching the calories as part of my fitness regime. Now, as D-day approaches, I’m no longer studiously checking labels for low calorific and fat content. The physical demands on my body are going to be extreme so when it comes to calories, every little helps. That’s why I’m now seeking out the supermarket’s most calorie and energy laden foods. I’m going to need to consume 5,000 calories daily and will probably burn more so I’ve been testing out foods for the “munchy bag ” that will sustain me on the ice between breakfast and dinner. This ritual involves me testing how edible foods are once they’ve been frozen. Thumbs are up so far to chopped Mars bars, marzipan fruit cake, yoghurt covered apricots and banana, chocolate raisins and pork scratchings.

Indeed food is currently occupying a large slice of my thoughts. One of the joys in the weeks prior to departure is the need to embrace high carb, high protein foods to build up my reserves. This is my idea of dieting!

Also at the front of mind is the need to galvanise sponsors and raise funds for my chosen charities. I have launched two Just Giving sites to collect donations on behalf of  Riders for Health and BASIC. The response has been tremendously encouraging with early debts of gratitude owed to Neil Utley at Equity Red Star, Paul Picknett at Groupama Insurances, Ed Fletcher of Fletchers Solicitors and Lucci Dammone of Hammonds Solicitors. The Newman clan have also pledged cash – no doubt looking forward to getting rid of me for a few weeks!

It’s a very promising start but I want to raise every last drop of cash I can for these two fantastic charities so if you can make a donation, no matter how small, please do.  And don’t put it off – there’s no better time than now!

Just Giving pages -

http://www.justgiving.com/DavidNewmanNorthPoleRiders

http://www.justgiving.com/DavidNewmanNorthPoleBASIC

Please support me by visiting his Facebook or Twitter page and becoming a fan!

To join the Facebook fan page go to this link – (http://www.facebook.com/charitynorthpole).

To follow the Twitter page, see my tweets here – http://twitter.com/cn_northpole

Best wishes,

David.

Well that’s it, no turning back. My personal challenge to trek 110km to the North Pole is now a very public one. But whilst I’m daunted – and massively excited – by the challenge I’m glad that this website and other media are drawing attention to it. It might add pressure on me but the publicity will hopefully encourage people to support the vital work of two excellent charities Riders For Health and BASIC.

The countdown has well and truly started with less than three weeks to go before I fly out, via Oslo then Tromso, to Longyearbyen. The world’s most northerly town and the only one on the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard. I’ve visited here several times before when involved with the logistics for other Arctic expeditions. It’s a unique place with its 2,000 human inhabitants outnumbered three to one by polar bears who are just about waking up from hibernation now. With the town enjoying crime free status these represent by far the greatest risk to my safety – it is compulsory to carry a firearm if you leave the town limits!

I will spend a couple of days acclimatising in Longyearbyen, getting used to temperatures which put Britain’s “big freeze” in perspective. I can expect temperatures of -10-20oC whilst in town but even these will still seem quite toasty compared to the -35oC I might expect once out on the ice.

We will also train as a team, ensuring that we can get the tent up and down quickly, all use the various pieces of kit and test out all of our personal clothing. The training will be overseen by the UK’s greatest living explorer David Hempleman-Adams, someone I have had the great privilege of working on various expeditions with over the past ten years.

The next task will be to board an Antonov 74, an aircraft specifically designed to cope with the unforgiving Arctic climate. It can also handle the short runway of flattened ice at the Russian ice station at Barneo from where the adventure will really begin. The plan is that once the Antonov’s landing skis have touched down we will immediately set out on our own, tackling the first section of ice pack. It’ll take our team of five up to 14 days to conquer around 110 km of ice-fields, pack ice, thin ice and open water to hopefully reach the pole. This is unforgiving territory and the journey will be a real slog. Thankfully in team leader Rune Gjeldnes we will be blessed with the experience and wisdom of one of the world’s pre-eminent explorers. Few can claim more experience than Rune, the Norwegian being the only man to have skied across North and South Poles, and Greenland, without being resupplied. He’s a living legend.

There’s no doubt this is going to be the biggest physical challenge I’ve faced in my life – by some distance. But I’m really looking forward to it and hopefully to people who follow my travels back in the UK making contributions, large and small, to my chosen charities.

I’ll keep you posted as D-Day looms and of my adventures on the ice so please keep visiting northpole.carolenash.com

All the best,

David.