http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/ArcticSurvivalChallenge/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from ArcticSurvivalChallenge en-us Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:03:09 +0000 Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:03:09 +0000 Valentines day 15 people get a wash for the first time in a week.We made it through. On the last day I took a final ski caught up with sleep before slipping into my bikini for the Hot tub using lake water and Sauna. Hans bought over a fantastic meal of Moose burgers in gravy. The celebratory beer didn't numb our bare feet against the snow one bit Just when we thought the challenge was over http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Sweden/J-mtland/Ostersund/blog-375158.html Congratulations well done you've made it. You are all winners. Get up get back to the cabin. It's better to be a winner in life. Well done. Rich 14th FebruaryWe woke up at 6am to Rich's voice. I can still hear it now. We'd made it. We made it through alive. We were the first team for a number of years at Intrepid that had all made it through the challenge. No drop outs and extreme http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Sweden/J-mtland/Ostersund/blog-374343.html Snow holes are snow joke Friday 13th February. We've been preparing the snow hole for a number of days now. Piling snow onto it in the evenings ready for it to be finalised today the last day of our survival challenge. Last night was the coldest night I've ever spent. At one stage I woke up with the feeling of claustrophobia. It was dark. I've never liked the darkness I always like to b http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Sweden/blog-374336.html We're all feeling pretty tired after last night. Temperatures fluctuated throughout the night as we took it in turns to add more wood to the stove which glowed bright red when hot.On my firewatch I managed to melt part of the sleeve of my McMurdo Parka. Fortunately I'd bought some Goretex repair patches along with me. I spent the most of my firewatch hour making impromptu repairs.The fire too http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Sweden/J-mtland/Ostersund/blog-374120.html The Swedish have abandoned their army they decided they never needed it anymore Nigel 11th FebWe spent the evening shoveling out 1 metre thick snow for a fire a to erect a 20 man Swedish Army tent. Fire doesn't light or burn so well in these temperatures. It's our first night in the cold we were all apprehensive this evening. Now we are all concentrating on food and warmth. Jobs were divi http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Sweden/J-mtland/Ostersund/blog-374008.html The group is quieter than usual as we contemplate the next few days ahead of us. We survived the last acclimatisation day without any serious personal injury. Sweden is as beautiful as I remember it from childhood. There is something exceptionally inspiring about this landscape despite the cold. The snow clings to the trees like cotton wool and there is a permanent silence that hangs in the air. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/blog-372695.html 29c today. The start of the survival phase. Life threatening. We'll head out on snow mobiles today and the temperatures from the wind can reach 50c. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/blog-372518.html Today it was 15c. We spent th dy acclimatising again down by the lake using our new cross contry skiing skills. It was 5km each way. When we got there we took it in turns to lead a pack of 4 dogs around a track and also practice ice fishing.v. Yesterday we were taught to use our skis. Its a lot harder than it looks. Everyone fell down and once you've got wet there is no opportunity to get dry aga http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/blog-372354.html Well I'm sat here at Heathrow now waiting to depart. See you in the Arctic. It's going to be a cold one http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/blog-371455.html Last weekend we ventured out on the last training walk in the New Forest. This one was 8 hours long. We got to St James Hill near Emery down and made off towards a point on the map using my new found compass skills. Well that was the plan but all that Christmas drinking had damaged my memory cells and I started to realise I had forgotten how to. I was angry with myself and it took me about 20 http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Hampshire/New-Forest/blog-371195.html It's personally cost me an arm and a leg but better to spend than to get frost bite that's my motto. I've also been fortunate to have lots of kits left over from my trek to Everest Base Camp Everest Base Camp BlogOver the months I've been diligently researching and going through hundreds of reviews on the internet to find the best kit. Ordering in equipment from Canda and the USA when the pou http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Dorset/Bournemouth/blog-365504.html For the first time in many years it has snowed and settled down on the south coast of England. What an opportune time Someone asked me today whether I would be training outside. Well kindaI went to the train station couldn't get to work came home.Oh and then 5 minutes ago having been wearing my hiking boots all day I thought I'd test out my hobbit feet.It was cold http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Dorset/Bournemouth/blog-369723.html As the last few weeks draw to a close I'm mindful that I'll soon be heading off to the Arctic. Th0e Arctic Circle is the parallel of latitude that runs 66 338242398243. Temperatures currently seem to be fluctuating around 10c to 20c. Last weekend we headed out along the coast path from Durlston in Swanage along to Dancing Ledge. You can never feel completely ready for a challenge li http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Dorset/Swanage/blog-365490.html Old Harry Rocks is named after Privateer Harry Paye plunderer of ships on Poole's Jurassic Coast during the 15th Century.2 Pheasants one brisket one turkey one lamb shoulder one pork shoulder 1 veggie pracel one salmon and a load of lamb kebabs and some leftover soup I'd definately indulged this Christmas. Today we hiked out to Old Harry Rocks in the Purbeck Hills to walk off the Christm http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Dorset/Swanage/blog-358563.html I turned up to a small farm on Friday night to start my survival training weekend with Intrepid Expeditions. A company run by an exRoyal Marine called Nigel. Fantastic company I thouroughly recommend themIt was a surprise to turn up and see Chris one of the members from my Everest trek. Turns out he is on the same trip. It was nice to have a bit of a catch up.We headed on up to a small http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Devon/Exeter/blog-345960.html I thought you might like to know about my latest challenge in the Arctic Feb 2009. www.travelblog.orgbloggersArcticSurvivalChallenge http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/blog-346377.html I'm now the proud owner of a North Face McMurdo Parka and an Intrepid Expeditions bivi bag and have started my training for one week of survival in the Arctic in February 2009.My training is a mix of the 16 week British Army fitness programme and the 12 week programme sent to me by Discover Adventure.Unlike Everest I'm expecting this trip to be more about all round strength and stamina. Whereas http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Dorset/blog-344731.html