Hardwear Sessions

Polar Explorer and Mountain Hardwear Athlete, Jim McNeill, announces the Search for Ice Warrior Expedition Members!

Polaris Training | Photo Courtesy of Jim McNeill

Defined as the furthest point from land on the Arctic Ocean and therefore its centre, the Northern Pole of Inaccessibility remains the last truly significant place in the Polar Regions, yet to be reached by mankind. It is over two hundred miles further than the Geographic North Pole and one of four recognised north poles.

Jim calling "footdown copy" | Photo Courtesy of Jim McNeill

Jim is looking for 28 highly dedicated and committed people to take part in a comprehensive and intensive training programme to take on one of four 200 mile legs, pushing the route across the Arctic Ocean. The training includes everything which makes for a competent and safe polar traveller and takes place in Svalbard, Norway.

Along the route "crucial datasets" will be gathered to benchmark the condition of the ocean for the NASA funded National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) scientists, led by Walt Meier. These deliver the reality of climate change and make the whole expedition worthwhile and purposeful.

The journey itself is a complicated logistical problem with the need for highly remote fuel and food caches to enable the exchange of teams and resupplies and allow scientists to conduct further experiments.

Snowholing at 80 degrees north with Bellsie, Richard, and Andrea. | Photo Courtesy of Jim McNeill

People wishing to get involved should visit the website www.ice-warrior.com absorb the details and contact Jim directly at jim@ice-warrior.com.

"Part of any expedition is to raise the necessary funds, so we teach people how to do this, give them all the materials necessary, guide them through the process and provide the media justification for sponsorship. In other words you don't need a fat cheque book but the passion and desire to put in the effort and time to make it happen. I'm looking for highly motivated individuals who want to go way beyond their comfort zones and push the boundaries of endurance in a wholly worthy and justifiable cause." - Jim McNeill