From late March to early May 2011, I will be heading into the frozen high Arctic to walk to the Geographic North Pole (the top of the world). I will be pulling a sledge containing all my all food, fuel, equipment and shelter for over 120 miles, avoiding polar bears, open water ‘leads’ and frostbite in the process. This is an incredibly demanding challenge both physically and mentally.
I’m raising money for the Fire Fighters Charity who are supporting me in this venture as I embark on the toughest challenge of my life. I will be building on the polar training and expeditions already undertaken as preparation in 2010. These included one month’s training in Spitsbergen (Svarlbard) in the high Arctic and a further training expedition, on sea ice this time, in Frobisher Bay, Baffin island (Northern Canada).
I was due to take part in an expedition to the Arctic Pole (middle of the Arctic Ocean) this year but unfortunately this has had to be postponed again. However, I have secured a place on this Russian expedition which will take me to the Geographical North Pole instead. This is the northernmost point on Earth (90 degrees North), often referred to as True North. From the top of the world, all directions point south. Under a relatively thin covering of ice, the sea is 4,261 m (13,980 ft) deep, with the nearest land about 700 km (430 mls) away. The middle of nowhere!
Follow me on this incredible journey and please support the Fire Fighters Charity by clicking on my just giving link on this page. Thank you.
The Fire Fighters Charity is here for fire fighters during their times of need. Every 30 seconds in the UK fire fighters are called to an incident, risking their lives to save others.
UpdatesFromLee: Just met Sir Ranulph Fiennes at Exmoor Search and Rescue. Top chap.
