For years the Arctic has been accessible only to the most experienced explorers but now 28 ordinary people are being given the opportunity to be the first humans to ever reach the Northern Pole of Inaccessibility and do their bit for climate change research.
Explorer Jim McNeill is hoping to lead an expedition through the inhospitable landscape to the farthest point from land on the Arctic Ocean – described as the "last truly significant place in the polar regions to be reached by mankind".
But instead of a professional team of explorers, McNeill is looking for volunteers to travel across the Arctic, surveying the ice in order to view the effects of climate change.
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.
No qualifications or experience are needed for the expedition in February 2010, and an intensive training programme will begin in October to prepare the explorers for the historic challenge.
Explorers will face intense cold, polar bears and shifting ice on the way to the Northern Pole of Inaccessibility, but McNeill is confidant ordinary people can be trained to do the work. He said: “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. Between now and February I will train them in every aspect that makes them competent and safe polar travellers.”
The 28 successful candidates will be split into four teams of seven, with each team completing 200 miles of the expedition before the next team takes over.
McNeill said: “The Arctic is a fantastic leveller. I want to show that anybody can achieve great things, not just somebody with a big cheque-book. I’ve trained over 120 people on similar expeditions and they come out as better people for the experience.”
He also plans to record as much of the expedition as possible. He added: “It’s all about these people and how they change and grow throughout the expedition. It will be a warts-and-all view of what they are going through. It will be an amazing experience.”
McNeill advises anybody interested in the expedition to apply by 21st August, when he will hold an induction weekend to find the right candidates. Once the team members are chosen, they will be required to raise £21,000 funding for the expedition. McNeill will offer training and advice to help candidates reach this figure.
For further information, visit www.ice-warrior.com/majorexpedition.htm
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Costas Cavathas, Athens, Greece around 1 year, 10 months ago