Having Read and Enjoyed Rob’s Blog, (See previous article), I have decided to publish a few extracts from the diary I kept whilst on the trip.
Thursday the 27th March
5am- Oh my Gosh! I didn’t know this time existed. Up and ready for pick up. Last minute panic double checking all essentials were packed.
5.45am- Mini bus arrives. Loading equipment onto van for 4+ hour drive to Stansted!! Absolutely knackered, nodding off several times during the journey but was excited to get going.
10.15- Arrived at Stansted Airport. Met fellow sponsors of the expedition with group photos being taken and kit being handed out. Me and Charlotte were handed Canada Goose coats for the duration of the expedition. At £1500 a coat, best not lose them.
11.30- Boarded plane and set off with a two hour trip to Sandefjord Airport, Torp Southern Norway. Slept most of the way.
14.30- Arrived at Torp. These Norwegians are really friendly
15:00 - Off North in another minibus on a five hour trip through, around and over the mountains and onto Hovden. More Sleep
19.00- Arrived in Hovden, half asleep and ready for a good meal. A full Norwegian, all you can eat buffet. While having our meal we were introduced to the rest of Topsy’s team. They would be our guides and mentors for the next couple of days. A great bunch, who made us feel welcome.
20.00- After stuffing ourselves and getting to know the rest of the team we were briefed on the following day’s events. Hmm looks a tough day. Definitely looking forward to it.
20.30- We were shown to our apartments which were large and homely with three bedrooms, a lounge and a kitchen that was shared between five fellow sponsors. Early bed for me, I don’t think I got enough sleep today.
Friday 28th March
7.00am- Never seen this time before on my wrist watch! Up and ready for 8.00am for continental breakfast.
Morning – Met our Cross Country Ski Instructor “Jas” He squared away out kit for us. Talk about Cross Country skis are hard work, and that’s just being able to stand upright on them. Great fun, lots of falls, especially Rob. I was the best of course. By the end of the morning we all had mastered the basics and were ready to face the rest of the day (after lunch).
Afternoon – After meeting back at the ski hut for a coffee food and a quick nap we set off on the 5km ski into the centre of Hovden passing great views and tricky uphill slopes.
Even though there was a vast improvement in the skiing ability since the morning it still didn’t stop local kids no older than five and parents pulling babies on sledges easing pass us like we weren’t even moving.
A brief stop in Hovden was followed by more skiing along and over a part frozen river. This route was a lot harder as the terrain was rougher and for part of the route we had to fight through bushes and trees.
16.30- We arrived back at the lodge to be given a demonstration from Brian, who is going to be traveling to the Antarctica as part of the ”Go Beyond Rescue” team.
Brian showed us how set to up a tent in extreme conditions building a snow wall around the tent for shelter from the wind and showing/telling us what it’s like to spend days in a cramped tent if the conditions are too bad to venture outside. He also showed us the equipment that were essential from a gas stove to a pack of cards to fight of boredom. Apart from the stove, the latter reminded me of being in Rob’s exped classes (Ha Ha).
19.00- We had tea back at the hut which again was lovely. After we went back to the apartments for some social time, with tea and biscuits and sleep. A long but rewarding day.
Sat 29th March
8.00am- Breakfast and a briefing by ‘Topsy’. We would be using the skills we had learnt yesterday, ski 4-5 km, Climb a mountain, put up a tent and dig a snow hole! We did the lot. Some falls, some laughs and lots of hard work digging out that snow hole. I really liked the digging. Tried to bury the lecturers but they weren’t Playing.
The “Go Beyond Rescue” would use snow holes as a refuge against the harsh conditions and cold temperatures they would face in the Antarctic . They don’t look very comfortable, but I reckon I could pinch an hour’s sleep in there. This was a big mountain day. Exhausting but rewarding
18.00- Tea time, another briefing. Warm clothes and wrap up well were off on a kamikaze skidoo ride. After travelling up in the ski doo’s with the adrenaline rush pumping through me it got even better when I saw where we had stopped. On top of yet another mountain. There was a fire that was surrounded by a bench carved out of ice topped with reindeer fur. There we listened to our Norwegian hosts tell Norwegian Folk Lore stories and admired the mountain scenery. A brilliant night that topped up a brilliant trip.
Sunday 31st March
5 am - A quick breakfast and a farewell to our Norwegian host who had been great to us. We had a fifteen hour journey back via Torp and Stansted.
15:00 - picked up my bags and walked straight through passport control and customs without stopping or showing my passport or even have my luggage checked. Couldn’t understand a word as they kept shouting and waving at me. After having to go back and show my passport we were greeted by Rob, who never said a word and not a joke made!!!! (I wish).
I really can’t thank the” beyond rescue team” enough for taking us out and showing us some of the experiences and activities that they will be undertaking in the Antarctic . Again I can’t thank the sponsors and lectures enough who made this a trip one I won’t forget in a hurry and the Uniformed Public Service Course at NULC who helped make this happen.
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