**Polar Training & Arctic Survival Course**

LIVERPOOL LAND & HURRY FJØRD
Polar Training for prospective North & South Pole expeditions,
Greenland Icecap crossings and Arctic expedition training.

To experience the true beauty of Arctic Greenland in it's full winter coat then join us for 7 to 11 days of polar training. The emphasis will be on gaining good all round winter Arctic and polar experience and learning to operate safely whilst ski touring and pulk sledge hauling. This fabulous and beautiful arctic region is full of alpine peaks, immense glaciers and ice berg filled fjords. The course will involve fantastic opportunities to travel on a variety of terrain including frozen fjords, icecaps, glaciers, valleys and sea ice. The small and dedicated team will pull pulks throughout the expedition and be camping in full snow and winter conditions. The icecap sections of the journey offer stunning views of alpine peaks, glaciers and the ice berg studded east coast. The course is open to all ability levels and no previous ski or winter camping experience is required and will culminate in a 3 day expedition.

Tangent Expeditions is the leading authority and provider of Polar training expeditions in Greenland, having organised training for several high profile north and south pole expeditions and Greenland icecap crossings.

Transport Logistics

The group will meet at our guesthouse in Reykjavik on the expedition start date before taking a flight to Constable Point in north east Greenland the next morning. The expedition food and equipment will be sent as air freight to Constable Point in advance. The group will begin their training from Constable Point.

Outline Itinerary

Day 1 will be spent acclimatizing to the surroundings and going through equipment and safety procedures with the first night in overnight in local accommodation. Days 2 and 3 will go through all the basics of camping and surviving in Arctic conditions. Days 4-6 will be on a short expedition to an icecap in Liverpool Land, putting everything in to practice.

Daylight Hours

There will be approximately 16 hours daylight during this expedition. At this time of year sunsets and sunrises merge in to one long beautiful display of colour.

Weather

This region has been chosen as an ideal venue for such training due to guaranteed snow and ice at sea level and extreme cold temperatures, coupled with it's cold prevailing north winds. An ideal training ground! Temperatures will vary from -30 to -15'c.

Level of Camping

The expedition will involve camping in snow conditions on permanently snow covered glaciers and terrain throughout. During periods of snowfall it will sometimes be necessary to 'dig out' your tent and maintain good overall camp organisation and camp craft skills. In contrast, on warm calm days it will be possible to sit outside. The group will camp in tent pairs will be expected to cook their own food as tent teams.

Extreme Clothing

You will be required to possess the normal range of extreme winter clothing including windproof jackets and salopettes and an insulated down jacket. A full clothing list will be provided.

Equipment Provision

Tangent will provide Snowsled pulk sledges, North Face tents, snow pegs, floor insulation, MSR stoves, lightweight plywood stove boards, fuel bottles, fuel cans, fuel funnels, stove spares kits, lighters, pans, white gas fuel, food, toilet paper, maps & aerial reconnaissance photos, GPS, group survival shelter, snow shovels, emergency flares, PLB (emergency locator beacon), rifle & ammunition (Polar Bear deterrent), VHF air band radio, walkie talkie radios, satellite telephone & solar re-charging system, emergency flares, medical kit, client prussik loops, ropes & crevasse rescue equipment for security on steep ground and glacier travel, general spares and repair kit.

Clients will need to provide your own large rucksack/travel bag, 55+ litre daysack, sleeping bag suitable for -20'c, inflatable sleeping mattress (& repair kit), foam sleeping mattress, water/windproof jacket and trousers, suitable ski touring/Telemark skis and boots, ski poles, skins, spare skin glue, avalanche transceiver, avalanche probe, crampons, full winter clothing, insulated jacket (optional), expedition gloves/hat/balaclava, 100% UV sun glasses, 100% UV snow goggles, 1 litre metal flask, 1 litre water bottle, eating/drinking cup/bowl/utensils, pee (toilet) bottle, multi-tool knife, harness, helmet, 3 x screwgate karabiners, ice axe, GPS (optional), compass. Specialist equipment hire is available by clicking here

Expedition Leader

The expedition leader will be Nigel Edwards. Nigel began his career in the south west of England as a surf, canoe and climbing instructor. Tempted by the Himalayan mountains and rivers, Nigel headed to Nepal to run rafting and trekking expeditions for two seasons. Upon his return to the UK he settled in the Lake District as a freelance outdoor specialist, working for a variety of management training and outdoor activity centres. He is a course director at Brathay Hall Trust and his work is spread across the UK and into Europe. Nigel joined Tangent in 1997 and is one of our most experienced expedition leaders. He is a qualified Mountaineering Instructor (MIC), holds the M.L.T.B. Winter Mountain Leadership Award and the Advanced Medicine for Remote Foreign Travel* certificate. Nigel lives in Kendal (UK) with his wife Nicky and children Hannah and Jake.

Click here for Nigel's website

Personal Service - all prospective clients are welcome to visit us at our home in Cumbria or Paul Walker will travel to any part of the mainland UK free of charge to meet with you and discuss the expedition in more detail and show you maps and photographs. We believe this benchmark service is offered by no other expedition travel company and supports our commitment to providing an ultimate level of high quality personal service.