The Blog

This afternoon it was our pleasure to receive this message of support from Colonel John Blashford-Snell, President of the Scientific Exploration Society, who kindly invited us to share it with our followers. “I have read the progress reports of the expedition with much admiration, although no envy! Without doubt Brian Newham and his team deserve the highest praise for their incredible effort in…

Following today’s announcement, Ice Team Leader Brian Newham talks to camera about what was ultimately his decision to put a halt to the first ever attempt to cross the Antarctic in winter. The video includes footage of the Cat D6Ns getting into tricky situations on the ice, as well as providing an idea of the science work that is being carried out by the team and will remain an extremely…

To all of our supporters, The first ever attempt to cross Antarctica in winter, dubbed “The Coldest Journey”, has covered over 300 kilometers and climbed from sea level to almost 3,000 meters up to the polar plateau, since the five man team set out on 21st March this year.  This is the furthest distance and longest period that any expedition has travelled in the polar winter months.  Using…

“Ice making its way into the caravan. -50C and blowing more than 50 knots will do that.” – as tweeted by Ian Prickett this evening on his personal Twitter feed. As if the guys didn’t have enough things to worry about right now! They will get it sorted out soon enough, but ice on the INSIDE of your bedroom in one of the harshest places on Earth? Not nice. Keep strong Team, we’re right behind you.

Having consolidated a position on safe ground away from the crevasses, the Ice Team are taking stock of their situation. It is clear from their recent reconnaissance work that the terrain to the south is a complex and uncharted mass of crevasses which are hard to detect in the darkness, covered, as they are, by snow bridges.  Painstaking efforts have been made with the ground penetrating…

Video update by Richmond Dykes, featuring a rare appearance by Mary Mouse. Filming by Ian Prickett.

“Another 50ml of blood sucked out in the name of Science! Lets hope they go to Mars for all this!” – as posted on Ian Prickett’s twitter feed…

Here’s a pic of the new camp taken at twilight by Brian Newham. To avoid any confusion, the Ice Team are getting about two to three hours of twilight a day, and the rest of the time it is dark. This period is diminishing every day, and if they were further south there would be full darkness around the clock by now. Today the mechanics have been making the most of gentle winds to carry out…

A quick update this Saturday evening to say that the Ice Team has finally consolidated all parts of the Ice Train and have established a camp at S72 51′ 13.5″, E023 33′ 50.2″. After weeks of operating in hellish conditions surrounded by wide and deep crevasses the team took a well-earned day off today, save for completing the first day of a five-day medical research regime as part of the on-going…

Bridging Crevasses in the Dark Watch this video by Ian Prickett to get more of an idea of the working day for the Ice Team right now. It is near permanent darkness and the temperature has dropped as low as -50C with howling winds. Thankfully the winds have eased the last two days allowing Ian to get out with his camera and showing us what the team is up to. Thank you Ian.