March 2013

Footage of the the Ice Team setting off from Crown Bay on March 21st, 2013, which marked the official start of The Coldest Journey.

The Ice Team are on the move and heading south. This pic was taken about 30 mins ago as the guys left the coastal camp at Crown Bay for the very last time. The plan is to carry on now until dark. We’re hoping to have a video to show you from yesterday by the end of the day. Best wishes, TCJ Team…

WE’RE OFF!

Dear Brian, Ian, Spence, Rich, Rob and Mary The very best of luck on your amazing endeavour.  May the gods be with you and keep you on the straight and level at all times. I would love to be with you (or rather just behind you, trying not to hold you up!).  I will do my utmost back here to support the expedition in all of our aims. All the very best,…

We have just heard from Brian Newham and he has confirmed that the expedition will begin today. The weather there is fine, with little cloud and light winds. The plan is now for the Ice Team to get to the coast and mark the start at 1200GMT. In the meantime, the team are doing all the preparatory work which the four days of bad weather have prevented them from doing. There is a small chance that…

The latest from the ice is that the team will not be ready to begin today. As much as a shame and a frustration that this is, the good news is that the weather is continuing to improve and the team has been able to spend much of the afternoon digging out the Ice Train and sorting out equipment. At the latest update, everything was back on the surface except a couple of fuel scoots which will b…

Status report sent direct to Operations HQ at 1223 GMT: “Things have taken a rapid turn for the better in the last few hours. Wind has dropped off and the sun has come out. We are currently digging the Ice Train out – its a big job. Cabooses are out as is the ISO and 2 x fuel scoots. The Belgian Lehmann is next but I’m not joking when I say you can’t see it and there is two metres of snow on to…

In his latest live TV interview, Ice Team Leader Brian Newham told Sky News’ Sunrise programme that the weather was now starting to clear and that the team has been able to get outside to start the very lengthy progress of digging the Ice Train out from under four days of snow. Although he could not confirm that the expedition would begin as planned at 1200 GMT today, he nevertheless sounded…

Ran Fiennes and Anton Bowring will be talking to Eamon Holmes on Sky News’ Sunrise programme at about 8.45am today. They will be joined by Brian Newham via satellite phone from…

Brian Newham described the Ice Team as being like a “coiled spring” on this morning’s Daybreak programme on ITV, as he announced that today’s scheduled launch may have to be postponed. Speaking via satellite phone from inside the living caboose, Brian told the presenters that that high winds and poor visibility meant it was “increasingly unlikely” the team would make the 1200GMT start, as t…