Status Update by Brian Newham

Load relaying has continued although once we reached the blue ice area we lost traction and had to break the loads down further to six loads and also double-head on some sections (i.e. two Cats pulling each load). It has slowed progress considerably. Units 1 & 2 have been moved 13km further south and we are hoping that all the remaining fuel scoots will reach the same position by the time w…

Question Two: Once you get to the South Pole how much interaction will you have with the resident overwinterers at the station, and can they offer support? (by Will Dawson) It will be entirely down to the overwinterers at the South Pole station if they wish to invite us in.  During the summer months, the US base has a firm ‘no interaction’ policy with expedition teams due to the shear amount of…

Over the weekend we asked you to send us your questions for Ian Prickett. Despite working 15-hour days outside in the cold, Ian managed to squeeze in enough time get back with his answers. I’ll reveal them in three instalments for maximum impact! Question One: As one who knows you extremely well, and knowing how you hate an untidy bedroom… Where do you put your laundry and where does it get…

After all the hard work of the last few days getting the Ice Train ready, both Cats were in operation today heading south and at the time of writing one of the Cats is still on the move. As a result of the axle problem the team have made changes to the layout of the train for the next phase of the journey to reduce the loads transferred through the various elements of the train. It will now…

Fiennes, right, with team mates before getting frostbite Co-leader of The Coldest Journey, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, said today that he had every confidence that the Ice Team would make the best out of any difficult situation after we revealed yesterday that the team had suffered a series of setbacks in recent days. Whilst the Ice Team were making good progress today in difficult conditions (report…

by Hugh Bowring, Operations HQ Ian welding under the living caboose – by Brian Newham. The last week has proven to be a very testing time for the Ice Team as they have had to endure severe weather conditions and a series of mechanical set-backs. Taken individually these challenges would have been hard enough to deal with, but collectively they have put great pressure on the guys and have pushed…

The Ice Team have been busy working on a number of mechanical issues today in preparation for embarking on the next stage of the traverse. Most of these have been completed successfully, with just some welding work having to be carried over to tomorrow. More details of this will follow tomorrow, but for now we will leave you with this wonderful picture by Brian Newham on a cold and windy evening…

Following on from the videos of Richmond, Spencer and Brian, here’s one of Ian Prickett. Take a look, get inspired and ping us your questions! The three most LIKED questions one here and on Facebook will get put to Ian.