News from HQ

by Brian Newham The Ice Team set off this morning in moderate conditions, hoping to make 24km south and get themselve at the edge of a blue ice area and the start of another 7km section with steep slopes and crevassing. The winds have crept up a little to around 13knots and the temperature is approaching minus 20C. The team are hoping to build on their good work of yesterday during which they…

We are delighted to announce the launch of The Coldest Journey app! Ready for download now, this app contains lots of at-a-glance info which we are sure many of you out there will love. Check out the most up-to-date position of the Ice Train on the Live Map and find out just how cold it is down there with the temperature and wind speed dashboard. Scroll along to the next page for the most recent…

This photograph was taken by Brian Newham during a trip up a nearby nunatak which he made with Rob Lambert today. The team wanted to get some good pictures and footage of the Ice Train from a distance before it the nights draw in. Good effort…

Happy Easter everyone! During the expedition the Ice Team have been taking lots of videos, not just for our followers on Facebook and the website, but also for a documentary which will be released next year. With the days getting rapidly shorter, time is running out for filiming in the light. Here Rob Lambert gets the first ever footage of the Ice Train from a distance (image to follow). It’s…

The phone lines have closed, the results are in. The three questions that are being sent to Spencer and Richmond will be: If one or both of the Cats break down or are damaged beyond repair, what then? (by Mark Saunders, very similar to a question by Pati Coukell) In a worst case scenario, what would the biggest repair you would be able to carry out on the Cats in the environment you’re in? (by…

The Ice Team is at the same position as yesterday having been unable to take advantage of excellent travelling conditions. The team recently found some issues with the fuel scoot runners so took the opportunity to rectify these whilst conditions were favourable. All seven scoots that the team have with them are now fixed, but it took the whole day to complete. They will have to do similar…

As of 0600 GMT today the Ice Team was still at their overnight position. It’s only -10C outside but the wind is still gusting up around 40knots. Thankfully the visibility has much improved and they’re hoping to dig out today and make progress over the tricky section of blue ice three kilometres away. Once they have crossed the blue ice they will depot the Belgian Lehmann sledge plus all t…

The Ice Team is stuck in the middle of a blizzard at S71 22′ 22.4″,  E023 36′ 27.8″ with near-zero visibility and gusts over 50 knots. In conditions like these it is impractical and too dangerous to carry on and so the team have to make do huddled up in the living caboose together. The conditions also hamper communications, but we will provide more updates as soon as we have news from t…

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…