Participants
Hazards
Those who made it Possible
Britain's best loved chocolate biscuit has enabled twenty 'ordinary' British women to walk, in five groups of four in a relay format, 1000km across moving sea-ice from northern Canada to the North Pole.
The most epic British endeavour since England won the World Cup in '66, the unique format of this expedition means it stands every chance of success, as any participant who feels unable to proceed can be airlifted out. The guide for the relay is world renowned Matty McNair, featured recently on BBC 2's 'Wilderness Walks'.
The relay baton is Mc Vitie's 'P.Penelope Penguin', who will be passed on from team to team. As everyone knows, Penguins live in the Antarctic and polar bears live in the arctic so P.Penelope Penguin will be the first penguin ever to walk to the top of the world.
McVitie's will be supplying the team with over 7,000 McVitie's Penguin biscuits, (4 per day per person during the expedition) and 150 kilo's of pure, McVitie's milk chocolate - a vital component in their rations - as well as financial support.
| Expedition Format | Top |
The objective of this historic endeavour is to make the first all-women expedition to the North Pole in the Spring of 1997. People who ask "Why do they want to do it?" will probably never understand the inner forces that motivate the participants.
The expedition set out from Ward Hunt Island - the northernmost tip of Canada - for the North Pole on March 14th. The final team hopes to reach the North Geographic Pole in late May. The concept of a supported relay to the North Pole is entirely original. It enables participants to take part in an epic adventure safely, during their working year, at minimum cost. This all-female endeavour is destined to put the 'Great' back into 'Britain' in the world of exploration and adventure.
| Organisation | Top |
The idea was born in the summer of 1995 when team leader, Caroline Hamilton, asked the polar explorer and MD of The Polar Travel Co, Pen Hadow, if an expedition could be organised enabling her to walk to the North Pole. The relay concept was soon developed; and they shared the gargantuan task of turning the idea into reality.
The endeavour is being organised by the specialist company 'The Polar Travel Company', and the two women guides are the best in the world.
Merit not Money
The girls are from all walks of life. They have been professionally
selected from more than 200 'hopefuls' over nine months, with fitness
levels, psychological capacity and commitment the key criteria. They have
each had individual training programmes since the expedition squad was
finalised last September.
| Selection | Top |
Participants Participants include a mother of triplets, the Queen Mother's great niece, a royal protection officer, a film financier, a chartered surveyor, a physio, several teachers, an air stewardess, and many others.
Hazards
Whilst clearly there are natural hazards to be overcome on the expedition,
it does not carry the level of inherent risk associated with airborne
activities, mountaineering and ocean racing.
Though the frozen surface of the Arctic Ocean's will be shifting and disintegrating with the seasonal melt, and occasional short stretches of open water will be encountered, the water is calm. If one of the team falls in, they can quickly be pulled out by the rest of the team and warmed in a tent; and though temperatures may go as low as -45C, the team will be able to keep warm most of the time by the sheer level of activity involved in moving the sledges northward. Any signs of hypothermia will be quickly spotted by the expert guides and dealt with accordingly. Any member of the team who does not want to go on can be airlifted out.
Polar bears are very rare so far North, but protection will be carried.
| Those who made it Possible | Top |
McVitie's Penguin is the main sponsor of the event. Also fundamental to the project are: Canadian Airlines, Vander Waterproofs, Carrington Performance Fabrics, Neutrogena Norwegian Formula, Angela Mortimer Secretarial Recruitment, Damart Thermawear, and Bradstock Insurance Broking Group.
|
The expedition will be raising money for St John Ambulance.
For press enquiries, please contact |  |