First Day of Polar Training

Having collected the three chaps Matt, Adam and Justin from the airport at one o'clock in the morning I thought we'd have a bit of a lie in and got stuck into the training after breakfast at a leisurely 10:15hrs.
Bit of getting to know each other and understand each others expectations and aspirations our first session was bringing a polar perspective on clothing and how to get to the stage where you are properly clothed and you can manage that clothing to best effect.
Then we got the skis out, talked through the skis themselves, the bindings and ski poles and got straight out into a calm snow clad valley at minus 8 degrees - perfect learning conditions.
After inputting the few but vital set of techniques which we use to ski efficiently, the session was all about trying to perfect these.
All three of them were downhill skiers so I knew there would be some heavy re-training necessary. Matt was a natural, Adam started slow and unsure but quickly got to grips and Justin was slower but not that far behind.
The session ended down the valley in Longyearbyen with a naughty bun and wonderful, richly deserved cup of hot chocolate.
Quick bit of shopping for a lunches and snacks and then second ski session up the hill to Huset for our supper. This time the wind had got up and was blowing a blizzard right into our faces.
Squeezed in a final bit on risk appreciation to finish the day off.
- Jim

Location:Nybyen, Spitsbergen, Svalbard

Calling All Would-Be Explorers

Ice Warrior April Polar Training Course

Where - Spitsbergen Island, Svalbard, Norway
When - 4th to 11th April 2011

With elements of both our basic and advanced courses this week is designed to take people with some skills, enhance them and transfer them into the polar setting. Because of the small ratio of Jim to trainees the entry level of skills need not be high, as there will be time to bring participants up to the same level. It is envisaged that further training and controlled experience will be necessary in order to reach full competency but this will give you a very good grounding.

The course will cover -
• Arctic Survival
• Sea Ice Travel
• Skiing/Hauling
• Technical Equipment
• Expeditioning
• Communications
• Clothing Systems
• Route Planning
• Camp Craft
• Emergencies
• Physical Training
• An appreciation of what it takes to lead an expedition properly
• The psychology behind leadership, team work and expeditioning
• Missing person/kit drill/searching an area
• Sea ice training - recognition of types and what they mean.
• How to cross a lead safely
• How the ocean works
• Traversing rough sea ice without damaging yourself or your kit
• Polar bear drills
• How to orchestrate a casualty evacuation
• Introduction of dynamic risk assessment, managing and controlling the risks
• How to navigate in remote areas using GPS
• Weather - Arctic storm systems and how to ride them out
• The floe edge - appreciation of the dangers, practical use of equipment
• Immersion in cold water, signs and symptoms of hypothermia and associated cold injuries
....and more

The course is part accommodated part camping.
Ground Cost: £2000 inclusive of major items of kit – exclusive of insurance and travel to and from Svalbard (around £500).
Access to discounted clothing and personal kit.

For more information please contact Ian Richardson
EMAIL : ian (at) ice-warrior.com
TEL : +44(0)7976 833337
or the Office on +44(0)1344883861

Announcing Our Expedition Outfitting Facility

The Ice Warrior Expedition Gear Shop is LIVE!

Just in time......


It looks like the cold weather is here! What a great time to launch our new expedition gear website!

Our online shop contains everything you will need for your expedition from
~ socks to expedition tents
~ dry bags to belays
~ sleeping bags to camp stoves.

If you can't see what you need, don't worry just contact us and we'll aim to supply it for you.

Planning an expedition? Taking part in a polar trek?

Take advantage of Jim's 28 years of polar expertise. We can recommend and advise on the best kit and equipment for your particular activity. All of our kit has been tried and tested by Jim and the Ice Warrior teams.

Posted by Lori McNeill

RGS Explore 2010

Jim McNeill will be speaking at Explore 2010 : The annual expedition & fieldwork planning weekend at the Royal Geographical Society.

Friday, Saturday & Sunday 12 - 14 November 2010

The weekend covers : Lectures, workshops, and exhibits cover the planning and undertaking of research projects and expeditions in a variety of environments and disciplines. Over 100 leading field scientists and explorers will provide:

Contacts - Inspiration - Advice - Research - Exploration - Adventure

Jim will be on the panel of "Polar & Arctic Environments" in the COUNCIL ROOM
SATURDAY LOGISTICS WORKSHOPS: 15.30 – 17.30 approx.

Posted by Lori McNeill

HAUSER BEARS WELCOMES ARCTIC EXPLORER JIM MCNEILL AS NEWEST AMBASSADOR

From Hauser Bears

We are delighted to announce that Jim McNeill, founder of The Ice Warrior project, and British Arctic explorer with over 25 years of experience in monitoring polar bears is now an ambassador for Hauser Bears. Also, you are now able to participate actively in vital research on polar bear data collections on our behalf!

Jim McNeill is an accomplished polar explorer, presenter and keynote speaker, with over 25 years of experience travelling in the Arctic.

He founded the Ice Warrior project in 2001, as a way of combining his love of remote exploration and his background in the environmental science sector. He has guided many groups to the Arctic, including BBC film crews, and sees the role of his organisation as giving people the opportunities to achieve extraordinary feats. Jim brings a passion for the Arctic and polar bears as well as a wealth of experience in dealing with these animals. His expeditions, travelling thousands of miles across the Arctic, give him regular opportunities to monitor polar bear populations for the Norwegian Polar Institute, as well as putting together a yearly scientific programme for scientists to monitor the effects of climate change.

Ice Warrior is an exciting organisation, offering unique wildlife expedition in the Arctic to see and experience first-hand and up close the amazing landscape and natural diversity of remote, seldom visited regions. Jim McNeil  has over 25 years of experience in High Arctic exploration. Under his guidance, you will be equipped, trained and led through breath taking scenery inhabited by Arctic foxes, Peary caribous, snowy owls, red throated loons, and of course, if you are lucky, the magnificent polar bear. Each expedition requires a minimum of six participants up to a maximum of twelve. These trips go far beyond the bounds of tourism, taking you to places that few people will ever visit, for a life-changing journey through the land of the largest land mammal.

Why not sign up on behalf of Hauser Bears and become part of direct action to preserve and protect this magnificent bear? Your trip will form part of the long running survey run by ice warrior, on behalf of the Norwegian Polar Institute into polar bear numbers.

To participate on behalf of Hauser Bears, we ask that you raise a minimum of £1000 for the charity, through Virgin Money Giving.

Ice Warrior Induction Weekend

The next Ice Warrior Induction Weekend is 25-27 June 2010.
Visit our website for more information.