Friends in High Places

We seem to getting all sorts of support from some really great people at the moment – all very encouraging!

I met Michael Palin, who is now the President of The Royal Geographical Society (I’ve been a Fellow since 1994) last weekend and told him all about the expedition and he very kindly sent me this message for the team:

Hi Jim,

It was all a bit mad at the Explore Weekend, but I think I promised you an endorsement for your Ice Warrior Arctic Pole Expedition.

Learning to travel the hard way is not only the best way, but it’s also the most memorable. I greatly admire all of you for having a go – believe me you won’t forget the experience.

Good luck,

Michael Palin

Today I received an email from our Patron Sir Ranulph Fiennes for the team:

Jim informs me of just how hard you are working to get this expedition off the ground which is something, as you might imagine, I can really appreciate. The fact that I am your Patron makes me very proud so do keep up this tremendous effort. I know you will reap all the rewards in the end.

Very Best of Luck Ran

I wonder who’ll be next?

Things are hotting up!

Perhaps I should use a better phrase, given that our remit has much to do with global warming but things are really getting busy around here. Over the last two weeks my feet have hardly touched the ground with a medical conference in Dundee about Antarctic Medicine, a Royal Geographical Conference about Exploration, a keynote speech at the Chief Fire Officers Association conference as well as numerous meetings, proposals and people to attend to. Finally I have a week to catch up with my team and progress the administration and logistics.
Jim McNeill, Founder and Leader, Ice Warrior

Waterproof Jackets

Whatever happened to the longer cut waterproof jacket? The trend these days is for a very short cut jacket and if you're a climber I can understand why. It doesn't interfere with your harness, hardware and rope work. But what if you're hill walking or trekking or like me and my teams pulling sledges across the Polar Regions? The longer cut offers the wearer that little bit more protection from wind, rain and snow, particularly in the nether regions and doesn't necessitate the wearing of over trousers; useful for those who walk "hot". I'm contemplating the creation of our own Ice Warrior brand jacket.