We are so sorry for the lack of updates since we returned, we truly haven’t stopped. We have been here, there and everywhere giving talks, interviews to the press and TV, sorting footage and visiting sponsors etc. Oh and the small matter 
of organising a wedding on a fairly short timescale.
We have been over whelmed by the level of press interest in the expedition, especially as the coverage has been over such a broad spectrum of readers and amazingly it is still coming. I have attached just a small sample below.
As we have mentioned previously we are disappointed in the limited film footage we were able to capture out there, and are already looking at alternative camera equipment for next year, to depict the unfathomable conditions and drama that the ice cap provides. However, from the little footage we were able to capture, we will be creating little film snippets over the weekend, so keep an eye out of the multimedia page.
Tarka has now, a little over a month since we came off the ice, fully recovered physically. I however am still a little behind. The numbness in the toes has gradually disappeared bar my left big toe which I still can’t feel…very strange sensation, especially as I keep tripping over it! This week I have been shedding layers and layers of skin from my hands although that seems to be clearing up now. But problematically my knees are in a bad way. They hurt continually especially up and down stairs and don’t seem to be improving. For this reason we have been delaying getting back into training. Although I think it’s about time to dust off the bike and see if exercises will actually help the old knees.
As well as wrapping up from this expedition we have already started planning and organising for next year’s expedition…Rivers of Ice – Take 2!
As you will see from the table that we were incredibly happy with our choice of equipment and nearly all of it performed amazingly, leaving very few things to change or modify for next year.
| SLEDGE | KIDS STUFF | 1 METRE | BRILLIANT | |
| ROPES | BEAL | ICE TWIN 7,7MM | BRILLIANT | KNOT-UP QUICKLY BUT, TO BE EXPECTED WITH SUCH A THIN ROPE |
| ICE SCREWS | PETZLE | LAZER 10CM | BRILLIANT | |
| ICE AXE | PETZLE | SNOW RACER | BRILLIANT | |
| HARNESS | BLACK DIAMOND | ALPINE BOD | BRILLIANT | |
| CRAMPONS | PETZLE | SARKEN | BRILLIANT | |
| SCREW GATES | PETZLE | OK OVAL | BRILLIANT | |
| CARABINA | PETZLE | ATTACHE LOCK | BRILLIANT | |
| ASCENDERS | PETZLE | VERSO | BRILLIANT | |
| PULLEY SYSTEM | PETZLE | ULTRA LEGERE | BRILLIANT | |
| SLINGS | BLACK DIAMOND | NYLON | BRILLIANT | |
| SNOW TUBE | PETZLE | 55CM | BRILLIANT | |
| PRUSSIC | BEAL | 4MM X 10M | BRILLIANT | |
| SKIS | DYNAFIT | FT MANASLU 169CM | BRILLIANT | |
| SKINS | DYNAFIT | SPEED SKIN | BRILLIANT | |
| BINDINGS | DYNAFIT | TLT SPEED | BRILLIANT | ICED UP WHEN THEY HAD A TAIL WIND |
| BACKPACK | GOLITE | ODYSSEY | BRILLIANT | DESIGNED FOR 23KG THEY HAD 50KG SO A FEW MINOR RIPS BUT STILL THE BEST BAG FOR THE JOB |
| DRY BAGS | SEA 2 SUMMIT | PACK LINERS 70 LITRE | BRILLIANT | A BIT TO BIG FOR THEIR NEEDS, THEY WILL TAKE SMALLER BAG NEXT TIME |
| DRY BAG | SEA 2 SUMMIT | 13L | BRILLIANT | |
| WALKING POLES | SWIXX | MOUNTAIN | BRILLIANT | |
| TENT | HILLEBERG | NAMMATJ 2 | GOOD | NORMALLY A FANTASTIC TENT BUT ON THIS OCCASION WAS BEATEN BY THE STORM |
| SHOVEL | BLACK DIAMOND | SHOVEL | BRILLIANT | |
| SLEEPING MATT | THERMAREST | NEO AIR | GOOD | WEIGHT AND COMFORT FANTASTIC FOR 2 WEEKS THEN INTERNAL WALL STRUCTURE FROZE AND BROKE |
| SLEEPING BAG | MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT | XERO 350 | GOOD | SLEEPING BAGS DID EVERYTHING THEY WERE DESIGNED FOR BUT NEXT TIME WE WILL USE SYNTHETIC |
| HEAD TORCH | PETZLE | TACTIKKA PLUS | BRILLIANT | |
| MSR | COOKER | WISPERLITE | BRILLIANT | |
| PAN | MSR | REACTOR | BRILLIANT | MADE SUCH A DIFFERENCE |
| SPOON | SEA 2 SUMMIT | TITANIUM SHORT HANDLE | BRILLIANT | |
| WATER BOTTLE | NALGENE | 1L | BRILLIANT | |
| PUMP | MSR | FUEL | BRILLIANT | |
| SAT PHONE | IRIDIUM | 9505A | BRILLIANT | A FEW ISSUES WITH THE INTERNAL BATTERY BUT PROBABLY JUST DUE TO OLD AGE |
| GPS | GARMIN | GEKO | BRILLIANT | |
| PLB | MCMURDO | FAST FIND | BRILLIANT | DIDN’T NEED TO USE BUT SIZE AND WEIGHT ARE FANTASTIC |
| MAPS/SAT IMAGES | CUSTOM | CUSTOM | BRILLIANT | PRINTED ON WATERPROOF PAPER AND LASTED THE DISTANCE |
| MULTITOOL | LEATHERMAN | CHARGE TTI | BRILLIANT | |
| MULTITOOL | LEATHERMAN | SKELETOOL | BRILLIANT | |
| WHISTLE | MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT | IN JACKET | BRILLIANT | USED MANY TIMES, CLIP TO JACKET COLLAR – GREAT FEATURE |
| BATTERIES | ENERGIZER | LITHIUM’S AAA (PK 4) | BRILLIANT | |
| FIRST AID KIT | LIFESYSTEMS | MOUNTAIN PLUS ADDITIONS | BRILLIANT | NEED TO TAKE MORE MEDICAL TAPE AND PLASTERS….MANY BLISTERS!! |
| REPAIR KIT | CUSTOM | SEE APPENDIX | BRILLIANT | COULD DO WITH EVEN MORE GAFFA TAPE |
| BOOTS | DYNAFIT | ZZERO2 C-TF | BRILLIANT | INCREDIBLY LIGHT FOR A SKI BOOT, BUT DID FREEZE BADLY AFTER GETTING WET – INEVITABLE |
| SOCKS | THORLO | MOUNTAINEERING | BRILLIANT | |
| GOGGLES | BOLLE | BRILLIANT | GREAT UNTIL I KATIE ON THEM AND SPLIT THE LENSES | |
| SUNGLASSES | TAHO | CHANGEABLE LENSES | BRILLIANT | |
| GILLET | MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT | COMPRESSOR VEST | BRILLIANT | |
| GLOVE | MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT | G2 ALPINE | BRILLIANT | |
| MITT | MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT | PINICLE | BRILLIANT | |
| BASE LAYER TOP | PATAGONIA | C4 | BRILLIANT | |
| BASE LAYER BOTTOM | PATAGONIA | C4 | BRILLIANT | |
| JACKET | MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT | KONGUR | BRILLIANT | |
| TROUSERS | MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT | CHANGABANG | GOOD | TROUSERS DID WHAT THEY WHERE ADVERTISED AS BUT ICE CAP WEATHER WAS JUST TOO WET! |
| WOOLY HAT | MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT | BENNIE | BRILLIANT | |
| FLEECE | MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT | MICRO | BRILLIANT | |
| HEADBAND | MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT | POWER STRETCH | BRILLIANT | |
| FACE GUARD | PO | BRILLIANT | ||
| WATCH | TISSOT | T-TOUCH | BRILLIANT | |
| FUEL CANISTER | PRIMUS | 1.5L | BRILLIANT | |
| FUEL | WHITE GAS | N/A | GOOD | NOT AS EFFICIENT AS WHAT YOU CAN BUY IN THE UK, BUT STILL BETTER THAN EXPECTED |
| FUEL CANISTER | MSR | 325ML | BRILLIANT | |
| BREAKFAST | HOME MADE | CUSTOM | BRILLIANT | |
| 9BAR | WHOLEBAKE | VARIOUS | BRILLIANT | |
| MEAL | EXPEDITION FOODS | VARIOUS | GOOD | UNFORTUNATELY KATIE’S STOMACH DIDN’T AGREE WITH ALL THE FLAVORS |
| CHEESE | HOME MADE | CUSTOM | BRILLIANT | |
| AMF | HOME MADE | CUSTOM | BRILLIANT | |
| CAMERA | CANON | 350D | GOOD | ALWAYS MISTING UP |
| CAMERA BAG | LOW ALPINE | BRILLIANT | ||
| CAMERA BATTERIES | CANON LITHIUM | BRILLIANT | ||
| CAMCORDER | SONY | A1 | AVERAGE | NORMALLY A GREAT CAMERA BUT JUST DIDN’T COPE AT ALL WELL WITH THE CONSTANT MOISTURE |
| BATTERIES | AUTOMATED MS | LL – 77 | BRILLIANT | |
| CABLES | ASSORTED | CUSTOM | BRILLIANT | |
| MIC | SENNHEISER | EW 100 | BRILLIANT | |
| MIC BATTERIES | ENERGIZER | LITHIUM AA | BRILLIANT |
