If not more important than physical training, than as important, is the psychological aspect of preparing for an expedition. The psychological pressures of this expedition are endless and the team must adapt positively to the daily stress and risk of travelling in such a hostile environment and to a great deal of discomfort. It is the mind that keeps the body going. Positive visualization, exhaustive attention to detail and absolute belief in oneself and the team all contribute to preparing psychologically for such an ambitious challenge.

The Rivers of Ice team will be spending up to 6 weeks unsupported in their own company and therefore the ability to motivate themselves and to get on with each other is vital. It is important that both Tarka and Katie-Jane understand their own motivations, weaknesses, strengths and how interactions with each other affects their abilities.

Even more importantly, it is key to understand each others strengths, weaknesses and motivations. Through previous expeditions and emulation circumstances in training trips they have developed effective management techniques to overcome potential hostilities during the expedition that arise from such a physically and mentally stressful environment. It is also important that planning strategies are developed so that effective decision-making can be made, despite the physical and environmental stresses placed upon them.

Due to the psychological pressures and how their dealt with being such a poignant part of the expedition, accentuated even further due to the necessity for the team to cover the ground before their limited food supply runs out. We will have pre and post expedition psychological evaluations carried out and reported on the website. But even more interestingly, the team will have evaluations carried out via the satellite phone during the expedition every 4-5 days. These evaluation will assess how the team is coping with the technicalities, exhaustion, isolation, sleep deprivation, cold and maybe most interestingly hunger (due to their reduced rations).

Sarah Fenwick, the expedition psychologist (www.sarah-fenwick.com) brings a wealth of the academic, theoretical, practical and personal experience to support Tarka and Katie-Jane in their challenge. Sarah is a Chartered Psychologist specialising in positive psychology (a relatively new field of psychology that studies what enables people to thrive and be fulfilled) and performance psychology (how do we become high performing achievers). Sarah doesn't just 'walk the talk', she 'flies the talk' in that she has a long list of achievements, varied life experiences and adventures. Sarah has very successfully competed at World class level in paragliding, including 3 World Records and medals at World and European Championships. She has also successfully competed at national level in equestrian and sailing, and at local/county level in a variety of sports including triathlon, swimming and netball. Sarah has been team leader or a key member of several expeditions and travel adventures, including flying a paraglider from a 5000m mountain in South America, off-road land-rover safari in Namibia, solo-hitch-hiking around southern Africa, living in a Tongan village and sailing from Tahiti to Europe (westbound via the Indian Ocean). Sarah loves to push the boundaries of her comfort zone and recently went wing-walking, raced on an Extreme 40 Catamaran and in December 2009 she and her husband Adam Younger (who designs and races powerboats) will spend a month sailing in the Antarctic.