Encourage Archives

First Update from the Ice!

May 6, 2018 - Inspiring Explorers'™ Updates - 2018

Antarctic Heritage Trust

From Hollie: I’m walking across Greenland. Pretty sure it’ll be mostly flat. Wrong. So wrong. Day 2 will be known as a constant burn to the thighs, but in a landscape of breathtaking beauty. Starting off at 9.20am (a little later than expected) with snow falling lightly, the first hour whizzed by. Taking our first scheduled rest we downed our high sugar and fat snacks before heading off. With Bengt leading the charge, we snaked our way up and around the icey-blue frozen mounds. It became a challenge to see if we could stay ahead of our pulka as we slid down the banks, then an even bigger challenge to see if we could drag it up the other side. The girls of the team were very thankful for the boys’ help on more than one occasion. As the sun poked through, the hills only seemed to get steeper, but after a big day on the skis we set up camp for the night just after 4.30pm.

Base camp – Ousland Polar Exploration

Greenland Bound!

May 3, 2018 - Inspiring Explorers'™ Updates - 2018

The team made it to Copenhagen. They are now on their way to Kangerlussuaq where they will meet Bridget and Bengt and make the final preparations before setting out!

Antarctic Heritage Trust

Point of No Reason…

May 3, 2018 - Inspiring Explorers'™ Updates - 2018

Before Nansen and his men could even get up on to the ice cap to begin the first crossing of Greenland, they had to reach the shore on the east coast. The sealing ship Jason had transported the expedition team from Iceland and once they were 20kms offshore they launched small boats to reach the coast, the ‘point of no return’, as Nansen called it.

Public domain

The condition of the sea meant they were unable to land and eventually drifted some 380kms south of where planned starting point …for the crossing! They fought their way north through the coastal ice floes, and covered 200kms in 12 days, when they reached Umivik Bay. Still far south of their intended starting point Nansen realised that they simply had to get underway with the crossing, before the season progressed any further. After four days preparing in Umivik Bay, they stored the boats and some excess supplies in their ‘last resting place’ and began a treacherous ascent on to the ice cap.

Public domain

There They Go…

May 2, 2018 - Inspiring Explorers'™ Updates - 2018

We saw Nigel and Hollie off at Christchurch Airport this morning. They’re now on their way to Greenland to meet the rest of the Inspiring Explorers team. The countdown is on!

Antarctic Heritage Trust

Inspiring Explorers in the News

May 2, 2018 - Inspiring Explorers'™ Updates - 2018

Newshub came to pay Brando and Hollie a visit while they were getting in some last minute training in Christchurch, NZ last week, check out the action here!

Hollie also took some time out from last minute packing to talk all about the expedition with Karyn Hay for RNZ’s Lately show.

Antarctic Heritage Trust

Getting into Gear

April 29, 2018 - Inspiring Explorers'™ Updates - 2018

Public domain

Eastman roll film camera, the model taken by Nansen on the first crossing.

Inspiring Explorer Keith Parsons, who will be the expedition’s dedicated videographer, thought it was worth noting the amount of equipment he will be taking with him across Greenland, and as you can see…it’s a lot! It’s an interesting contrast to what Nansen took on the original crossing 130 years ago. A single Eastman film camera…

Keith Parsons

Full list of camera gear laid out for the Greenland expedition!

Trading Tyres for Sledges

April 29, 2018 - Inspiring Explorers'™ Updates - 2018

Antarctic Heritage TrustThe team have been training hard ahead of their departure for Greenland, but with snow not readily available in Australia and New Zealand, they have had to get a bit creative. Old tyres rigged together and dragged across sandy beaches and dirt roads are a good stand-in for 60kg sledges pulled behind skis!

Antarctic Heritage Trust

Sunrise over Spencer Park Beach

Sledges – Then and Now

April 16, 2018 - Inspiring Explorers'™ Updates - 2018

While the world is a very different place now to what it was 130 years ago when Nansen first crossed Greenland, some things haven’t changed all that much! Nansen’s expedition relied on being nimble and carried supplies on lightweight sledges that were pulled by the men.

Public Domain

A sketch of a Nansen Sledge used on the crossing

While the polyethylene sledges of today may look a bit different to the long wooden sledges with ski-like runners that Nansen helped innovate, the principle is very much the same! With the team pulling 60kgs behind them they have to think very carefully about what to take, although there’s still room for a few favourite snacks along the way!

River crossing – Ousland Polar Exploration

Welcome to 2018 Expedition to Greenland

April 16, 2018 - Inspiring Explorers'™ Updates - 2018

The 2018 Inspiring Explorers’ Expedition to Greenland will kick off on May 4. The attempt to cross the Greenland Ice Cap will honour the legacy of Fridtjof Nansen, Norwegian explorer, humanitarian, scientist, inventor and diplomat who first completed the crossing 130-years-ago. We will be posting regular updates from the team (conditions permitting!), so be sure to check back here as we update on the progress of the expedition.

Isortoq, on the East Coast of Greenland – Ousland Polar Exploration

Interview with Simon Lucas

March 21, 2017 - Inspiring Explorers'™ Updates - 2017

The whole trip we were buzzing about how incredible it was to be outside, away from modern day life, with no cell phone, reception or internet. We were completely focussed on what we were doing.

Iceberg

Simon Lucas
Zoologist and Filmmaker

Highlights
Reaching the summit of Mt Scott was definitely the highlight. It was pretty much a full white out when we started so we didn’t know if we would see the mountain or even get a viewpoint. It was an incredible feeling and huge relief when the clouds peeled back to reveal a perfectly blue sky with the sun shining on the mountains. I’ve spent the last three years showcasing my adventures and trying to get others excited about exploring the wilderness. This expedition has cemented the value of doing that.

One of the challenges I faced was…
Capturing the whole experience as the sole videographer was challenging, especially in an area that was heavily crevassed and required a lot of attention to tread safely. My feet found several crevasses, which brought home the reality of how quickly things can go wrong. Our guides were fantastic and steered us through these high consequences areas.

Advice I would give about exploring is…
Get outside! People don’t have to go to Antarctica to have an adventure. The whole trip we were buzzing about how incredible it was to be outside, away from modern day life, with no cell phone reception or internet. We were completely focused on what we were doing.

I admire the early polar explorers because…
When we went to Whalers Bay, we got to see all the old structures and get a glimpse of what it was like back in the day. I can’t imagine how hard it must have been for the early polar explorers to navigate the constantly moving icebergs in their wooden boats. To traverse the terrain with no maps or any way of knowing what lay ahead must have been incredibly daunting. It was definitely humbling for me.

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