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You can keep up to date with the Breaking Trail team's current events here. Progress will be updated regularly during the individual challenges. 14th-21st January - Official Polar Challenge training week in Austria It's fair to say we're all feeling geared up and keen to get out there, after an excellent training week in the stunning area around Zell am See in the Austrian Alps (http://www.world66.com/europe/austria/zellamsee for more info). The first two days were spent in lectures on medical matters, GPS usage (navigation), packing the pulks (sleds), food and equipment, such as how to use the gas cookers as effectively as possible. We discovered that this included breaking all camping laws and bringing the burner into the sleeping area, zipping shut the opening, turning it up full and waiting for the warmth to spread through our bones...and damp clothes.
We've been issued with most of the clothing that we'll be using in the Arctic, including a down jacket that's more like a duvet, similar sleeping bags, various layers of tops, bottoms and gloves, and sunglasses and goggles. And we did all jump in a hole cut (with a chainsaw) in the ice covering a small lake, covering the procedure in case we should fall through the ice during the race. We're obviously hoping it doesn't happen, possibly slightly more now than before...
Our skiing has come on thanks to some coaching from the instructors, though there'll be plenty of time to master the technique, and we've got a good idea about our routine for putting up the tent and getting ourselves fed, watered and rested. This element is vital to our success, both in completion of the course and in the race scenario. For more photos have a look on the IMAGES page. If you want to check out some video footage and photos of the whole group, go to www.polar-challenge.com and click on 'Austria' in the top left corner. PAST EVENTS Sunday 26th February - The St Peters Brewery Great East Run - A 20km (half marathon) road race around Bungay in Suffolk. A good publicity stunt as tyres were dragged round the course, prompting more than the odd strange look... The rumour that the boys set half-marathon PBs are unfounded. (For full details see http://www.bungayblackdogrunningclub.co.uk/brewery-race.asp) Sunday December 4th - Grim 8-mile off-road challenge (http://www.grimchallenge.co.uk for more info) A decent blow-out in Aldershot over the ground where the Army test their vehicles, making for good tracks and ditches (mostly full of water). These can also be a pitfall...(as Andrew found out, unable to complete the course after turning over his ankle). Alex and Jeremy, however stormed through and flew the flag for Breaking Trail across the finish line. 18th-20th November - Official Polar Challenge training weekend in Wales
An excellent weekend organised by the Polar Challenge people, comprising of GPS (Global Positioning System) navigation training (we'll be using GPS in the Arctic, as compasses are useless in the vicinty of The Pole...and it's also much easier...), a day's trek in the beautiful Black Mountains and pretty decent bacon sandwiches. Also the first chance to meet the other teams and individuals signed up for the 2006 race, and to experience a Welsh rugby match in a Welsh pub.
It was also a few degrees below zero overnight, so we got a bit of a taster of cold tent life into the bargain, as well as some good tips and first experience of the theory behind the importance of changing layers so as not to sweat too much. Not such an immediate problem where we were this weekend, but hypothermia sets in slightly quicker in the far North! Mental note: must remember warm sleeping bags in the North Pole.
Saturday 12th November - Ballbuster Duathlon (http://www.humanrace.co.uk/buster/index.html for more info) A tough event taking in Box Hill in Surrey, comprising five 8-mile laps, two on foot and three in the saddle. Nobody said it was going to be easy. And it wasn't. But some good work together saw the team through, along with some excellent support from Bella and Claire on the sidelines (thanks for the Lucozade)!! Sunday 9th October - Kingston Running Festival 16 mile run (http://www.humanrace.co.uk/festival/index.html for more info) A tiring run after the previous days' exertions, but a valuable effort which gave an indication of the effort that will be needed to 'get up and get on with it' in spite of tired limbs during the Polar Challenge. Saturday 8th October - Questars Adventure Race in the New Forest, Hampshire (http://www.questars.co.uk/for more info) The day finished with a respectable finish of 13th in the Masters category out of 16 teams, the rest of whom all had prior adventure racing experience. The team covered 17 miles over the first 3 hours of the race in the running section, choosing to start on foot and then continue with 2 hours on the bike, with a 'break' for just under an hour's kayaking. One of the few teams to collect all available kayaking points! Why not gloat a bit... For photos from the events above check out the IMAGES page! Polar Challenge 2006
The team is currently in preparation for the Polar Challenge 2006, a 350-mile cross-country race on skis from northern Canada to the Magnetic North Pole (finish line beneath the deserted Isachsen Mine). Competitors participate in a 4-day, 65-mile training expedition in which they ski from Resolute to Polaris Mine - the Polar Challenge starting point. Competitors race on skis in teams of 3, pulling their supplies in 120lb pulks. The race takes place between mid-April and mid-May, taking teams 2-4 weeks to complete. The Arctic
The team will be trained in arctic survival, including what to do should they fall through the ice, and how to handle a confrontation with those Bears - the two most imminent and real dangers in an expedition of this kind. Survival
Nourishment will be in the form of dehydrated, high-energy packet food, as well as moral-boosting snacks. Snow will be melted to provide drinking and cooking water.
To read more about the Polar Challenge 2006, go to www.polar-challenge.com. | ||
The Arctic is one of the world's most extreme environments, with temperatures as low as -50C. It's also home to 80% of the world's Polar Bears.
The team will be completely self-sufficient while out on the ice, and will be carrying food and cooking equipment, a state-of-the-art tent and sleeping equipment. 
