ITACE Team Training Weekend

 Early morning light in Newlands Valley

This weekend the majority of the ITACE team made the long drive north for a training weekend in the Lake District. The wet and windy weather of the last few weeks had given way to blue skies and sunshine - perfect conditions to train for an Antarctic crossing although we suspect Ian was happy with a dose of sunshine as he's heading south with Ran Fiennes in a couple of months for a winter Antarctic traverse as part of the Coldest Journey expedition.

Saturday saw us walking into Borrowdale over the top of Walla Crag. After an 'important meeting' at Shepherds Cafe we spent the afternoon hanging around on some string looking at crevasse rescue and abseiling. The midges eventually drove us away and we found our way up to Millican Dalton's cave in the dark for a bivi. The following morning we shouldered our loads for the climb over Cat Bells and down into Newlands Valley. Our final activity was a descent of Stoneycroft Ghyll which provided plenty of fun and a few bruises!

Ian topping out on Brown Slabs at Shepherds Crag

ITACE 2014 Team Training from Mountain Zac on Vimeo.

Imperial Trans Antarctic Centenary Expedition

Hauling pulks in Antarctica

Big plans for 2014. After a wet weekend dragging tyres on Dartmoor. I've been selected for a place on the Imperial Trans Antarctic Centenary Expedition 2014.  An ambitious expedition to attempt a crossing of Antarctica via Shackleton's proposed 1914 route.

From the expedition website;
When it comes to celebrating the human spirit, 2014 is going to be a special year. August 2014 will mark exactly 100 years since Sir Ernest Shackleton KCVO and his extraordinary team set out on one of the biggest and most ambitious polar journeys ever attempted.In 1914, as war clouds gathered over Europe, Shackleton was laying plans for an epic expedition; the first ever trek across the Antarctic continent, travelling 1800 miles from sea to sea. He intended to sail through the uncharted waters of the Weddell Sea to Vahsel Bay before trekking by foot towards the geographic South Pole. From there his team would proceed towards the Ross Sea, destined for a rendezvous with their ship and victory.Unfortunately disaster struck and Shackleton’s ship was crushed by sea ice, leaving his team stranded in the freezing wilderness.  By saving the lives of all 28 of his men, Shackleton’s leadership and survival skills have become the stuff of legend, but his intended course across the Antarctic continent remains uncompleted. Until now.

With the patronage of Shackleton’s granddaughter the Honourable Alexandra Shackleton behind us, in 2014 we plan to tread in the great explorer’s intended footsteps, realising his polar ambition and capturing his spirit of adventure for the 21st century. It will be the first time Shackleton’s route will have been attempted– honouring and celebrating just what it takes to push the limits of human possibility. 

 Lots of training, preperation and fundraising in store for the next couple of years. Please have a look at the expedition website www.south2014.com. and support us in any way you can.