Questions personally answered by your guides. Alan Chambers MBE.
	Pete Goss MBE.

What will the weather be like?
The temperature will be between 0º and –25º C. It will be clear, crisp and dry with beautiful blue skies and 24 hour daylight. There is always the possibility of some cloudy storms.

Will I be warm enough during the day and night? What is the likelihood of getting frostbite?
Keeping warm during the day will vary according to the individual. Trial and error with personal clothing will be the best way of working out what you personally need. During the night you will be in a –50ºC sleeping bag and feel as snug as in your warm duvet back home. Frostbite is avoided by adhering to the guides’ advice and not stepping outside of safety guidelines (eg do not take your gloves off outside!)

What will the food be like?
Food will be fairly conventional -a mixture of freeze dried expedition, high carb food and normal, fresh food. Hi energy bars and drinks will be consumed but we can tailor the food to groups as the duration is short, so weight isn’t a major issue. We will consume on average around 4000 calories per person per day.

Will I be able to make contact with friends and family while I’m on the expedition?
Yes, via satellite phone. This year we spoke to our families from the pole as clear as on a UK landline. During the trip, we will be in daily contact with families to update on the team’s progress.

What qualifications do the guides have?
The only greater qualified would be Father Christmas himself (Please see bios on the website for more details)

What is the guide: participant ratio?
We will walk in groups of 1:5

What are the chances of meeting Polar Bears?
There is always a possibility of meeting polar bears as we will be playing in their playground! However, occasions like this are rare and we always take a rifle with us just in case

What happens if we encounter blizzards?
In the case of blizzards, we batten down the hatches, secure the tents together as one group and keep a vigil on snow build up around the tent. We can also use the phones to get weather updates if need be. All these procedures and safety measures will be rehearsed in Svalbard before we embark on the walk, so you will know exactly what to do should the need arise.

Do I need to purchase any special clothing/ equipment?
You will be supplied with the majority of required equipment. However, you may also need to purchase a few personal extras which we will inform you of nearer the time.

What about insurance?
British participants will have their own individual travel insurance, covering the location and activities involved in the expedition. This will be purchased on application and details will be sent to you once this has been arranged. Non UK-residents will be required to purchase their own travel insurance to cover this trip. Participants will be expected to check whether their own life insurance covers them for this event.

How will we navigate to the Pole?
We will navigate using a Silva compass and GPS as well as sun, shadow and snow formations

How do you know when you have reached the Geographic North Pole? Does anything
mark the spot?
Nothing marks the spot of the geographic North Pole as it is a frozen ocean which becomes fluid each year and melts away. We will mark the spot with our own North Pole flag when the GPS reads 90º north.
If you would like to bring your own flag, or your company flag to be photographed along side you at the North Pole you are welcome to do so. Just remember that what you bring, you pull!

I’m not very good at reading maps. What happens if I get lost?
Well, we are only heading in one direction! We will be in groups and never separate as individuals. Each group will have a phone and the leaders will be responsible for keeping the group tight. In bad visibility we either rope-up or camp.

How fit do I have to be to go on one of the expeditions?
Obviously we will need to approve your medical history and ensure that you have no serious conditions which could affect your health/fitness (eg heart conditions, serious back problems). You should have a basic standard of fitness and will be advised further on preparing for this by fitness trainer and reserve guide, Charlie Paton, who will be present at the training weekend at Brimpts Farm.

How long and how far do we walk each day?
On average we aim to walk between 6 and 10 miles per day. This will depend on group fitness, weather conditions and drop off time at 89º

How do I know if I will be able to pull the fully laden sledge every day?
The training weekend in January (see Training on the website for further details) will give a good indication as to your ability to pull the sledges. We will devise a number of exercises to test your physical strength and ensure you will be able to cope with all that is involved. It’s also good to remember that on ice it is slightly easier to pull the sledges as they glide more smoothly!

Will I be OK on a polar expedition if I have never skied before?
Obviously, having skiing experience will help, but it is not essential in order to complete the challenge. Last year all of the participants made it successfully to the pole, though some of them had never put a pair of skis on in their life. At times they found this tough, but not impossible. There are also times when we will be on foot, which some clients prefer.

Is it a problem if I have no relevant outdoor experience whatsoever?
This will not be a problem at all. This adventure will change your outlook on the outdoors and life as a whole. Your greatest strength will be your attitude towards the challenge.

What does the Participant Cost include?
For a list of what your £15,500 covers, please see ‘Cost’ on the website.

When does it have to be paid? Is a deposit needed?
Payments should be made according to the Payment Schedule which everyone will be given on application. This is spread over a number of months according to when expenses must be paid out for the trip and all of the logistics involved.

What is the date of the training weekend?
January 21st-23rd 2005 (tbc). For further details about the training weekend, please see Training on the website.

What are the expedition dates?
The aim is to take 2 groups of 10 people. The first trip will be within the first 2 weeks of April and the second trip will be in the last 2 weeks of April. Exact dates of departure and return are to be confirmed.