Plom

At first there was great respect and interest between us all. When you think of the kind of people a trip like this may attract, they are bound to be quirky individuals.

The trip was mentally challenging due to fatigue, temperature lack of contact with the outside world etc, and each person had their own way of dealing with it. There were times when we wanted to just kill each other. But at that time, it is more important to get the sail in, or replace a fuse for the engine or cook a meal and you just have to do it. Groups of men naturally find pecking orders according to rank, common interests, age, self interest etc.

We also shared moments of joy, for instance seeing a polar bear come right up to our boat to check us out. I can say that at the end of the trip I have a great respect for all the members of the crew, however that respect is very different from that which I started with.

All things considered I would crew for and with any of them again in a heart beat.

It's an excellent question and I'll think about it more.

I found a russian playboy at an abandoned platinova expedition camp in Kangerlussuaq. That was a happy day.

Haha well I did say ask me anything... You'd have to sneak a tug in when out hiking, or a really stealthy on your bunk.

I walked inshore and found a depression where there was some heather and snuggled into the undergrowth. I took off my trousers, ripping them over my boots as I knew my fingers would not be able to tie my boot laces back on. I ever so slowly started to realise I had to find better shelter. I spotted something orange in the distance and after some press ups t get blood going started out for it. As it was the other side of the fjord, I had to cross the river to get over. The river was of course Ice melt from the glacier that caused the katabatic wind and so I got cold all over again.

My orange blur turned out to be a tent inhabited by an american girl called Mindy. She was awesome. As soon as I was out of the wind I could finally generate heat without it being stripped away instantly. I waited out the wind with Mindy eventually getting my fingers back and attempting to mend her stove but I didn't have the toold.

Finally the wind died down and Capps rowed out for me. I learned a lot that day. ALWAYS HAVE YOUR GEAR. Always!

Since then I brought a full change of dry wool clothes with me, food and a bivvy bag for one nights sleep on shore.

Hardest lesson I ever learned. I made the tiniest slip up and was severely punished.

Hypothermia.

I was waiting for James (First Mate) to collect me in the dinghy after a 16 hour hike. All of my gear had already been taken to the boat. Almost as soon as he reached the shore, a fast wind hit. The wind is known as a katabatic and arises as spill off from the glacier. Thus it is fast moving, ice cold air.

I got soaked head to toe in the attempt to row against the wind, but we couldn't do it. James decided to try alone and he made it back to Dolphin. The combination of wind and wetness was so relentless I could feel myself slowing down mentally.

I've been in many dangerous situations where you would get an adrenaline rush, but this was just fearful.