We have returned home safely, if not a little sore in the head, having spent our last evening tucking into juicy steaks, delicious red wine and far too many vodkas!  It was great fun hanging out in the midnight sun with the hip n’groovie crowd in funky Reykjavik. We also managed a quick dip in the Blue Lagoon en-route to the airport, soaking up the healing minerals and having a good wash!

There was a wonderful welcoming home committee to meet us off the plane – James’s wife Nicky and their two sons Fabian and Felix, Chloe’s mother and Conny’s parents.. beaming smiles and all pretty thankful to see us safe and with no missing body parts – just rugged hairy faces (apart from Chloe who thankfully had recovered from her blistered mouth).

There are too many adjectives to describe the wonder and amazement of Greenland, her vast frozen ice-cap, majestic mountains and peaceful fjords, as well as the charming Inuit people who have lived there for thousands of years.  As a team, we came home feeling hugely privileged to have witnessed first-hand, such a beautiful and awe-inspiring country – a country so few will ever see in their lifetime.

“Far North, hidden behind barriers of pack ice are lands that hold one spellbound.  Gigantic imaginary gates, with hinges set in the horizon, seem to guard these lands.  Slowly the gates swing open and one enters another world where men are insignificant amid the awesome immensity of lonely mountains, fjords and glaciers” (Louise Boyd, photographer 1935)

Although we sadly never reached the ice-cap station this time, due to unusually heavy snowfall, it gave us the opportunity to see more of the country, visit the fjord where August Courtauld and the British Arctic Air Route set up base camp for a year, as well as spending four days on the island of Isortoq; a tiny Inuit settlement perched on a hill, surrounded by frozen sea ice, icebergs and fjords.  Being able to sit back and observe the true Inuit way of life was a real treat and a very different atmosphere to Tasiilaq, the largest settlement on the east coast.

As a Team we had a great time with lots of teasing and laughter.  Spending three days holed up in a tent gave us the chance to form a strong bond and we definitely got to know each others little idiosyncrasies.

We can’t thank our sponsors enough for ALL their support with such fantastic clothing, food, health and nutritional advice, personal training, physiotherapy, flights etc.  We also loved all our messages on the ice and would like to say a huge “THANK YOU” to all our friends and family for their never-ending support and encouragement, giving us the spirit of determination during the high’s and especially during the low’s.

Here’s to the next adventure …..

Ice Cap Station Arctic Challenge Team ‘09