WEEK FOUR

Overview:

The third and final phase is now under way. The Fire groups have been split across three different activities which will take place over the last week. Once all the groups have departed, we will not be returning to base camp. The expedition will reconvene as a whole at a camp site near Alta for a final debrief, kit sort and barbecue before flying home. We don’t anticipate any further blog entries so we will see you at Gatwick!


Mountaineering Group
Itinerary: Up at 5am this morning, the third phase mountaineers hopped on the local ferry to take them around to Langfjord. The area was investigate by the second phase kayakers and a new glacial snout promised access to a second ice cap and the opportunity for some science in measuring the glacier’s location.


Kayaking Group
Itinerary: After a day’s advanced sea kayak training, the paddlers hope to head eastward around the peninsula. They will be continuing the science conducted in the first two phases and will capitalise on vehicle support to undertake a one-way journey from Oksfjord.


Cultural Trek Group
Members: Natasha, Gabby, Gribbs, Alistair, Sam, Rose, Katie, Emma, Rachael, Clem
Itinerary: This activity is organised by the Young Leaders from the Leadership Development Programme. The Young Explorers will be travelling back through Alta to the Finnmarksvidda where they will be trekking across the plateau to a Sami-run Reindeer Centre.

Base Camp blog entry

Group: The Big Blue Mess Tent
Members: Holly, Emma, Trou, Lizzy, Danielle, James, Nathan

So, a lot has happened with our group since the last update. You can read about our activities in mountains in the blog entry above. Myself (Emma) and Clem are currently the only members at base camp (although Clem has actually been spending a lot of time with another Fire, Man Mountain), and the only members of our Fire taking a trek down culture alley (bring on the reindeer!).

Danielle, James and Holly are learning some snazzy kayaking manoeuvres for their third expedition; Lizzy, Trou and Nathan are being transported to the glacier for their third expedition.



I think what The Big Blue Mess Tent has learnt most is how to communicate and work with people. Maybe it’s because we are not so dissimilar after all, maybe it’s because we have some aspects in common. I don’t know to be honest. This is the philosophising rambles of a twenty year old, who has been away from civilisation far too long. I know I’m going to miss our Fire because of the things this Fire has taught me about myself, and other people.

Kayaking Group 1 blog entry

Name: Drittunge
Members: Rose, Gabby, Katie, Tasha, Gribbs, Laura, Callum & Alistair

“Darling, it’s better, down where it’s wetter, under the sea” Or at least it was until the tents were in it. That’s right, this week we’ve been kayaking.
Gabby has been keeping us going by singing delightfully. Rose has turned into a pirate and attacks any other kayak she sees. Tasha has put her mountaineering knotting skills to good use for tying our escapee boats up.
Katie has been out early everyday to try her hand at fishing but so far she’s only got one; not as good as Reg (who she is competing with) but he cheated by swapping one small one for two big ones with the other fire. Gribb’s has been lurking in the shadows in an attempt to hide from the sun. However, if chocolate is near she will be fighting you for it...

We are all still alive thanks to Laura’s light sleeping, which allowed her to wake us as our campsite flooded. Although Alistair still endeavours to eat us out of hearth and home, Callum and Alistair managed to catch a fish big enough for Alistair and the rest of us to share; Nahom (honorary member) even had a bite since he taught them how to gut it. Along with fish we have seen a variety of wildlife including white-tailed sea eagles, porpoises and a river otter and that was only on the surface. Gabby and Rose got to play scientists with a clever underwater camera but we only saw one sea urchin…plenty of (star)fish though!



P.S. Rob and Sheena, Tasha is really enjoying raisins and sultanas so if you could take some to the airport she would really appreciate it. From Rose 

Mountain Man blog entry

Mountain Group 1
Name: Man Mountain
Members: Izzy, Ruth, Rachael, Luke, Peter, Sam and Clem

The rest day saw an 'expedition' to the local shop with everyone getting quite tanned in the heat of the day.

The next day we started our mountain phase training which meant a hike up to ABC (advance base camp) which the boys the managed in one trip (the girls needed a second to carry up their vital third bag of clothes). As part of our training on the snow we hurled ourselves backwards, forwards and headfirst down the glacier all in the name of “ice axe arrests” (very fun) and mastered walking with crampons, John Wayne style. At the bivi site, we occupied our time mainly with “rock excavation”. Yes, that’s the girls as well. Well, only the girls. It was then time to take on the glacier.



After roping up, and tackling the devious moraine, we reached Coffee Shop Rock, and from then on it was only up. Lukey Luke managed to “lose” his ice axe down a crevasse, less than five minutes up the glacier. Mucho respect to Stevie G for its rescue, the stuff of legend. As Lucy Lu put it, we truly did look like an advancing army, with our lines of rope in perfect order, ice axes in hand. BSES takes on the mountain! The 360 panoramic views from the top cannot be omitted, they were truly awesome. Clem, Izzy, Ruth and Holly proved their metal at the top (the photos have to be seen to be believed) and have found a December picture for the calendar.



The following day, the fire split, and some more intellectual members of the group did science research while the more enthusiastic took an earlier start to summit the glacier. Lukey enjoyed his “Summit Sprite” later on that very day, although sharing it with Rachy and Sam in celebration. The girls drank the “Final Ascent Fanta” somewhat lower down on the snow with Geli, but did not appreciate the numerous attempts at their lives throughout the day, all in the name of science. The group suffered a minor setback when Pete took a fall taking stuff to ABC, but he has pushed on, and is preparing for kayaking with “all the strength of a raging fire”. For Alison (Clem’s mum) don’t worry, Clem has not been lost but merely relocated. At ABC, major change and as a general consensus Clem was adopted into Man Mountain, into a four person tent, which is certainly cosy. “Man” Mountain becomes more ironic every day. The fire is looking forward to the next phase, although cannot mask its sadness at the prospect of being split. Ruth, Izzy and Pete will be reunited with Henry, Jasper and Pete’s boat, Luke has been sent back up the mountains, without Sprite, and Clem, Rachy and Sam will be becoming Culture Vultures, getting friendly with the reindeer. See you all in a week!