Issue 148

Ice Warriors

06th November 2006

Three Swansea students are planning to cross country ski across the barren, frozen plains of Iceland during the Easter break in order to raise money for the charities Acres of Love and the British Heart foundation. The trio will encounter ice fields, glaciers, crevasses and snowstorms, while dragging all their provisions and shelter on large sledges.

This gruelling task is being undertaken by Gareth Richardson (Chemical Engineering) the team leader, along with Seb Van Lochem (International Relations), and Dave Dew (Geography). The team are currently looking for a fourth person to help them raise money and join them on the trip.

Each of the group has considerable experience working in this sort of terrain. Gareth attempted a similar journey in 2000, and successfully climbed the 19,800ft Mount Alpamayo in Peru in 2004. He also organised a charity bike ride in the Himalayas in 2005. Dave has extensive leadership and teamwork experience as an Officer Cadet in the Wales University Officer Training Corps (WUOTC). He's had plenty of cross country skiing experience on exercise with the Army in Norway, plus plenty of hillwalking in the UK. Seb has also had training in the WUOTC, resulting in excellent teamwork and leadership skills, as well as being a qualified mountain leader and first aider. Previously, Seb has gained substantial experience trekking in Kyrgyzstan.

The lads do have some reservations about the trip, which is expected to take at least three arduous weeks, depending on the weather. Successful navigation in such harsh terrain is essential as one mistake could spell death for the adventurers - the snowfields are so vast, and the distances so great, that by the time someone noticed they were missing, rescue would be highly unlikely, as the distances involved result in an impossibly large search area.

Their route takes them from the northern capital Akureyri, leaving in early April, southward towards Reykjavik. On the way they will cross two major obstacles, the Hofsjökull and the Langjökull Glaciers, along with large snowfields and the ever present danger of crevasses.

Training for the expedition is mostly taking place in some of the toughest terrain in the United Kingdom, on and around Mount Snowdon with Gareth's father, Alun Richardson supervising; as Alun is an experienced IFMGA mountain guide who has also participated in the charity bike ride through the Himalayas.

The plan is to cover the cost of the trip through sponsorship – Herbalise has already contributed £600 to the cause, which will help pay for the sledges and equipment requirements. They continue to look for sponsorship, as the money will go to fund the equipment, flights and supplies, as the cost for each of them is likely to cost in the region of £700 each.

They hope to raise at least £1000 for their two charities, Acres of Love, raising money for abandoned children with AIDS, and the British Heart Foundation.

If you are interested in supporting the expedition please contact Gareth Richardson on: Email 323158@swan.ac.uk Phone 07920068603

Tom Okeeffe