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Equipment
- Innovations and Modifications
- Equipment List
Food and Nutrition
- Essentials
- Diet
Innovations and Modifications
Ice Suits
Jon and Eric will be using Mountain Hardwear Ethereal Ice suits. The parka and pants, made of FTX Ultra Gore-Tex, have been specially modified by Mountain Hardwear to the team's specifications and incorporate water-proof zips and sealed cuffs and waist. The suits are not designed for total submersion but as a retardant against flooding in the event of a fall through the ice. The parka hood is lined with a combined wolf/wolverine ruff to protect the face from wind and cold. The long guard hairs of the wolf cut the wind, while the wolverine retards ice build-up from frozen breath.Tent
The Mountain Hardwear 'Kiva' pyramid tent has been modified to suit Arctic conditions. Its single layer and single pole provides minimum weight, its removable floor enables easy access for snow collection, toileting and emergency exit.
Boots
Boots have always been a significant problem for polar trekkers. Eric has suffered with broken boots on his last three polar expeditions, leading to a change in the team's footwear philosophy. Instead of the traditional cross-country ski boot with a 75mm cable binding, a combination that gives good lateral and torsional stability but poor boot life, the team will use soft boots with an innovative binding that provides all the required stability, even for kiting.Baffin Technology has provided the team with boots suitable for the arduous trek in temperatures down to -40°C. They have decided on the 'Conqueror' with an Extreme Climate inner boot, which has a premium grade rubber sole with a GelFlex in the mid-sole and heel and combined Titanium Cordura/leather upper.
Kayaks
Eric has used kayaks as sleds on two previous expeditions - across Greenland and the South Patagonian Icecap. This time the team will use Dagger's new creek kayak, the CFS. 
The kayaks are made of superlinear polyethylene, an incredibly strong yet repairable plastic capable of withstanding stress in sub-zero temperatures. Polyethylene also has excellent gliding capabilities (the hulls of the boats will also be polished smooth). The kayaks, whose decks will be removed, have a suitable volume for carrying everything required and also retain their boat characteristics for crossing leads.
Harnesses
Designed in consultation with and manufactured by Remote Equipment Repairs (email remote@mira.net), the harnesses are capable of towing weights in excess of 300kg (if someone was silly enough to do so!) Incorporating compass harness, kiting accessories and leg loops, lightweight internal frame and ergonomic styling, the harness is suitable for the most demanding trek. Previous incarnations by Outgear were used by Jon and Eric on treks to the South Pole, across Patagonia and on Jon's recent solo walk towing a cart across the Australian interior.Vapour Barriers
One of the greatest dangers on a North Pole expedition is moisture. There's plenty of it under the pack ice but also inside the bodies of Jon and Eric. Normally we perspire and this moisture evaporates in the warm air that surrounds us. At -35°C this moisture freezes inside clothes, boots and sleeping bags creating uncomfortable and dangerous ice inside normally protective and insulating layers. It is impossible to prevent the body from perspiring but the sweat can be retained inside a vapour barrier worn next to or close to the skin. For example Eric and Jon will sleep in a plastic bag inside their sleeping bag. This prevents the +/- 1 litre of perspiration from entering the fibres of the sleeping bag and freezing. In the morning they remove the liner, allow the moisture to freeze then tap the ice out. A barrier sock is also worn.Multipurpose paddles
This multi-functional modification can be used as a single kayak paddle, two
canoe paddles, two shovels, and the removable carbon-fibre/kevlar shafts,
made by Canoes Plus, double as the pyramid tent pole.
Bang and Olufsen
Bang & Olufsen's new BeoSound 2 is a pocket-friendly digital music player that draws upon the computer as a source for musical entertainment and allows you to enjoy your MP3 files in a myriad of environments.
Utilising a 128Mb SD card, the unit is the perfect companion for a North Pole expedition. Its compactness, together with its smooth stainless steel cabinet and absence of sharp edges, allow BeoSound 2 to slip comfortably into a pocket, or sleeping bag. Coupled with B&O's adjustable aluminium earphones, Eric and Jon will be truly wired for the best sound in the world.
Casio
The new SATELLITE NAVI PAT2GP-1V uses the constellation of GPS satellites that ring the globe to tell you your current location. The watch employs a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery and high-density device mounting to create a new SATELLITE NAVI watch that is even more compact and lightweight than the original GPS first created by Casio last year.
Equipment List
Skiing/Sledding
- 2 pr skis - Karhu
- 2 pr bindings - Icetrek
- 2 pr ski poles - Leki
- 2 pr skins
- 2 pr ski Boots - Baffin 'Magnum'
- 2 x kayak / sled - Dagger CFS
- 2 x sled cover - Remote Equipment Repairs
- 2 pr traces - spectra
- 2 x harness - Icetrek
- 50m of 4mm Rope
- 8 x karabiners
- 1 x Magnum pistol and ammunition
- 2 x ice axe for self-rescue - Grivel Nepal Light
- 1 x paddle - adjustable and collapsible
Sailing
- 2 x Quadrifoil kites - Competition 3
Cooking/Eating
- 2 x stove MSR XGKII
- 1 x stove base
- 4 x lighters and matches
- 30 x MSR Fuel bottles - 1 litre
- 1 x pouring Jug
- 1 x snow melting pot with handles - 6 litre
- 1 x cooking pot with handle - 3 litre
- 1 x pot holder
- 2 x bowl
- 2 x mug - insulated
- 2 x spoon
- 3 x Thermos - 2 x 1litre and 1 x 2 litre
Camping
- 1 x tent - Mountain Hardwear 'Kiva' pyramid
- 2 x Therma-rest - ultralight
- 2 x foam mat with conversion seat
- 2 x sleeping bags - Helsport North Pole
- 2 pr bivy boots
- 2 x piss bottle
- 4 rolls toilet paper
- 1 x snow shovel
- 1 x snow Saw
- 6 x icescrews
- 1 x tent / clothing brush
- 1 x bear alarm/trip wire
Navigation (group)
- 2 x GPS
- 2 x Compass
- 2 x pencil/marker pen
- 2 x watch/chronometer
Communication (group)
- 1 x Argos transmitter
- 1 x Iridium phone and batteries
- 1 x solar panel and battery leads
Clothing - Mountain Hardwear
- 4 x thermal pants
- 2 x pants - Power Stretch fleece
- 2 x pants - Chugach polyester fill
- 2 x salopettes - Ethereal ICE Gore-Tex
- 4 x thermal top
- 2 x jumper - Micro Chill Zip T
- 2 x jacket - Chill Factor Fleece
- 2 x jacket - Absolute Zero down parka
- 2 x parka - Ethereal ICE Gore-Tex with ruff
- 4 x socks - thin - Extremities
- 2 socks - thick dacron/wool - Extremities
- 2 x gloves - fingerless
- 4 x gloves - Powerstretch
- 4 x gloves - Windshear
- 2 x mittens - Windshear
- 2 x mittens - Absolute Zero - down
- 2 x mittens - Northern Outfitters Exp
- 2 x cap - Andinista fleece
- 2 x balaclava - Windstopper
- 2 x neck gaiter - Polartec 300
- 2 x headband - Flex Half Dome
- 2 x goggles - Oakley A-Frame
- 2 x nose Guard - Oakley
- 2 x wind Mask - Oakley
- 2 x sunglasses - Oakley
- 2 x underpants
- 2 pr vapour liner socks
Maintenance / Spare
- 2 pr inner boots - Baffin
- 1 x ski Pole - Leki Extreme Probe
- 1 x ski - Karhu
- 1 x stove repair kit - tools/spares
- 1 x sewing kit
- 6 x patches adhesive repair fabric
- 1 x awl and waxed-cotton thread
- 1 x Araldite glue
- 4 x binding screws
- 1 x ski pole sleeve
- 1 roll duct tape
- 10 x cable ties
- 5 x hose clamps
- nuts and bolts - assorted
- wire - assorted lengths and grade
- 1 x Leatherman Wave
- 1 x Leatherman adapter
- 1 x posi-drive #3 bit
- 2 x drill bit
- 20 x batteries AA - Lithium
Personal
- suncream / lip balm
- 1 x Sony MiniDisc /tapes
- 4 x books
- 2 x diary
- 2 x toothbrush
Filming/Camera
- 2 x Sony PC9 Digital Video Camera
- 2 x Microphone
- 30hrs film stock
- 4 camera batteries
- 1 x Leica Minilux Zoom stills camera
- 1 x Nikon SLR and 20mm Nikkor lens
Food
The team's polar diet is specially formulated to address the cold, workload and weight/bulk restrictions. It is essentially the same as used on their South Pole trek with some minor modifications.Essentials
Balance of Foods
An approximate balance of 10% protein, 55% fat and 35% carbohydrate is essential for active operation in polar conditions.Protein is provided primarily through Perfect Protein but also through freeze-dried meats and powdered milk.
Fat provides the energy required for long-term work and comes from olive oil, pure pork fat, butter, nuts, milk powder and specially-formulated bars and slices
Carbohydrate is the preferred fuel for muscular work but is metabolised more quickly than fat. Carbohydrate is provided predominantly through rice, pasta and oats and in sugars (food bars, chocolate) and drinks.
Other foods include supplemental vitamins and minerals, provided by Optimum Health, caffeine and of course water (4-5 litres per day).
Intake
The total daily energy intake per person will be around 31,000 kilojoules or 7500 calories. Breakfast provides about 30% of the daily energy (a big boost for the morning shock of cold and work), snacks and lunch about 50% (to keep a regular flow a energy throughout the work day) and dinner 20% (high enough the keep warm overnight, but not too high thus causing perspiration).Freeze-drying / dehydration
Moisture = Weight. Freeze-drying and dehydration extracts all moisture from food making it lighter and less susceptible to bacteria. Moisture extraction also ensures the food has minimum bulk.Packaging
Every meal is sealed in a lightweight, clear pouch made from a 65 micron ply, five layer, high barrier nylon/LLDPE, provided by West's Packaging. The vacuum sealing ensures the food remains fresh and dry, as freeze-dried products attract moisture from exposure to the air.Diet
To acclimatise to the high-fat content, energy will be introduced progressively over the first 3 weeks, starting from approximately 4500 calories (18,900kJ) and increasing to 7500 calories (31,500kJ).7500 calorie diet
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