Nancy Biscoe - Explorer Scout - BSES Expedition to the Summit of MacDonaldryggen.
About a year ago I sent off an application form in the hope of hearing back from the British Schools Exploring Society regarding an Arctic Expedition in the summer of 2008. By January 2008, I had been though the interview process and was starting to think about fundraising and fitness training.
Skip forward a few months to June, and my GCSE exams were over, fitness training was going well, and I had almost reached my target fundraising amount of £5000.
Preparing for an expedition like Svalbard is no mean feat, and along the way I met some incredibly helpful people, and also started to realise how willing people are to help anyone doing something worth-while.
After 6 months of sponsored climbs, teacher-pupil hockey matches, letter writing and relative-begging, I reached my target, and, one week before our departure date, started to pack for what would turn out to be one of the most prominent experiences of my life.
BSES operate from an office in the Royal Geographic society building in London, and have been changing people’s lives since 1932. A registered charity, its’ aims are mainly to aid the development of young people and give them opportunities that may not otherwise be available.
Having always been a bit of an adventurer, I was thrilled to learn of all the exciting expeditions BSES had to offer, but one stood out to me from the beginning; the Arctic.
The island of Svalbard lies roughly 400 miles from the North Pole, directly above Norway. With only 400 permanent residents, even its’ only town is a bit rural.
Arriving on the island is still one of my most memorable moments. From seeing the mountain tops from the plane window, to stepping out into temperatures of -2oC in the middle of summer, is not an easily forgotten two hours.
Skipping the six hour journey to, and establishing of, base camp, the three days of basic training, and travelling to our individual group’s advanced base camp, I find myself recalling a day that I am sure I will remember for most, if not all of my life.
Setting out at 7AM, (in broad daylight, as Svalbard experienced 24 hour light in the summer), MacDonald Fire’s aim was to summit a 1064m peak and get back to camp in one day. After a quick stroll up the glacier, a long slog through a snowy pass, and a well deserved lunch break, we came to the beginnings of McCabe fjellet, 1064m. Its’ snowy peak loomed up as I, rope leader for the day, contemplated a way up the monstrous pile of rock and ice.
2 hours later, after several detours and crampon trouble, we reached the final summit section. A wall of crumbling rock threatened to deny us our first summit, but some quick thinking from our mountain leader, Donald, (nicknamed the Terminator) meant that within 30 minutes we were all gathered at 1064m taking celebratory photos with various regional flags and company banners.
To the seasoned mountaineer, this may not sound like much of an achievement, but to nine people who met for the first time two weeks ago, who bonded instantly to form the ‘best group on Svalbard, who, mostly, had no prior climbing experience, it was a day to remember. The joy and elation I felt on that peak has staying with me, and every time I look back on it I feel a renewed passion for the mountains.
I have so many more memories I could share, and could literally talk for days about my experiences, but for now I’ll end with this;
The things i saw, the people I met, the lessons I learned, and the emotions I felt on my expedition will stay with me forever, and to all who helped me get there, I am unspeakably grateful.
Anyone thinking of taking on a challenge like this has already taken the first step by even considering this, and I would recommend it to anyone and everyone. Visit the BSES website if you have a chance.- Click here
