One man’s courage to go beyond duty. One woman’s dream to retrace his remarkable journey
WHAT
During the winter of 1930, a young explorer named August Courtauld spent 149 days alone, marooned on the desolate, featureless and bitterly cold Greenland ice-cap. Constant blizzards caused him to become trapped and buried under the snow for six weeks in a small, frozen, dark ice-chamber. But he never doubted that he would be rescued and finally, in May 1931, he was.
August was part of the BritishArctic Air Route Expedition 1930-31, led by Gino Watkins, which aimed to map the mountain ranges and coastline of east Greenland and conduct meteorological research for one year, in order to determine the possibilities of an air route to be opened up over the Arctic between Britain and North America. Due to lack of supplies, August’s bravery in volunteering to man a weather station alone in such extreme and atrocious conditions, while his comrades returned to base, became legendary.
It is this spirit of determination and unfailing courage which has inspired his 36-year-old great-niece Chloë Courtauld to follow in his footsteps, into one of the most hostile wildernesses on earth, carrying out and comparing weather readings along the route and raising money for The Scott Polar Research Institute.
The Greenland ice cap will be the best test of courage and determination, pushing mental, physical strength and endurance to the limit.
WHERE / HOW
Capturing the romantic spirit of adventure of the 20’s and 30's and unravelling the history of her Arctic explorer forefather, Chloë, along with her expedition team mate, Constant Tedder 38yrs, will embark on a hazardous 410km,21 day journey across the Greenland ice-cap.
The Ice Cap Station Arctic Challenge ’09 will start in May 2009, from the top of the Brückner and Hann Glacier glaciers, approximately 30 nautical miles from Tasiilaq on the east coast of Greenland, near the original base camp of the 1930 expedition. They will trek inland across the ice shelf on skis, supported by two dog-sled teams pulling sledges packed with essential supplies and scientific equipment.
Negotiating strong winds, dangerous crevasses, deep snow, temperatures of around -20F as well as the threat of polar bears, Chloe and Constant will also be taking weather readings along the route, as well as observing snow conditions, the nature of the snow’s surface and comparing them to those taken during the 1930 BAARE Expedition. They will also be recording a video-diary and sending news updates via satellite to the expedition website.
After twelve days the team aim to arrive at the exact location where August was marooned under the ice, 2,600m up on the ice-cap. After spending two days at the Ice Cap Station, the team will then return to Isortoq on the shores of the east coast, travelling a distance of 205kms.
Combining a rich and fascinating history with a personal journey of discovery, this will be a heartfelt and emotional adventure. It will be something few have ever experienced, crossing time, generations and boundaries.
WHEN
Chloë and Constant, along with their Inuit guide, Dines Mikaelsen, one dog team driver and two dog teams, will set off from Tasiilaq on the east coast of Greenland on 8th May 2009.
