I’m up in Broughton Island in the Pre-Expedition Training 'Advanced Party'. Martin Hartley and I came up a few days ahead of the rest of the team. On New Year’s Day we flew from Heathrow to Ottawa. We had a few days in Ottawa before flying North to Iqaluit and then flew from Iqaluit to Broughton Island, which is where we are now. We’ll be spending the next two weeks here carrying out extensive training. 

Today was my first proper foray onto the ice and it was actually a bit scary. It was pretty windy and a bear was seen out at the other side of the bay the day before yesterday.  On this outing we didn’t have a gun with us, not that I’d know what to do with it, it’s just good for the nerves to know it’s there.  Apparently, Polar Bears always like to hunt approaching from down wind and we were heading straight into a strong head-wind as we made for home and it quickly got dark, it was quite unnerving.  We had a lovely Canadian Inuit dog escorting us on our journey and she was following us from behind, keeping a keen eye on the horizon.  I Love this picture – reflects the desolation of the place, but the lights of home look really welcoming.