Day 16

The final day of dry land preparation got off to an early start with the data capture on resting metabolic rate undertaken. Equipment calibration kicked off the morning using the carbon dioxide gas which had been sourced a few days earlier, and then the final 3 team members cycled through the baseline metabolism protocol. This required a 30-minute stint lying flat on the sofa immediately after waking with a respiration mask on to capture the exhaled gases, with data being logged on the attached computer.

Post breakfast, half of the team set off for the yacht, ‘Discoverer of Hornet’, the Joint Services Adventure Sail Training Centre Challenge 72-foot behemoth, which was now moored in the marina close to the city centre. After meeting the yacht Skipper and the mates, most of the expedition equipment totaling around 90kg each was loaded and secured in yachts lockers in preparation for the passage to Greenland.

Final pulk rigging adjustments were concurrently undertaken back at the accommodation base to ensure some of the snags identified during the Hardangervida training were fully remedied. The 16 pulks required were all checked and checked again.

The afternoon was reserved for final crevasse rescue training and drills, again undertaken in the local park, building on the skills practiced the prior day. Bemused looks continued from the locals but the opportunity gave the team the chance to build and develop the skills and knowledge gained during prior training.

The day was rounded off with briefings; clarifying the research objectives and aims, a briefing on the medical plan for the expedition phase and rounded off with a team discussion on the values, softer objectives and any individual concerns for the expedition.

This discussion of the collective values for the expedition came at the right time; we’d had the opportunity to think about these over prior weeks, warned off to consider these points for the discussion during one of our earlier weekly team calls. Reassuringly, the points and topics raised during the discussion confirmed that the team are generally all on the same wavelength.

It was becoming clear that there is some building trepidation and excitement in the team – Greenland is a real wilderness, and once we step off that yacht, we will be on our own; reliant on each other, and with a number of unknowns to figure out. What is known, is that an adventure awaits….