Ice Warrior Events

 

Purposeful, worthwhile, extreme expeditions

  
 
 


 

 
Thank you to all those who came along to support
Hauser Bears at the Jonathan Cooper Gallery
 
It is not very often that I attend an evening of talks which goes so well and is utterly enthralling.

Starting with Kartick Satyanarayan - the "Bear man of India" - and he was too! Larger than life and very charismatic Kartick gave a speech about his Wildlife SOS organisation and its work throughout India. It was informative, enlightening and wholly inspiring. What I particularly took away was the fact he tackles not only the actual bear problem but the resultant social issues surrounding the problem; bear poacher to protector, for example. What fantastic work he does! And fully supported by Hauser Bears.
www.wildlifesos.org

Next-up, the multi-award winning filmmaker and presenter, Fergus Beeley had us sitting on the edge of our seats as he built up the story of trying to find and film the elusive spectacled bears of northern Peru. I began to think he wasn't going to find them! But eventually he did of course and showed some fascinating rushes (unedited footage) of his encounters. He ended on a teasing note of his latest film about the rescue of a bear cub in Georgia - I can't wait to see it! www.fergusbeeley.com

And then my great mate BAFTA and Emmy award winning wildlife cameraman Ian McCarthy had the room captivated by his first-hand accounts of filming grizzlies in the wilds of North America. I did feel compel to heckle however (in the nicest possible way!) when in one sentence he told of how he was advised never to embarrass a bear it is very dangerous and in the next he beautifully described an incredibly close encounter with a mother and her cubs when he was stark naked! If that is not embarrassing a bear then I don't know what is! Fantastic and funny stories and footage - a true raconteur! www.ianmccarthy.co.uk

Finally - and briefly - it was was my turn to announce to the audience a series of fund raising and purposeful Hauser Bear Expeditions to visit all eight bear species in the wild; real expeditions way beyond tourism and carried out in what I hope will be a much more special, engaging and informative way. The idea is for prospective team members to register interest (name and email address) and then receive updates, telling the story of putting on such an expedition using a "members only blog" and describing every step - from research, to safety plans, to equipment lists, to food, to logistics, to capturing the event on camera, etc. All told in detail and as it happens. I can't wait!
If you're interested in taking part just drop Ian your name and email address and we'll add you to the blog.

ian (at) ice-warrior.com

A huge thanks to a wonderfully nice and enthusiastic audience and to Kartick, to Fergus and to Ian for such a fantastic night - and of course to the wonderful Hauser girls, Anna and Karine, founders of such a worthy charity. www.hauserbears.com


When is the next one?
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Posted By Jim McNeill
 

 
 

Jim's podcast "Life as an Arctic Explorer"

is now live on the The National Maritime Museum's website

Listen Here

We were proud to be a part of the museum's North-West Passage exhibition
                      Ice Warrior North West Passage
 

Culture 24 Article by Adam Stapleton -

.............. However modern explorers face new challenges, as highlighted by the “The North Today” section global warming is seriously affecting the Arctic. This poses new challenges to explorers as the ice is now changing and can often be extremely dangerous as Jim McNeill found out when he fell through the ice in Baffin island and was only save by the buoyancy of the Natural fibres he was wearing. The full story including interview can be seen in the exhibition.

Timesonline Article by Benedict Allen -

............... Modern exploration boots belonging to Jim McNeill, of the Ice Warrior polar project A half-inch felt undersole insulates this boot. They’re great at stopping water because the lower boot is rubber, like a gumboot, which acts like the Inuit sealskin waterproofing. But wearing these you clump along like an alien — you feel separated from your environment. The great thing about indigenous materials is that they’re silent and you feel as if you belong in the place. You somehow feel you have more of a right to be there.

The Museum are holding a series of Study Days for Adults - More information here Including a talk by Jim (see page 6 for more information)
 
50th Anniversary of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
- Buckingham Palace
As a Gold DoE holder Jim takes great pleasure in supporting the scheme and presenting awards to the newest recipients
 

Duke of Edinburgh Award Presentations - Buckingham Palace

Jim meets HRH Prince Edward
 

Duke of Edinburgh Award Presentations - St. James's Palace

Jim tries to explain the Four North Poles to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
 

SPARKS Event - Kensington Palace

Jim and HRH Princess Michael of Kent share a joke