Renowned explorer, Jim McNeill, has begun preparations to embark upon the ‘last World First in polar expeditionary feats’. A massive endeavour to traverse the Arctic Ocean from Canada to the “unconquered Everest” of the Polar Regions, the Northern Pole of Inaccessibility ; otherwise known as the Arctic Pole.  This is an incredible feat of endurance lasting 80 days and 800 miles. Jim will be taking 4 teams, each doing a 20 day leg of the whole journey which will also pass through the current position of the Magnetic North Pole..

Although the Arctic Pole has never been reached before and represents a true World First, Jim’s real motivation is to convey the reality of global climate change with unprecedented reporting direct from the Arctic Ocean. As he and his team gather crucial climate change data for the scientific community he will be telling the tale warts-an-all with all the trials and tribulations, peaks and troughs that occur when pushing the limits of human endurance and facing the harshest adversities Mother Nature can deliver.

Throughout the journey, Jim and the team will be measuring the thickness, density and roughness of the sea ice, providing crucial datasets to our scientific partners including some unique and brand new information. They will also be counting polar bears for the Norwegian Polar Institute.

This will be Jim’s 3rd attempt at reaching the pole. This first was quashed in base camp in 2003 when he contracted flesh eating disease in his left ankle, 24 hours before departure. The second he was thwarted by the disintegrating sea ice 130 miles north of the last landfall, finally falling into the frigid waters whilst he was reporting for ITN and BBC Online (both on board for the 3rd attempt).