'Fantastic experience': First-ever military team finishes expedition replicating Nansen's journey across Greenland
The expedition leader of the first tri-service military team to replicate Fridtjof Nansen's iconic journey to and across Greenland in 1888 has said it was a "fantastic experience".
Lieutenant Colonel Tony Lancashire, a Royal Marine Commando and mountaineer, said that the six team members had finished the expedition "safely and as good friends".
The journey, which took almost two months, began with the group sailing from Stavanger, Norway, across the North Atlantic via Shetland and the Faroe Islands to Reykjavik, Iceland.
TiG: This is Greenland
The second part involved the group sailing 475 nautical miles from Iceland's capital to Umivik on Greenland's east coast on a JSASTC Challenge 72 yacht.
For the final leg, the team, joined by a couple of Danes, then skied the east-west crossing of Greenland, which is around 500km.
"Like anything, there are highs, and there are lows," Lt Col Lancashire said. "But one thing that really stands out is how well the team has worked together and complemented each other and risen to the host of challenges we've met along the way.
"It's been a bit of a journey of discovery."
During the expedition, named Exercise Greenland Legacy 26, the group had to move pulks containing all their supplies and kit over crevasse fields, meltwater channels and through the difficult Arctic weather.
Speaking to BFBS Radio's Lydia Tester, he said: "We coined a phrase: TiG. This is Greenland because you don't know what's coming around the corner and you don’t know what's going to happen the next day."
Northern Lights, Umivik Bay, and the ice cap
The military team had several goals to accomplish over close to eight weeks, which included: developing resilience and leadership in remote and tricky conditions, with lows of -40°C; conducting high-quality scientific research; and demonstrating collaboration between Nato, the Royal Navy, the British Army, and the Royal Air Force.
"Sailing into Umivik Bay, which is where Nansen landed in Greenland," Lt Col Lancashire explained when he was asked about what his highlights were of the expedition. "I'm surrounded by 50 [or] 60 glorious icebergs with the dawn rising in front of us."
He also added that other highlights included first stepping on Greenland, the ice cap and seeing the Western mountains for the first time.
However, the Western mountains proved to be more problematic for the team, despite their spectacular appearance.
Lt Col Lancashire, who is also a sailor, said that the mountains had a "bit of a sting in the tail".
"It took six days to fight our way through all the crevasses and meltwater channels," he said.
"Then, even getting off the ice and getting into the final valley, we thought we'd do it in a day. It took us two. We were forced to bivy overnight with very light scales, no tents."
Nonetheless, it turned into a highlight of the trip as the team huddled around a stove outside and shared stories about the experience.
The supposedly tricky night then had some light at the end of the tunnel, given that the Northern Lights magically appeared at three o'clock in the morning.
Adventure training's value to the UK Armed Forces
The UK Armed Forces take part in military adventurous training (AT), which includes outdoor activities such as mountaineering and climbing, skiing, caving, and sailing.
But what is the value of doing these activities?
"I think [AT gives personnel] the opportunity to develop leadership and resilience skills," said Lieutenant Colonel Tom Blankenstein, who is part of the Royal Army Medical Services and a consultant radiologist.
"There's real value in what we can develop in these experiences and opportunities like this that we can then translate from AT into operations and the like."
Lt Col Lancashire agreed with his comrade that AT has its benefits, as it means that personnel can cope with sudden changes and developments.
"The purpose of adventurous training [AT is] getting you to a place where you are ready for the unexpected. You're not disheartened by it. You just find a way through it. You find a solution," the expedition leader said.
"Whether that solution involves a bit of humour. Whether that solution involves the most unexpected person in the team coming up with the answer. It doesn't matter."
The Ex Greenland Legacy 26 team certainly dealt with their fair share of surprising problems, but they ultimately pushed through to the end.
Additional reporting by Lydia Tester.
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