Butterwick Hospice Care Arctic Survival Challenge 23 rd 30 th March 2019

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1 Information Pack 1

2 Butterwick Hospice Care Arctic Survival Challenge 23 rd 30 th March 2019 About Sweden Sweden is one of the largest countries in Europe, situated between Norway to the West and Finland to the Northeast. The northernmost part of Sweden lies within the Arctic Circle, with extremely long hours of continuous sunlight in summer and long days of darkness throughout the winter. This makes it a great place to spot the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). Sweden offers rolling plains, sandy beaches, fishing villages, forests, deep valleys, fjords, castles, mountains, glaciers, snow and ice. Not to mention around 100,000 lakes. Sweden s ancestry is long and varied, from the prehistoric people who hunted elk and reindeer, to the sea-faring Vikings who travelled far and wide trading and raiding foreign shores. Today Sweden is a thriving and forward-thinking nation which challenges other countries on issues such as environmental and sustainability commitments, welfare and more. Jämtland Härjedalen Often referred to as the lungs of Europe, the county of Jämtland Härjedalen is famous for its clean air, as well as its wonderful flora and fauna. Situated in the middle of the country, the provinces boast some of Sweden s finest and most accessible wilderness right on its doorstep, making tourism one of the most important industries of this area. Östersund is the main city, with almost half of the region s inhabitants living here. The region also has 12 villages of the indigenous, seminomadic Sami reindeer herds-people, with a total of 44,000 reindeer. 2

3 Who accompanies us? You will be accompanied throughout the challenge by our survival expert, who (with his team) will provide full instruction for all the activities and supervision. During your time at the log cabin you will have meals prepared for you by our Swedish team. You will also be accompanied by a Different Travel UK Tour Manager. The Survival Challenge Set 150km south of the Arctic Circle, we are immersed in the wilderness. The first part of our challenge is about adjusting to life in this extreme environment, with expert instruction and supervision as we learn how to get around, how to find food, light fire and build shelters. Activities include cross country skiing, snow shoeing, ice fishing, husky sledding and snowmobiling. Later in the challenge is a three day survival phase where our training is put to the test. Moving away from our log cabin, as a group we construct our own accommodation for each night. This includes a Scandinavian tent, a shelter and a snow hole. This is a harsh environment to test your survival instinct, whilst enjoying the peace, tranquillity and beauty of the wilderness and starry skies. What is the terrain like? The land will be covered in deep snow with frozen lakes. You may encounter icy patches. Skis and snow shoes are provided and an introduction on how to use these is given. What about the weather? Between the months of January and April, temperatures vary from 0 C to 30 C. Despite the extremely cold temperatures, due to the dry atmosphere, the air is crisp and energising, quite unlike cold days in UK. You can expect snowfall and bright sunshine. Over the winter months you can expect the sun to set earlier and rise later than in UK. 3

4 Although the temperatures and conditions mentioned above are historically accurate, climate change can impact the seasons so you may experience uncharacteristic conditions during the trip which are out of our control. Should this happen the guide will assess the situation and make decisions to ensure the best enjoyment and ultimately safety of the group as a whole. How can I prepare for the weather? You must arrive prepared for a range of weather conditions by bringing good quality kit and equipment. You should bring high quality non-cotton technical clothing (including good quality waterproofs) and warm boots (e.g. Sorrel or Seeland winter boots) to ensure maximum comfort and safety. This is not the trip to skimp on gear quality. Please refer to the kit list for full details. Where will we sleep? You will be based at a simple, rustic log cabin for three nights before the survival phase, and one night after. The cabin has no electricity, just a wood burner, basic kitchen, dining table and dormitory style beds. You will then spend three nights in shelters you will build as a group, including a Scandinavian tent, a forest shelter and a snow hole. In each of the shelters, you will take turns to keep watch during the night to stoke fires and maintain warmth, or keep candles lit during the night you stay in the snow hole. During the survival phase you will be sleep in a sleeping bag on a roll mat, within a bivi bag (sleeping bag, mat and bivi bag provided). What kind of food will we eat? During your time at the log cabin, meals will be provided and prepared at the log cabin. Specific dietary requirements can be catered for if you advise us before the trip. During the survival phase you will be provided with freeze dried ration packs for 3 dinners, 2 lunches and 3 breakfasts. You should bring any additional snacks you might like. Please inform us in advance if you have any dietary requirements or preferences. 4

5 What about baggage? Suitcases are not suitable for this trip. You are recommended to bring a large waterproof kit bag containing all your items required for the challenge. You should also bring a smaller kit bag or holdall in which you can leave behind items not required for the wilderness part of the challenge, in the log cabin. You should also bring a small day pack which you will carry yourself during the activities each day. What are the toilet facilities like? The log cabin has two long-drop toilets. During the survival phase of the challenge, you are completely in the wilderness so there are no toilet facilities at all. You will need to find a secluded place to go, bury your waste and put any paper in a nappy bag or equivalent, to dispose of responsibly on your return to the cabin. Your guides will give a thorough briefing on toilet procedure and etiquette. What about hygiene? Keeping clean and maintaining general hygiene is important for your comfort but also for your safety. For the nights you stay at the log cabin it will be possible to melt snow for a wash although this will be in limited supply. You are asked to only use natural or biodegradable soap and shampoo to avoid contamination. During your time at the wilderness camp there will be no washing facilities so you should bring a supply of baby wipes and hand sanitizer gel to maintain hygiene as best you can. Most people find it is too cold to have a proper wash at the wilderness camp so baby wipes are the most effective option. It is important that you take particular care regarding toilet hygiene and clean your hands with sanitizer after using the toilet and before eating. How tough is it? The trip is rated challenging. You will be participating in physical activity for many hours and in below-freezing conditions and staying in incredibly basic accommodation. It is essential that you are fit enough to participate in activities such as cross country skiing and dog sledding, for several hours at a time and physically well enough to cope with the cold. Breaks are taken but long days of activity are inevitable. 5

6 How should I prepare? It is advised that you start training at least 6 months before departure to ensure your best chance of success and enjoyment on the challenge. Increasing your cardiovascular endurance and core and leg strength will benefit you greatly for the variety of activities you will be involved in. Hill walking is great for overall fitness along with running, cycling, gym workouts, team sports and swimming etc. You can download a number of free apps which will help you train and track your progress. E.g. MapMyRide, C25K (couch to 5k run), MyFitnessPal etc. If you attempt to complete the challenge without training it will make it unnecessarily difficult and may hinder your experience, and the experience of your team mates. Online Fitness Training Different Travel has teamed up with Brightside Personal Training to bring you a fun and unique way to train for your upcoming challenge without needing to leave the comfort of your home or signing up for an expensive gym membership. For full details click here: Who can take part? The trip can be undertaken by anyone of any age (min. 18 unless accompanied by an adult) as long as you have a good level of fitness and you are healthy and determined. There is no upper age limit. An ideal candidate would be someone who is open minded, positive and flexible and enjoys the challenges of being away from home and outside their comfort zone trying something new. This is a challenge which gets you back to basics so you must be prepared for basic and challenging living conditions. Health declaration We require a medical form to be completed by everyone upon registering, and any pre-existing conditions, medications used and other medical issues must be noted and (if relevant) signed off by your GP. Any conditions that develop must be declared and a new medical form completed and signed. 6

7 What is excluded? Personal expenses, any vaccinations required, travel insurance, European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), tips (approx Krona per participant), personal equipment (see kit list). *Flights from regional airports may be possible subject to payment of a surcharge. What is the cost? 355 registration fee (payable at the time of registering) + raise at least 3,600 sponsorship for Butterwick Hospice Care. What is included? Return international flights (London* to Stockholm) inc. taxes, return domestic flights (Stockholm to Östersund), all transfers & transport in Sweden, accommodation in rustic log cabin, Scandinavian tent, shelter and snow hole, sleeping equipment during survival challenge (sleeping bag, bivi bag, roll mat and overboots). All meals. All activities, equipment and instruction for cross country skiing, snow shoeing, ice fishing, husky sledding, snowmobiling, guides, support team, UK Different Travel tour manager. N.B. This itinerary may change due to unusual weather patterns, the ability of the group and so on. We will do our best to keep to the itinerary but we cannot be held responsible for changes that might occur outside of our control. In all circumstances your guide and tour leader will have the final say in the interest of the health and safety of the group. 7

8 How will I raise the sponsorship required? Most people find that this is far easier than they imagined, and we will give you as much support as you need to reach, and even exceed your 3500 target. Here are some suggestions for how you could raise your sponsorship target. We will send you lots more ideas when you sign up! Non-uniform day at local school: 300 2x supermarket bag-packs: 500 Car boot Sale/ ebay auction: x quiz nights: 500 Sponsorship (friends, family etc.): 300 Host a party, charge 10 to attend: 400 Ask five friends/ family members to raise 100 each: 500 Dress down day at work/ lunch money donation: 300 Donate your skills - ironing, babysitting, gardening, DIY: 250 Karaoke Night: 250 Sponsored beard-shave/ leg wax: cake sales at work: 50 a time: 200 Bucket shake at supermarket: 100 Total: 4,050 How do I sign up? Complete the enclosed booking form and return with your registration fee to: Butterwick Hospice, Fundraising Office, Middlefield Road, Stockton on Tees, TS19 8XN Or to LyndseyBarnes@butterwick.org.uk Once your place is confirmed we will you a training guide, fundraising pack and much more! Is the trip ATOL protected? Butterwick Hospice is acting as agent for The Different Travel Company, ATOL The flight-inclusive trip in this brochure is financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay your registration fee you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate and ATOL Confirmation Invoice. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: 8

9 Itinerary Day 1 (Sat 23rd March): London to Östersund We will fly from London to Stockholm then take a domestic flight north to Östersund, 150km south of the Arctic Circle (approx. 1 hour). When we arrive in Östersund we will be greeted by our Swedish team and travel together for one hour to our rustic but cosy log cabin. The cabin is basic with just the essentials; a wood burner, simple kitchen, dining table, dormitory style beds and outdoor long-drop toilet. There is no electricity. We have time to settle in before dinner and a briefing on the days to come. Meals: Dinner Overnight: Log cabin. Day 3 (Mon 25th March): Husky sledding This morning you will meet some more important members of your team; your husky dog team! The dogs will arrive at the cabin this morning and we will have a short briefing and introduction. You will then take your own dog team for an exhilarating ride through the frozen forest, before we gather around an open fire for a hot lunch, whilst enjoying the magical views across the landscape. We return to the cabin this afternoon and continue building our snow hole. Overnight: Log cabin. Day 2 (Sun 24th March): Cross country skiing and snow shoeing After a hearty breakfast we start our day exploring the surrounding area on cross country skis through the forest and along by the frozen river (no previous experience required). Later today we will have the chance to get to grips with snowshoeing (snow shoes supplied) before starting construction on the snow holes which will be our home for a night later in the week before returning to the cabin for dinner. Overnight: Log cabin. Day 4 (Tues 26th March): Snowmobile safari Today we set off for our snowmobile safari (approx. 1 hour drive). After a safety briefing, we divide into pairs to practice handling the snowmobiles. Once everyone has had time to familiarise themselves we set off for a 6-hour roundtrip into the mountains, with each person taking the controls for half of the journey. On a clear day there is a magnificent view across to Norway. Once back at the cabin we get ready to start the survival phase of the challenge. With our bags packed for three days and nights we travel into the night on cross-country skis to a remote location where we erect a traditional Scandinavian tent complete with log burner. During the night we take it in turns to stoke the log burner and keep everyone comfortably warm. Overnight: Scandinavian tent. 9

10 Day 5 (Weds 27th March): Shelter building Today is a tough day but is fun and rewarding as we learn and put into practice some new skills. Our main task today is to build an A-frame thatched shelter out of the surrounding trees, complete with a trench in the middle for a fire. Full instruction will be provided and you will learn important survival skills. Construction will take most of the day but once it is complete we will light the fire and move in to our home for the night in time for dinner. Once again we will take it in turns to stay awake and stoke the fire throughout the night. Overnight: Shelter. Day 7 (Fri 29th March): Hot tub & sauna After breakfast it s time for us to leave our snow hole behind and ski back to the cabin. The rest of the morning you can relax, enjoy some more skiing, snowshoeing or even ice fishing. This afternoon there is time to enjoy an important part of Swedish culture, relaxing in the sauna and hot tub. In the evening we have a celebratory dinner in the cabin and bid farewell to our Swedish hosts. Overnight: Log cabin. Day 6 (Thurs 28th March): Snow hole Today we finish off the construction of our snow hole, carefully shaping it with spades and ice axes to carve a domed ceiling and two to three entrances. Inside the temperature will reach a cosy, relatively warm 0 C. Again we take it in turns overnight, this time for 'candle watch'. Placing candles in the snow hole not only provides light but also has an important function of indicating there is sufficient oxygen present. Overnight: Snow hole. Day 8 (Sat 30th March): Östersund - London We depart from the cabin for the transfer (approx. 1 hour) back to the airport at Östersund for our short domestic flight to Stockholm where we change planes for the international flight back to London. Meals: Breakfast. 10