A Cumbrian expert in leadership has been on an expedition to Greenland to help raise funds for teenagers to visit there.
Neil Jurd endured temperatures as low as -20 degrees at night and was stuck there for three extra days after bad weather delayed his journey home.
He was working with The Polar Academy which takes teenagers on expeditions to the Arctic, which it describes as “the toughest children’s project ever”.
On this trip, Neil was one of four guides with a group of adults from a wealth management company whose fees will help fund future visits by youngsters.
The academy has previously been supported by the Michelle Jurd Trust, set up in memory of Neil’s late wife, and he was there for his skiing competence and to offer lessons in leadership.
“It’s a fantastic organisation,” he said. “It was founded by Craig Mathieson, a friend of mine who does these remarkable transformational expeditions for young people, takes them to Greenland and essentially changes their life prospects.
“But I’m away with a group of adults on a fundraising expedition. So they are from a company called St James’ Place and they’re paying to go on this expedition.
“The kids go free but these guys are paying and the money that they are paying will help fund the children’s expeditions later this year.
“We’ve been on an expedition with skis, pulling kit on sledges behind us, setting up camps. It’s kind of touring really but it’s the hard end of touring because it’s very cold.”
Neil, author of The Leadership Book who was recently awarded an OBE, was speaking from the town of Tasiilaq in the south of Greenland where The Polar Academy has a base.
They were able to stay there when stormy weather meant a helicopter was unable to fly them 15 miles to the nearest airport.
The scene, he said, was one of the spectacular snow-covered mountains, a frozen sea and the Northern Lights – but very few people or wildlife, not even polar bears.
“I don’t think you’d actually want to see them,” he said. “We set up a fence which gives warning of a bear.
“It’s got shotgun cartridges pointing downwards into the snow, sort of a tripwire effect, so if a bear was to come snooping that would scare it off in theory.”
With no bears encountered the main threat came from the extreme cold.
Neil said: “During the day it’s only -3, -5, but at night the temperature just drops, it becomes extremely cold.
“When you have to deal with extreme cold it makes you work. You have to really plan things.
“To drink water you first have to melt it. You get somewhere, you have to get your tent up. If the weather’s not particularly good that’s quite hard to do.
“It’s very, very easy to get extremely cold very quickly. Most of the time it’s fine and then suddenly it’s very easy to find yourself shivering.
“So you keep a hat and gloves on at all times. You have to be really careful.”
He added: “It’s been brilliant to see what the Polar Academy does and get an understanding of their way of going on expeditions. And actually seeing some of what the Michelle Jurd Trust supports.”
