PricewaterhouseCoopers is the proud sponsor of the PwC North Pole Expedition 2008. On 1 April 2008, Ben Wheaton – PwC climate change services partner and ambassador for Al Gore’s Global Climate Project – travelled to the North Pole with adventurer Matt McFadyen. They composed the only Australian team to visit the Pole this year.
The team encountered many delays and challenges on their way to the top of the world. Over six days and nights they were faced with freezing temperatures of more than minus 40 degrees celsius, battled strong winds, ice rubble, and the ever present possibility of coming face-to-face with polar bears. Due to the constant movement of the sea ice they skied on, the team struggled to make real gains in distance. Skiing hard for seven hours a day over six days, the southerly drift of the ice at 1km per hour provided a constant battle for the team.
Matt tells us, "We have all pushed extremely hard throughout the expedition and have had some of the hardest conditions I have ever experienced up here. We have skied for an average of seven hours a day and we are still 8km behind where we started six days ago, quite hard to believe really."
Despite these challenges, the team was proud to make it to the North Pole. Listen to their first words as they arrive.
Watch the expedition video
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Unfortunately due to the extreme weather conditions and increased danger, Matt was unable to complete his planned solo expedition back to base camp. However, he is already planning his next adventure.
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