Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more
Information => Outdoor News and Events => Topic started by: admin on March 31, 2011
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On the 5th April 2011, local adventure athlete Richard Franklyn will set out on a gruelling attempt to make a full unsupported crossing of the Greenland Icecap.
To succeed in this challenge, Richard will have to make a complete east to west coast crossing of Greenland following the line of the Arctic Circle a distance of 550k. This route will involve crossing the world’s largest island and second largest icecap while hauling all his equipment on a pulk which will weigh around 80/90kg.
It is estimated that this challenge will take around 30 days to complete, and during this time Richard will face Arctic storms which can send temperatures plummeting to minus 40 degrees which can freeze exposed skin in seconds. Other hazards to be faced include hidden crevasses which could swallow both man and pulk, and the very real possibility of meeting polar bears which inhabit this region.
Richard is undertaking this challenge with the support of Finlay Communication to help raise funds for Helping Hand charity to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.
In preparation for this extremely challenging event Richard has undertaken a strenuous training regime including marathon running, triathlon events and regular tyre pulling sessions along Murlough Bay.
In addition to this training Richard travelled to Norway where he had the opportunity to test equipment and to practice survival techniques in an environment which will be similar to that of the Greenland Icecap. This also enabled Richard to strengthen his skills base in preparation for the Icecap Challenge.
The completion of this challenge will make Richard the youngest person from the Island of Ireland to have successfully attempted this extreme crossing.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/community-telegraph/north-belfast/news/richard-takes-pole-position-on-mission-for-sick-children-15132487.html
http://www.richardfranklyn.com/
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Good luck to him.
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I passed him one day pulling that tyre along the beach, always wondered what he was at (didn't really think he was beach cleaning ;D ) sounds like an amazing challenge so i've thrown a few pounds his way, and that was just for pulling the tyre :o he'll get a few more when he comes back ;)