Polly Evans
|
More about me (Polly Evans)
Q. Home?
A. I live in London, but originally come from Repton, near Derby.
Q: Describe your expedition background:
A: I don’t have one! This will be my first expedition. I’ve been on camping trips of a week or so, including a couple that involved winter camping with sled dogs, but I don’t think they count as expeditions, more like cushy outdoor holidays…
Q. And when you’re not doing that?
A. I swim, bike, run, eat a lot, take photographs, and spend far too long at my computer, writing articles and books and all that.
Q. What’s your proudest moment?
A. God, I don’t know. I was pretty happy when my first book got taken on by a publisher. Actually, I’m very proud to have had five books published, and to be writing for major newspapers and magazines in a very tough market. But in general I get over-excited about every tiny achievement. Yesterday, I competed in the international cold-water swimming championships. I am new to cold-water swimming and right now I am immensely proud that a) I didn’t come last and b) I didn’t die during my 25 metres of head-up breaststroke.
Q. Who or what inspires you?
A. There’s no one person, but anybody that works hard to achieve their dreams, whatever they may be. I’m convinced that self-discipline and hard work are the only real secret to success, but lying on the sofa is so much easier. So I admire all those who keep trying, and pick themselves up after failure to try again.
There are many many people I admire. Those that come to mind right now are:
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall for banging on and on and on about battery chickens regardless of the naysayers
Lance Armstrong. No need to explain.
Paula Radcliffe. Ditto.
Some of the nineteenth-century women travellers, such as Isabella Bird, who was so sickly at home in Scotland that she couldn’t hold her head up unaided and could scarcely digest broth. But when travelling she climbed the world’s highest volcano, and rode elephants through unmapped jungles. She became the first female fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.
Aimé Tshiffely, who in the 1920s rode two Argentine criollo horses ten thousand miles from Buenos Aires to Washington DC. Before he set out, everyone told him he was mad even to think of it. ‘I felt strongly tempted to quote to them the saying, “ Let fools laugh; wise men dare and win,” but a doubt assailed me as to which of us was really the fool, so I refrained,’ he wrote in his subsequent account of the journey.
I could go on and on with this answer but I’ll stop…
Q. What are your future plans/goals?
A. My current goals are a) to stay solvent and b) to successfully complete the Lost Patrol 100 expedition with a full complement of dogs all wagging their tails.
Q. Favourite bit of Rab kit?
A. At the moment the Latok Alpine jacket. I like it very much – it is very light, very comfortable, and it works. We very much liked Rab’s windsuits, which will be a godsend when we’re crossing the ocean ice and overflow.
Q. Why?
A. see above
Q. Other sponsors?
A. We’re working on that…
|
Stefan Wackerhagen |
More about me (Stefan Wackerhagen)
Q. Home?
A.I live in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada, but I'm originally from Oranienburg, near Berlin, Germany.
Q: Describe your climbing/mountaineering/expedition background: (we will also use the climbing/exped CV on the form attached, this part is more a descriptive overview)
A: As you will see from the CV I’ve fallen in love with the north. Most of my outdoor achievements and experiences have taken place in northern regions. This is why I decided move up here and spend every possible minute in this great landscape and climate.
Q. And when you’re not doing that? (what you do to relax/enjoy yourself etc.)
A. Then I'm out on shorter canoe trips, runs, day trips, fishing, snowshoeing, trying to get some good pictures, sitting by the campfire with a cup of wine instead of taking care of clients. And I like cooking.
Q. What’s your proudest moment?
A. Arriving at the other end of Lake Baikal after a 700km walk. But maybe even more when I bring back healthy and happy dogs and clients after a long hard tour.
Q. Who or what at inspires you?
I don't know. There are so many exciting things just waiting to be done. I guess it's nature itself: a sunny day in June that is so long up here that you can climb a mountain in the morning, paddle a long stretch in the afternoon, and still have enough light to spend a few hours fishing in the evening.
A. A clear February morning when the cold creates a unique light, your eyelashes freeze together and a footstep in the dry snow is so loud and everything else is so quiet that you can almost here its echo.
It is impossible not to go out if you know that this is waiting for you.
Q. What are your future plans/goals?
A. Starting my own outfitter business specializing in long, advanced, custom-made tours and expeditions in summer and winter.
Staying fit and getting a bit faster.
Improving my photography
Q. Favourite bit of Rab kit?
A. I was impressed by the quality and the experience behind the details in the rab down clothing. And I think it was about time that someone had the idea to make a light, “non membrane” wind protection for Arctic conditions.
Q. Why?
A. I think well suited gear for Arctic conditions is hard to sell and therefore rare. I'm glad we found it.
|
