There are two things we can’t get enough of here – good stories and good outdoor gear. Well, we’ve just had some news come crashing into our inbox that checks both of those boxes in bright red marker pen…
Camilla Hempleman Adams, a young explorer is about to take on a solo expedition to become the first female to traverse a 150-mile stretch of Baffin Island in the Arctic Circle.
That statement should definitely raise a few hairs as well as a few alarm bells…
Firstly, you’d be right in thinking that Camilla Hempleman Adams is closely related to renowned British explorer David Hempleman Adams, in fact, she couldn’t be more closely related – she’s his daughter. A quick Google search for the ill-informed will show that David Hempleman Adams is one of the most decorated explorers of his time, being the first person to complete the Explorer’s Grand Slam, by reaching the Geographic and Magnetic North and South Poles, as well as climbing the highest peaks in all seven continents. And being the first person to fly to the North Pole in a balloon. Oh, and the first person to make a balloon crossing of the Atlantic in an open basket. Basically, on the genetics side of things, Camilla doesn’t really have too much to worry about.
But on the environmental side of things, there might be…
Baffin Island is one of the most inhospitable geographic locations on the planet. There’s no trees, or much life for that matter, and there’s lots and lots of ice. It’s significantly colder than many other parts of the Arctic and temperatures of -40°C are not uncommon in the winter months. It’s most certainly not somewhere you want to be caught having forgotten your big jacket.
Speaking of big jackets, we decided to speak with Camilla ahead of her trip to find out the coat (and other things) she was putting her life’s hands in…
Rab Expedition 8000 Jacket
“A duvet jacket is vital in the Arctic. Rab have been my go-to duvet jacket since my first trip to the North Pole when I was 15.“
Bergans of Norway Arctic Expedition Salopettes
“Bergans have been my dad’s favourite brand for forever. The kit is highly reliable and perfectly designed for the most extreme Arctic conditions.“
District Vision Junya Racer + Koharu Eclipse Glasses
“District Vision makes the best-performing (and best-looking) lenses on the market. The glare off the snow in the Arctic can cause you serious snow blindness – the UV protection on these negates that entirely, plus gives me great eye protection from the harsh conditions.”
Suunto Vertical Watch
“This is my first time using a watch on an expedition. The interface is really user friendly and the 60-day, solar-powered battery life is perfect to track the expedition across the 14 days.”
Barbara Sturm Sun Drops SPF50 + Rich Face Cream
“Sun and skin protection is vital on an expedition. The SPF mini Sun Drops are a real weight saver and don’t leave your skin feeling greasy. The rich face cream packs in super moisture which restores your skin from the harsh winds and -40c conditions.”
Arc’teryx Alpha SV Jacket
“This jacket is the main thing standing between me and the 80 knot / – 40c conditions. The jackets’ fit and design are unmatched, Arc’teryx’s jackets are the gold standard.”
Maurten Solid 160 and Gel 100
“This is the first time I’ve used these bars and gels on an expedition but they’ve been a great source of carbs through training and are the lightest weight to carb ratio I could find.”
Thule Chasm Bags
“I tested multiple kit bags before settling on the Thule Chasm range. The 130 litre is perfect for all the kit I need to take out with me. The pockets are designed and placed in all the right places and the exterior is incredibly hard-wearing.”
Alfa Boots
“Alfa Boots are the most versatile shoe for an expedition like mine. They allow you to quickly change from snowshoe to crampon to ski easily and are designed to keep your feet both warm and dry.”
Norrona – Senja Econyl 70 Pack
“I’ve chosen to try out the Norrona support vest for this expedition. It’s a great bit of kit to keep my essentials (things like my sat phone and garmin GPS) easily within reach and importantly, warm.”
