26th February 2009

Adventurers take part in polar expedition

By Lisa Bright

TWO Blackdowns adventurers have joined a team of arctic explorers to survey the polar ice caps.

Tarka L’Herpiniere and Katie-Jane Cooper set off last month with renowned polar explorers Pen Hadow, Ann Daniels and expedition photographer Martin Hartley, as part of the Caitlin Arctic Survey team.

The Caitlin Arctic Survey, led by Pen Hadow, is an international collaboration between polar explorers and world-renowned scientific bodies.

The couple will spend 12 weeks with the team working to gather data and information to help answer some important questions about the future of the polar ice caps.

Tarka and Katie will form part of an ice base team who will work to ensure pilots can land safely on the ice.

They will stay in touch with pilots, keeping them up to date with weather conditions as well as building a runway for the aircraft to land.

They will also be collecting additional scientific data near the base to supplement the research team’s findings.