West Lancashire Scouts Mountaineering Group

Objectives

It should be borne in mind that there are 30 members of the Expedition. This gives a substantial pool of well-experienced people capable of undertaking a wide-ranging programme and achieving significant gains in knowledge, be it through exploration, mountaineering or science.

The expedition objectives are:

Most objectives are complementary to each other – for instance, many of the scientific objectives can be achieved during exploration or mountaineering objectives.

Further details can be found below.

To offer developmental opportunities for the 18 young people from the Explorer Scout and Scout Network sections of West Lancashire Scout County

To develop young people within Scouting, as regards personal skills and into tomorrow’s leaders. The final membership list comprises 6 Explorer Scouts (aged 15-18), and 12 Members of the Scout Network (aged 18-25). These 18 are supported by a Leader Team (25+) of 12. All members are involved in the planning and fund raising. In the field, as far as possible, all age ranges will be involved with the responsibility for the attainment of the Objectives of the Expedition.

To experience and explore the Arctic Wilderness

Apart from coastal visits by sea kayaking parties, very few expeditions have been into Milne Land. The Expedition has identified, and made contact with:-

  • 1986 - Pinnacle Club (Anne Redman)
  • 1986 – OAV (UK) (John Shrewsbury)
  • 1988 – Joint Services Exercise Icy Mountains VIII (John Muston)
  • 1988 – Pinnacle Club – (Report & Leader still being traced)
  • 1989 – OAV (UK) (Malcolm Sales)

These expeditions mainly visited the mountains behind the eastern coastal strip, and in the case of John Muston, the mountains to the north east.

It is understood that an American Expedition visited in 1971, but were hampered by predominantly poor weather, and Geologists and Hunters have visited the coastal strip and local mountains.

We cannot trace any comprehensive exploration of the centre of the island, the vegetated slash deep into the interior, Vinkeldal, the western end of Korridoren, and the peaks, spires and ridges to the north west.

From a glacial base camp at the high point of Korridoren (1,000m), EXPLORATION objectives orientate around:-

  1. Exploring the mountainous area around the central Korridoren High Point (called ‘Watershed Camp’ by the 1989 Malcolm Sales Expedition).
  2. Access routes from Korridoren onto the icecap and surrounding peaks and snowfields to the north of Korridoren.
  3. Access routes from Korridoren onto the Puderne ice cap and surrounding peaks to the south of Korridoren.
  4. Examine the glacial systems, leading into the unclimbed mountains to the north of the island.
  5. In stable conditions make the first known expedition across the Puderne icecap into the Vinkeldal valley with a view to exploring the upper reaches of the valley, and especially the piedmont glacier identified from aerial photographs.
  6. Examine the north western end of Korridoren (principally to be the first foot based expedition to explore the north westerly end of this glacier).

These explorations shall be carried out on foot or ski as appropriate.

To climb remote mountains – some previously unclimbed

Members are expected to climb well below their normal grades

  1. To make the first traverse of the major mountain ridges to the north west of the northern icecap.
  2. To make first ascents of the mountains which overlook the Korridoren (south west of the Korridoren high point).
  3. To continue to explore the unclimbed summits and spires of the Mountains surrounding Korridoren as identified by the shadows on the aerial photographs. In particular several pure rock routes have been identified with direct ascents of some of the spires from the bed of Korridoren.
  4. To produce a guide and recommend objectives for further visits

The mountainous ascents will aim to follow the following concept:

  • First ascent via an easy snow / glacier route which will aim to fulfil the aspirations of the younger, less experienced members of the expedition, and to act as a reconnaissance for a 2nd ascent (see below) (estimated Alpine Grade F / PD)
  • Second ascent via a more difficult and direct line which will aim to fulfil the needs of the technically, more experienced members of the expedition. (estimate Alpine Grade AD / D)

To undertake scientific research and exploration

(The following is a summary of scientific objectives which are being developed in conjunction with the learned bodies noted. The programme for scientific objectives can mainly run in parallel with the Exploration and Mountaineering Objectives)

Earth Sciences

Mentor Organisation - Queens University Belfast
Supervisor - Professor Brian Whalley,

  1. At a suitable location identified during the Exploration and Mountaineering objectives, examine an area of mountain calotte with accessible promenades where the ice has retreated. Photograph and measure lichen establishment and gather small quantities of blockfield fine materials for clay mineral analysis at QUB.
  2. Following the QUB sample protocol, collect small samples of rock material from specific locations, both plateau and from summits of peaks/spires ascended, for cosmogenic isotope analysis at QUB. Locations fixed by GPS.
  3. Using a DGPS (Differential Global Positioning System), precisely locate the 2004 datum of the eastern snout of Korridoren and one other accessible mountain glacier snout that is likely to respond more rapidly to climatic change.

Mapping

  1. One of our Network members is a qualified Cartographer. He is producing a digitised map, co-ordinate system and actual maps for Milne Land for our expedition.
  2. Surveying, including GPS, data collected out in the field will be used to update the map.

Fauna

Mentor Organisations – High Arctic Institute, Peregrine Fund, Idaho & Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology, Oxford University
Supervisor – Kurt K. Burnham, Greenland Projects Director

  1. Observation report on Raptors. Need to give location, species (probably Gyrfalcons, Snowy Owls and Peregrine Falcons), what is it doing i.e. flying, sitting - on rock or on cliff – possible nesting site.

Mentor Organisations – Danish National Environmental Research Institute, Roskilde
Supervisor – David Boertmann, Senior Research Biologist

  1. Survey of breeding and moulting geese – Pink Footed Geese and Barnacle Geese
  2. Survey of musk oxen within the expedition area. The Institute needs information on musk oxen from the islands of the Scoresbysund complex.

Flora

Mentor Organisations – Royal Botanical Garden, Edinburgh
Supervisor – Dr Jane Squirrell

  1. Collection & Distribution survey of differing types of Arctic Willow.
  2. General observation and photolocation of patterned ground etc. Observation and location of wildlife, particularly of Musk Ox and Arctic Fox.

Human Physiology

Edinburgh University

  1. There is an unusually high spread of age-range on the expedition – 15 up to 57. One of our members is a first year medical student at the University of Edinburgh and is trying to work up a programme to compare the work outputs of the members.

To promote Scouting

  1. To promote the Scouting “brand” in association with the Expedition in all media coverage before and after the Expedition.
  2. Using satellite telephones, to transmit images from the Expedition back to the UK for the use of the Scout Movement and other stakeholders/benefactors.
  3. To treat the expedition as a pilot with a view to mounting further expeditions on a more regular basis.