When Freestyle's Development Team leader, Mark Kelly, received final confirmation that he was selected as one of only five novices to join the Ice Warrior Svalbard Expedition this year it was the realization of dream long harboured by the 30 year old.
Now fresh back from his Polar journey - which took him over 200 miles, on foot, across the glaciers and sea ice Spitzbergen in Svalbard Norway, 79 degrees North - Mark spent 22 days collecting valuable data and information about the condition of the Polar Bears and their denning habits on behalf of the Norwegian Polar Institute. The information gathered by the six-man Ice-Warrior team will contribute much needed evidence during the International Polar Year in 2007 - 2008 and is being made available to the wider scientific community. More about International Polar Year can be found here http://www.ipy.org.
Mark's love affair with Polar expeditioning, was sparked by tales of derring do from Ran Fiennes and Pen Hadow. He?s also known for his gritty pursuit of endurance events such as Ironman Triathalons which makes Mark Freestyle's fittest employee.
Asked what his most testing moment was and Mark reports that it was the night a polar bear decided to take a closer look at the encampment by putting a large paw through the tent.
Want to find out more about Ice Warrior Svalbard Expedition 2007 - Global Climate Change - What is happening to our Polar Bears? click on: www.ice-warrior.com.
See more pictures from Mark's expedition here.