24.02.2010
Bronto Skylift Arctic Challenge
A team from Finnish aerial lift manufacturer Bronto, is planning the first of what it hopes will be an annual charity event, the Bronto Arctic Challenge.
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The team will be crossing a wilderness area of the UKK National park
The challenge will is to endure an eight day 100km self-supported snow shoe trek across Lapland, 300km north of the polar circle ascending Sokosti, at 718 metres, the highest peak in the UKK National park.
The aim of the trek is to raise funds and increase awareness of the Alzheimer's Society and its work.
The team members are Ian James and David Walley from Bronto UK, Christoph Pichler and Alexandra Dieterich from Bronto's Italian distributor-Gbr-Pichler and Merja Viilola and Jan Denks of Bronto Finland.
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Jan Denks of Bronto on a previous expedition
The team hopes to utilise wilderness huts for shelter each night, but will also use open shelters and tents for rest and protection. Each team member will have to carry all necessary equipment with them, including clothes, fuel, stoves tent and provisions, so each will tow a Pulka, the transport sledges of the native Sami people, behind them.
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The team will sleep in tents when wilderness huts are not available
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Each team member will pull a Pulka
At this time and into early April, weather conditions are unpredictable and can be severe, with temperatures dropping below -35 degrees Celsius.
Preparations are advancing well and include the drying of meat and vegetables, acquiring equipment and training rigorously before the compulsory rest just before the start of the expedition.
Vertikal.net will be monitoring the expedition and carry any reports that the team manage to send. The intention is to make this an annual event open to a small group of adventurous people form the access industry.
In order to learn more about the charity and put up some sponsorship money check out the website:
www.justgiving.com/brontochillychallenge
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Bill Green
Just to say to Ian and the boys, I wish you all well in this worthy quest, good luck and God speed. Regards Bill
Martin Cowley
Fantastic challenge, I wish Jan Denks and colleagues good luck and fortune.
Maybe when the challenge is over he can lend some of us in the UK the equipment used for our daily grind to work in Artic Britain.
Ted Williams
It should be good practice for surviving a UK winter.