A 23-year-old environmental consultant from Clapham is set to take on one of the most ambitious polar expeditions of our time.
Joe Witt is part of the Ice Warrior #LastPole expedition team aiming to reach the Northern Pole of Inaccessibility in February 2023 and gather vital climate change data enroute.
The Northern Pole of Inaccessibility is the only significant part of the polar regions yet to be reached by humankind and is over 270 miles further than the geographic north pole. It is defined as the furthest point from land in the Arctic Ocean.
Witt said: “The Last Pole expedition is a fantastic opportunity to really challenge me out of my comfort zone, while also collecting vital scientific data for a truly purposeful expedition.
“The data we collect will be profoundly significant towards our understanding of the impacts of climate change and will keep man-made climate change at the forefront of international policy making.
“Whatever the conclusions from our data collection exercise, I hope we can engage and inspire individuals to learn more about the environmental challenges our planet faces.”
The team will study the current conditions of sea ice, weather and oceanography in the Arctic region.
The data collected is set to be used by leading scientists such as the NASA-funded National Sea Ice Data Centre (NSIDC) to further knowledge of the dangers of climate change.
The polar expedition is being led by world-renowned explorer Jim McNeill and has been supported by celebrities such as broadcaster Michael Palin and explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes.
The journey is 800 miles in total and will set off from the northern shores of Canada.
It will be split into four legs, each with seven amateur explorers accompanying McNeill on the way.
Ice Warrior is an organisation that calls for ordinary people to take part in extraordinary expeditions. It conducts scientific work and is particularly focused on global climate.
Witt is currently completing an intensive training program to prepare for the polar expedition.
This is his third extreme challenge after having climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in 2019 and reaching Everest base camp in 2018.
Take a look at Joe’s Instagram page for updates or also if you are interested in partnering with the expedition.
Featured Image Credit: Joe Witt
