The Westminster Arctic Challenge 2007

In February 2007, a cross-party team of Members of Parliament travelled across the Arctic wilderness by husky dog sled. The team travelled through Finland, Sweden and Norway to raise money for Crimestoppers, The Children’s Society and Cancer Research UK. The MP team includes Ed Vaizey (Con), Tobias Ellwood (Con), Nick Clegg (LD), Jenny Willott (LD) and Emily Thornberry (Lab).

It is the aim of The Westminster Challenge to arrange an expedition every two years and hope to include, on average, two challenges during each Parliament with a new team of MPs participating in each challenge. The trip will be carbon neutral, please click here for more information.

Below is a day by day account of what challenges the MPs will face over the course of the trek.

The will be expected to care for their team of huskies, fish for their supper and build igloos for shelter, all whilst enduring one of Europe’s harshest climates, where tempeartures can reach as low as -40 C.

Morning flight from London to Kittila via Helsinki. Arrive late afternoon and 2 hour transfer by minibus to our first taste of basic lodges at Katkasuvanto on the Finland / Sweden border.
Simple dormitory lodging, beds or mattresses on the floor; long drop toilets.

The route for today follows wide hard-packed trails west across fairly flat terrain, with a landscape of trees, frozen rivers and lakes. The exposed landscape for the rest of the day is a challenge, however it is still fairly flat and the pace is steady. The day ends in the town of Ovre Soppero with promise of a very special evening, as tonight we will be eating dinner in the home of a local Sami family. This will be an informal evening and gives us the chance to talk with the locals and find out more about the way of life in the Arctic.

Today the team will learn an essential wilderness skill: igloo building. It takes approximately 6 hours to build and although the team were warned not to underestimate this part of the challenge, everyone found it to be tougher than they anticipated.

They spent the night sleeping in the igloo, whilst outside temperature plummeted to below -30 C.

The overnight facilities included an Igloo or turf kåta; long drop toilets.

Feed and water the dogs, have breakfast, tidy the cabin – it’s a routine we will get to know very well. Once the sleds are packed it’s off once again for another beautiful trail.

Järämä – Råstojaure fishing camp
This was the team’s longest and most challenging day as they sled to Råstojaure, a fishing camp located in mountain and tundra terrain approximately half way above the tree line. After arriving at their overnight resting point in the Råstojaure fishing camp for a well earned rest.

The team learned the technique of ice fishing, with Emily Thornberry succesfully catching a substantial supper.

Thanks to the late night reporting of The Guardian’s Tania Branigan, Tania, Emily Thornberry and Jenny Willott witnessed the most spectacular display by the Nothern Lights.

Distance: approx 75-90km (7-11 hours) depending on weather conditions

Råstojaure to Kilpisjärvi
The first two hours will be picking up from yesterday – more fabulous scenery and hilly terrain. The trail becomes easier for the last 20km. This evening the group will prepare and enjoy a tasty evening meal before heading into the town of Kilpisjärvi.
Distance : approx 50 km (5-7 hours)

Kilpisjärvi – Tri Nation Meeting Point – Kilpisjärvi
Return trip with the dogs to the meeting point of Finland, Norway and Sweden where we cross our third border. Transfer approx 270km from Kilpisjärvi to Jukkasjärvi.

Transfer 15km to Kiruna airport for an early afternoon flight back to the UK via Stockholm.