Edited by Rachel Duncan 4th Edition ISBN 0-907649-91-2 London ...

Planning 13
you will probably enjoy conditions better than Scotland in winter. Avoidance of rain,
mosquitoes and sunburn will be your main challenges.
See the relevant chapters on maps and photographs, kites, sledges, tents, stoves and
firearms. Food and other consumables can sometimes be cheaper to source at your
destination although you must allow time for acquiring/packing/sorting these.
2.4 Communications, safety and back-up
Most countries will require that your expedition has adequate insurance cover for full
Search and Rescue (SAR), or at least rescue from a known point. It is the search
component of SAR insurance that is so expensive so check carefully what is required.
They will want to approve your expedition. Demonstration of good planning and
background knowledge will go a long way to setting you in good stead. The need to
communicate is not a necessity but carrying a distress beacon may be advisable although
only a life and death situation should warrant its activation. See chapter 7 for more
information.
You need to be prepared for your expedition such that only a true mishap/accident,
not incompetence or inexperience leads to a SAR. Self-reliance should be your watchword.
Plan your equipment with the utmost care, know it and know how to live safely in the
terrain. If in a glaciated area, ropework skills should have been practised and re-practised.
Learn to watch the weather and always err on the side of caution. Your margin of safety
should well exceed that which you may be used to in your home country.
2.5 Scientific projects
This handbook does not attempt to outline possible scientific work. There are numerous
examples in expedition reports held at the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), and in
academic journals. Some references are given in the appendices.
2.6 Arctic communities, parks and reserves
Besides your impact on the natural environment, your presence in the Arctic will have an
effect, whether economic or social, on the local population. As with visiting any country
you should remember that you are a visitor and respect the way of life of the local people.
Take time to find out about them in advance (Lonely Planet guides are a good starting
point).
The number of tourists and expeditions to the polar regions has increased
dramatically over the last decade. Given the increasing pressure of tourism, stringent
guidelines have been developed for the management of visitors to the polar regions. In the
Antarctic, all British expeditions must receive consent from the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office and should operate in accordance with the Guidance for Visitors to
the Antarctic drawn up under the Antarctic Treaty www.iaato.org/visitor_guide.html. In
the Arctic, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has published some widely accepted
guidelines for visitor behaviour, detailing relations with local communities through to
methods of controlling huskies. These are available at the WWF web site:
www.ngo.grida.no/wwfap
Special rules apply to National Parks and Reserves and special permission will be
needed to enter these areas. Indeed, the reason for their restricted access may be the same