As a rule, anything that is pretty you avoid when on an expedition in the polar extremes. Normally anything other than white means a hazard such as a crevasse.

It is a truism to say that the dog is largely what his master makes of him: he can be savage and dangerous, untrustworthy, cringing and fearful; or he can be faithful and loyal, courageous and the best of companions and allies.

Rivalry is one of the factors pushing me. While my back was turned, the Norwegians managed to achieve the first Arctic crossing in winter. I didn't want the same to happen in the Antarctic.

People who go to the polar regions are statistically less likely to die than salesmen who drive on motorways in England.

While I was serving, I worked as an adventure training officer, teaching soldiers how to ski, canoe and climb.

There's no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing

The ultimate starting point for planning any adventure or expeditionby far and away the greatest book on earth