Polar Explorer
What MH are you wearing now? Microchill Jacket.
Which season do you enjoy most?Cold, crisp, sunny winter days – they inspire me.
What’s your favorite meal in the outdoors?I’m working on this. It has become a real problem for me – an aversion to freeze dried stuff!
Willing to share the recipe? I will when I find the answer.
One guilty pleasure?None of my pleasures make me feel guilty but over the years I’ve become a bit of a whiskey connoisseur.
Do you have a pet?Flash, a two year old “rescued” Border Collie
Do you have a dream project? Yes, the Ice Warrior Project
(www.ice-warrior.com); Purposeful, worthwhile extreme, expeditions undertaken by trained novices from all walks of life. I’m making the dream a reality!
How did you first get started in Mountaineering? How old were you?1976 – 16 years old - Winter Mountaineering on a “naughty boy” Outward Bound course.
Who/What is your inspiration?The amazing stories of expeditions during the “golden era of polar exploration” when explorers were really delving into the unknown.
Any advice for folks wanting to become involved in polar exploration?Apart from joining Ice Warrior, do your research well and get the best training possible – there are no short cuts.
Favorite Quote?“If you haven’t failed you haven’t pushed hard enough!”
Personal Highlights:
Having three great children and an ever-suffering but wholly supportive wife.
Career Highlights:
New metal hip in January – much better than before! Guiding the BBC filming in Greenland for the month of June.
Recent Activities:
Training over 75 people to be safe and accomplished polar travelers and helping the BBC capture the Arctic in their wildlife films.
Bio:
With over 23 years of Arctic travel under his belt, Jim McNeill is an accomplished polar explorer, presenter and keynote speaker.
In January 2001 he conceived the idea of combining his professional rescue expertise with his polar expeditioning into a long term vision known as the Ice Warrior Project. (
www.ice-warrior.com)
Jim thrives on challenge and change and has selected, trained and led teams in all sorts of circumstances, including business, critical life saving operations and long term life-threatening situations such as his expeditions.
46 year old Jim is married to Lori and has two daughters, Kirsty, 25 and Helen, 21, and a 10 year old son, Mac. He lives in Royal Berkshire, England, UK.
Last year Jim was ITV News’ own “Ice Warrior” reporting directly from some 200 miles into the Arctic Ocean on the actual effects of global warming on the Arctic ice cap - bringing the reality of global climate change to audiences around the globe.
Next year he will be repeating the story on ITN as he attempts to be the first person in history to reach the Northern Pole of Inaccessibility at the very centre of the Arctic Ocean. He is going alone and without re-supply on a treacherous journey of 735 miles and 75 days duration. At the same time he will gathering crucial climate data for the US National Snow and Ice Data Center (NASA supported work).
More at
www.jim-mcneill.com