Polar Dogs Antarctica Expedition — training films

Films from the training trips for the Polar Dogs Antarctica Expedition, the 2,000km ski crossing from Berkner Island via the South Pole to the Ross Ice Shelf in November 2027. Arctic Finland, Norway and the Alps above Chamonix, filmed between December 2025 and May 2026.

Arctic Finland

Halti National Park

December 2025 to January 2026

Cross-country ski training in the polar night at around minus 40C, 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle. The first of the Polar Dogs Antarctica Expedition training trips.

Snow and low hills lit blue in the polar night at Halti, Arctic Finland — Skiing through the polar night at Halti, from the northern lights to dawn and on into blue hour.

Two skiers among snow-covered birch trees in blue light at Halti, Arctic Finland — Learning to cross-country ski at Halti in Arctic Finland, in the polar night at around minus 40C.

Finse, Norway

Polar expedition and survival training

February 2026

Two weeks at Finse with polar guide Hannah McKeand, learning to live and travel on the ice. Camp craft, hauling, cold water, and the routines that have to work when it is minus 40C and blowing.

An expedition tent pitched in the snow during polar training at Finse, Norway — Week one of two weeks of polar expedition and survival training at Finse with polar guide Hannah McKeand.

Expedition tents pitched on snow with mountains behind at Finse, Norway — Week two, moving from the classroom onto the ice.

Erica Stanford in a hole cut through lake ice during polar training at Finse, Norway — We will not need to cross icy water in Antarctica, but this is essential training for anyone planning to cross the Arctic to get to the North Pole.

Hardangervidda, Norway

Polar Dogs’ first training expedition together
Eight days across the Hardangervidda Plateau, Norway

April 2026

Eight days hauling pulks across the Hardangervidda plateau, just the two of us, through whiteouts, blizzards and hailstorms. The closest thing to Antarctica we can reach from the UK.

Two skiers standing beside loaded pulks on the Hardangervidda plateau, Norway — Eight days crossing the Hardangervidda plateau, through whiteouts, blizzards and hailstorms.

A lone skier crossing a vast open snowfield on the Hardangervidda plateau, Norway — A clear day on the plateau, which is rarer than the whiteouts.

A skier in a blue jacket in a whiteout on the Hardangervidda plateau, Norway — A whiteout on the Hardangervidda plateau. There is no horizon and no shadow, and the ground disappears.

A skier walking a loaded pulk down a snow slope on the Hardangervidda plateau, Norway — Walking the sleds down a slope with rope brakes fitted to slow them.

Oslo, Norway

Ski technique coaching

April 2026

Three days of cross-country ski technique coaching straight after Hardangervidda, working on efficiency and form. Over 2,000km, small inefficiencies become very expensive.

Cross-country ski technique coaching on snow in Oslo, Norway — Three days of cross-country ski technique coaching in Oslo, working on efficiency and form.

Chamonix, France

Crevasse rescue training

May 2026

Three days below the summit of Mont Blanc with ALE crevasse expert Simon Abrahams, learning to build anchors, climb out, and get each other out.

A climber on a steep snow slope high above Chamonix, below the summit of Mont Blanc — Crevasse rescue training below the summit of Mont Blanc with ALE crevasse expert Simon Abrahams.

Music written for these films by Daniel Baines, co-founder of Warlord.

Polar Dogs Antarctica Expedition — training films

Halti National Park

Polar Dogs’ Erica Stanford hut to hut backcountry skiing in Finnish Lapland in the polar night

Polar Dogs’ Erica Stanford learning how to ski

Polar expedition and survival training

Polar expedition and survival training with polar explorer Hannah McKeand in Finse, Norway

Week two of polar expedition training, an expedition around Finse in Norway

Crossing water, Arctic practice on Erica Stanford’s polar expedition training in Finse, Norway

Polar Dogs’ first training expedition togetherEight days across the Hardangervidda Plateau, Norway

Polar Dogs Ben and Erica’s first training expedition

A clear day at the end of our Polar Dogs training expedition

Whiteout

Walking the sleds down

Ski technique coaching

Ski technique training in Oslo

Crevasse rescue training

Crevasse rescue training

Polar Dogs’ first training expedition together
Eight days across the Hardangervidda Plateau, Norway