04/05/2010Baffin Big Walls Expedition Lifts-Off

The Baffin Big Walls Expedition 2010 gets underway today as Mike 'Twid' Turner, Stu McAleese and Mark Thomas fly out to Montreal en route for Baffin Island's remote Stewart Valley - barring any volcanic eruptions.

The team is planning to attempt an unclimbed "monster big wall and expect to be climbing and living on the 1200 metre vertical face for over three weeks." At night they'll be sleeping in hanging tents known as portaledges.

Before leaving Stu commented: "At the moment the temperature in Baffin has highs of around minus 7ºC and lows of minus 12ºC but the forecast for the week ahead is sunshine. No doubt though that we'll be doing a fair bit of suffering! We are hoping to be able to update our blog from the wall as the action happens."

"Hanging out at camp isn't likely to be very relaxing with hungry polar bears roaming around."

The trio have their sights set on two potential objectives among the Sail Peaks, dubbed an Arctic Yosemite Valley. A small plane will land them at the Clyde River settlement from where it will be at least a two day journey by skidoo over the frozen fjords (previous news).

Comvergent, a technical provider for the telecoms industry, is the expedition's main sponsor and DMM is providing the climbing hardware side of things [Ed: We really value feedback on kit from hardcore trips like these].

The team are happy to take questions through their blog at www.baffinbigwalls.com. So if you want to know what they've been told to do when confronted by a polar bear? Or what comics Stu reads on the wall? Now is your chance to ask.

Photo: The team in Switzerland, (l-r) Stu McAleese, Mike 'Twid' Turner and Mark Thomas with all the planning and packing behind them and ready to do battle.