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Fire, Ice and Friendship: Surviving a Week in the Arctic
What happens when you swap home comforts for -15°C nights, no running water, and a week of Arctic survival? That’s exactly what Peter Tyler and his team did - all in the name of fundraising for the UHCW NHS Trust. For eight days, they battled the freezing conditions, built shelters from snow and trees, and learned essential survival skills from ex-Royal Marines.
Imagine swapping your warm bed, hot showers, and a fully stocked fridge for a week of sub-zero temperatures, no running water, and a survivalist lifestyle in the Arctic. Sounds mad, right? Well, that’s exactly what I did!
Eight days, sixty miles south of the Arctic Circle, braving the elements, all in aid of raising funds for the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust. So far, I’ve raised £1325 for the oncology department, and collectively, our team has smashed over £20,000 which will benefit many patients and their families.
But it wasn’t just about the fundraising—it was an adventure of a lifetime, packed with challenges, camaraderie, and some truly breathtaking moments.
The Team & Our Guides
Jo and Hannah O’Sullivan from UHCW Charity brought together our squad of 14 intrepid souls, and Paul Reeve from Sky Blue Adventures ensured we had an unforgettable (and safe!) experience.
Our survival guides? None other than Nigel and Dave from Snow and Paddles—two ex-royal marine legends who know the Arctic like the back of their frostbitten hands. These guys taught us everything from fire lighting to shelter building and, crucially, how to avoid becoming human icicles overnight.
Acclimatisation: The Art of Letting Go of Comfort
The first two nights were spent in a basic cabin—no running water, no electricity, and absolutely no Netflix. Just a fire for heat and the wonderful aroma of burning wood (and occasionally, singed socks). Here, we began learning how to survive in the wilderness, taking on crucial skills that would keep us alive for the rest of the week.
One of our first lessons? Cross-country skiing. Now, I’d skied before, but this was a whole different beast. Imagine trying to glide across the snow with your heels flapping around like a pair of broken flip-flops. Hilarious doesn’t quite cover it. But after a few tumbles and a lot of laughing, we finally got the hang of it and started covering some serious ground.
Then came the real survival skills:
- Tree Felling and Firewood Prep: Learning to chop down dead trees with an axe felt incredibly satisfying. However, once you’ve hacked through the trunk, the real work begins—sawing it up, splitting it into kindling, and keeping the fire roaring. Forget the gym; this was a full-body workout!
- Fire Lighting: Turns out, birch bark is nature’s gift to fire lighting—it burns beautifully thanks to its natural oils. Using a flint and striker, we coaxed flames to life and built roaring fires, ensuring warmth and a means to cook.
- Shelter Building: Using felled trees, we constructed sturdy forest shelters in which to sleep. Not exactly Airbnb-able but they passed Nige and Dave’s assessment. What was that Nige?…. “Best shelters you’ve ever seen for a long time”... we’ll take that!
- Snowhole Construction: This was a mission. Step one: pile up a massive 6ft mound of snow in the dark (trying not to sweat in the freezing cold). Step two: let it settle for 24 hours. Step three: dig it out without it collapsing in on yourself. By the time we’d finished, five of us could squeeze inside—cosy, but effective!
Survival Mode: Four Days in the Wild
Now, it was time for the real test—four days away from the cabin, fending for ourselves. We relied on teamwork to keep the fires burning, chopping enough wood to last the night, and ensuring we stayed warm, fed, and hydrated. Daytime was manageable—chopping, skiing, and general movement kept the cold at bay. But the nights? Tough.
One night, despite wearing five layers and being wrapped in a sleeping bag and bivvy, I could still feel the chill creeping in. Sleep was intermittent at best—every so often, I had to shift around to stop my body from turning into an ice block. And yet, we had it relatively easy—temperatures only dropped to -15°C. Our guides assured us that -25°C to -30°C was more the norm for this time of year. Small mercies!
With the cold nights came a stunningly clear sky…
The Magic of the Arctic: My Personal Highlight
Without any light pollution, the night sky was a masterpiece. Stars glittered in constellations I’d never seen before. And then, the moment that took my breath away—at around 2:30 am one night, the Northern Lights came to life. Swirling waves of green and purple danced across the sky, shifting and pulsing in mesmerising patterns. We were completely in awe. No words, just pure, unfiltered wonder.
My Top 5 Essential Pieces of Kit
If you’re ever tempted to try Arctic survival, then having the best kit is essential. Here’s the gear that kept me functioning:
- Rab Batura Jacket—This ridiculously good down jacket was my best friend throughout the week. Nigel and Dave highly recommended it, and I have to agree it was worth every penny. Bravo Rab!
- Sorel Caribou Snow Boots – Solid boots with removable fur-lined inners—essential for drying out when they inevitably got damp.
- North Face Summit Casaval Mid Layer – An excellent insulator that traps warmth efficiently and dries quickly if you do work up a sweat.
- Hestra Army Leather Heli Gloves—These high-quality gloves kept my hands warm and dry, a lifesaver when handling snow and chopping wood.
- Black Diamond Spot 400-R Head Torch – Essential for night-time tasks. Incredibly, the battery lasted the entire week without needing to recharge, which is incredible given that I kept forgetting to turn it off around the fire, much to the annoyance of the rest of the team who were temporarily blinded.
The Challenge: What Have I Learnt About Myself?
I signed up for this adventure not knowing how I’d cope. Would I struggle with the cold? Would I miss my home comforts too much? Turns out, I adapted better than I expected.
Sure, there were tough moments—like the night when my sleeping bag turned into a mini swimming pool. But overall, I loved the simplicity of it all. No emails. No social media. No distractions. Just the primal focus of staying warm, hydrated, and fed. It made me realise how cluttered life can be and how we often miss what truly matters—connecting with people, listening, and just being present.
Would I Do It Again?
Absolutely. This experience taught me resilience, resourcefulness, and the joy of slowing down. It reminded me that life doesn’t always have to be at full speed—sometimes, the best moments come when you strip everything back and simply exist in the moment.
So, if you ever get the chance to ditch the city and embrace the Arctic, do it. Just make sure you bring a decent sleeping bag—and actually use the waterproof cover!
If you would like to donate to help support University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust, you can do so via my Just Giving page. Thank you!
