This is my rifle - December 2nd 2012

2nd December 2012

This is my rifle - December 2nd 2012

This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine... Well, it's not my rifle as it goes, but I will be armed throughout my time in arctic with a 12 gauge pump action shotgun as protection against the polar bears. Keen not to blow my feet off, it's quite important I know how to use one! Off to the Wylye Shooting Centre in Wiltshire I went...

Q. Why do you need a gun!? Hopefully I won't... but to quote Carlito Brigante (Pacino), I would much rather have a gun and not need it, than need a gun and not have it. Polar bears are phenomenally dangerous and I intend to avoid them at all costs - the gun is really my last resort... 

Q. Do you know much about bears? Well, I am no Timothy Treadwell (see 'Grizzly Man'), but I have had some bear training in the past. Spending time up in Denali (Alaska), I had to sit through a rather fascinating 'bear defence lecture'. I have seen a fair few bears over the years and fair to say that regardless of any training, I still crap my pants and hope for the best.

Q. When would you actually fire this? The first few rounds of chamber are full of 'bear bangers', essentially mini grenades that explode after a fraction of a second after leaving the gun. The sound should (in theory) scare the pants off the bear and it will hopefully back away. Should he keep coming, we have some non lethal rounds to really scare it. Only after all options have been exhausted and if the bear is coming towards me aggressively do you fire live rounds.

Q. How would you feel about shooting a polar bear? This would be utterly devastating and I absolutely hope this never happens. It is quite rare to have to kill a bear, so I am hoping for once I fall into the percentage that makes up the large number... I am passionately against hunting and shooting for sport and the gun is purely for defence and used as a last resort. I am entering their territory and will do everything I possibly can to avoid me ever using the shotgun.

Q. What happens if you were to kill a bear? As polar bears are endangered species, any shootings will be investigated with almost the same level of diligence as a murder. You have to, by law, report the shooting and the Canadians will send a plane with a team to investigate and recover the bear. If you haven't followed all the protocols, there is a very good chance you will end up in jail.

Q. So, can you shoot? Actually, I was pretty good... only missed a few out of a whole box of cartridges, so would be pretty confident in hitting a bear. However, clay pigeons don't weigh 750kgs or run at you at 40kph... it also wasn't -50c. So who knows... The price of missing is pretty high. 

Updates

Sand running and volcano climbing - November 29th, 2013

Sand running and volcano climbing - November 29th, 2013

Why am I going so slowly? 8kph? Really!? My feet are on fire. There is sand in my shoes. This hurts. There are people staring at me. I am sweating more than I thought was possible. Hmm... This...  more »

Intercontinental running  - November 3rd 2013

Intercontinental running - November 3rd 2013

A half marathon in Joburg. Have a shower, get on a plane, 16 hours later, get off the plane, run a half marathon in Washington DC. This style of life is becoming the norm and trust me......  more »

Facing up to the Marathon Des Sables - September 8th 2013

Facing up to the Marathon Des Sables - September 8th 2013

The (other) 'Toughest footrace on Earth', as described by the Discovery Channel. 7 brutal days of running 250km, through soft sand, in temperatures exceeding 50c, whilst carrying about...  more »

Altitude, heat and hoodlums - August 25th, 2013

Altitude, heat and hoodlums - August 25th, 2013

Move aside Thames Path with your variety of interesting historical monuments, your traffic free running lane and your shady tree laden shores. I am moving to Johannesburg, city of gold, hills...  more »

Part 2: Cruising to Polaris - April 11th 2013

Part 2: Cruising to Polaris - April 11th 2013

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Part 1: Journey to the top of the world - April 6th 2013

Part 1: Journey to the top of the world - April 6th 2013

The nostril hairs and my eyelashes started to freeze up – something that has only happened a few times in my life – typically at about -25c. The worst part was that I was still a two...  more »

'Adventure is just bad planning' - March 31st 2013

'Adventure is just bad planning' - March 31st 2013

It is with Amundsen's quote that I start my final blog before my own attempt to walk to a pole. Whilst I doubt my effort will be as celebrated, I hope it will be as successful. In the final...  more »

Counting Down... - March 13th 2013

Counting Down... - March 13th 2013

100s of KGs of kit, hundreds of individual items, food to be purchased in Canada, guns and ammunition to manage and sponsorship/fundraising efforts to sort out - the lead in to the North Pole is...  more »

Success on Aconcagua - February 9th 2013

Success on Aconcagua - February 9th 2013

100kph winds, -40c, deep snow... I had it all in my fight to get to the summit of the highest mountain in the Western and Southern Hemisphere's at 6,962m (22,841ft). Whilst telling everyone...  more »

How cold is 'cold'? - January 6th 2013

How cold is 'cold'? - January 6th 2013

One of the most common questions people ask me is 'how cold will it be at the North Pole?', to which I normally reply 'could be anything from -25c to -55c... and with windchill,...  more »

Maps & Tracking

Maps & Tracking

You can explore the full route to the North Pole and follow Paul’s progress with live maps that will plot his position each day as he progresses towards the pole  more >

VSO

VSO

VSO is the world’s leading independent international development organisation that works through volunteers to fight poverty in developing countries (www.vso.org.uk). The Fire and Ice Challenge is aiming to raise £50,000 for VSO’s secure livelihoods programme  more >