| Sponsors
& Endorsements |
| "[Handling huskies]
is a specialist area that makes huge demands on people, dogs,
critical gear and skills alike. The fact he [Gary] travels
alone is testimony to his ability combined with the magical
bond between him and his huskies." |
| Sir Ranulph Fiennes Bt OBE, July
2003, Patron |
 "Every
manufacturer is out there to tell the world they are developing
the best products. The fact is, few are, despite their hype.
Products I choose to use face deeply challenging circumstances
over long periods of time. My gear leads a tough existence keeping
the dogs and I safe. Ultimately everything blends, enabling
us to operate at the best of our ability.
"Here
are companies I consider first choice specialists, recommend
and consider the best available, worldwide."
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" I’m serious about my training. Twice daily hour-long
runs precede longer weekend runs with weight training on alternate
days. It’s very time consuming and slow torture on average
gear, that’s why I use Ron Hill running tights and Tracksters.
They are not average. They keep their shape and are extremely
tolerant to my abuse. They’re also very comfortable."
Ronhill feature in Gary’s diary and published media:
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“During 24-hour Arctic summer sun a Uni-Solar panel
hooks easily to my backpack with bungee cords. During spring
sun, at forty below zero, Uni-Solar panels remain flexible.
Instead of a backpack I spread a panel over my sled to charge.
On the move, I simply attach the plus and minus cable terminal
tabs and the charging starts.”
Uni-Solar feature in Gary’s diary, published
articles and newspaper coverage:
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"Considering the strain my body goes through I remain
injury free. I don't put it down to luck. I've never scrimped
on training in anything less than top end trainers combined
with full-length Sorbothane impact absorbing innersoles. On
expeditions I ski alongside my sled and dogs in free-heel
bindings and use Sorbothane heel strike innersoles inside
traditional Inuit footwear. Sometimes this is for 12 hours
a day."
Sorbothane feature in Gary’s diary,
published articles and newspaper coverage:
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"I’m never without water in an Aztec vacuum flask.
Filled with boiling water and left outside for three days
at minus forty below contents will remain brew warm. Incredible."
Aztec feature
in Gary’s
published articles and newspaper coverage:
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“With Gerber knives
and axes I’ve skinned and butchered cows, sheep, horses,
moose, bears, caribou, seals and gutted monster sized Arctic
char. These knives and axes are versatile. Edges remain sharp
and handles feel good in the hand.”
Gerber feature in Gary’s diary
and published articles:
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“It’s vital I trust my compass. My Recta Global
System compass needle doesn’t freeze in its housing,
unlike other makes I’ve used.”
Recta feature in Gary’s diary, published
articles and newspaper coverage:
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Camp feature in Gary’s diary
and published articles:
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HeatMax feature in Gary’s published articles:
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GSI feature in Gary’s diary
and published articles:
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“During Arctic summers I share river and lake water
with my dogs, wolves, bears and foxes who can pass on bacteria,
viruses and parasitic cysts. My First Need portable water
purifier removes all that and any doubt.”
General Ecology feature in Gary’s diary
and published articles:
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"SMC
gear has got to be the Rolls Royce of climbing hardware. I use
their karabiners, ice axes, snow anchors and snow saw. There
is no gimmickry with SMC gear, unlike some climbing manufacturers
borderline hardware. When seconds count and my hands are bundled
into thick beaver mittens this protection hardware is easy to
handle and place.
On a long haul journey my dogs and I can expect distrustful
ice and snow conditions dished out by psychopathic weather.
With minimal SMC hardware I can safely secure my dogs and tent
to sit out whatever the Arctic throws our way."
SMC feature in Gary’s diary
and published articles:
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"Backpacker's Pantry Outback Oven is a brilliant innovative
cooking system I've used repeatedly on long haul polar journeys.
It saves me time and fuel to make food I'd otherwise miss,
such as bread. I don't intend starving. As long as it fits
inside a Backpacker's Pantry Outback Oven you can create anything
you make in your own home."
Backpackers Pantry feature in Gary’s
diary, published articles and newspaper coverage:
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"Arctic winters bring 24-hour darkness. The dark can
be so black it's like being nailed inside a coffin. Sometimes
I can travel by the light of the moon and swirling northern
lights. Sometimes not. That's when I use my Petzl head-torch
to penetrate millions and millions of wind blown glittered
flaying ice shards to watch the dogs' footings or changes
in ice conditions. Below the tree line I watch out for fresh
wolf and moose activity. On sea ice I watch for polar bear
prints or their kills and am careful not to come between adults
and cubs."
Petzl feature in Gary’s diary:
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"I zip essentials I want thawed into fleece pockets close
to my body. I wear CIBA Vision DAILIES disposable contact
lenses. Spectacles would freeze to my face. At all times in
that zipped pocket I maintain enough body heat to keep thawed
a week's supply of lenses. The remainder I keep on my sled.
Here every lens in strips of seven tiny-sealed pots freezes
solid. On shifting sea ice I'm able to wear contact lenses
for extended periods. The thought of being woken by ice breaking
up under my camp and scrambling blindly out of water always
gives me the creeps."
Ciba Vision feature in Gary’s diary,
published articles and newspaper coverage:
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"My Multimats have experienced a yearly temperature range
of 81ºC (30ºC above to minus 51ºC). In summer
my dogs and I cross hundreds of rivers, confront bears and
deal with wolf packs. Arctic wildlife tends to eat what it
pleases, including human beings. In perpetual polar winters
it’s cold enough to spit ice cubes. Brutal cold has
a tendency to kill. In a tent I want sleep. I want insulation.
I want warmth. I am demanding and use only gear that tolerates
the torture I inflict upon it. Multimats do all this."
Multimat features in Gary's diary and
published media:
 Download
Multimat’s
2007
catalogue
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" I
use a Vertex Standard VXA – 150 Pro V ground to air VHF
transceiver powered by AA batteries. It’s light, easy
to use and can potentially save my life. If I’ve an aircraft
charter re-supply planned I can talk directly to the pilot.
In a dire emergency situation I can transmit a blind (first)
broadcast with a pre-arranged call sign on frequencies monitored
by local low-level flight pilots and community aerodromes or
scan military flight frequencies. No message copy locally and
I transmit specific details on international distress frequency
121.5 MHz for overhead Boeings. By law these pilots must monitor
this frequency." The Wireless Source
/ Vertex Standard feature in Gary’s published articles:
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"My dogs don't carry me. Skis or Tubbs snowshoes enable
me to generate heat and stave off hypothermia while traversing
coastal tundra or Mackenzie Delta snow where I train. Snow
here is deep snow, sometimes chest deep."
Tubbs feature in Gary’s diary and
published articles:
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"Padipaws neoprene bowls aren't only lightweight and
durable but pack down to take up very little space on my sled.
At forty below zero stainless steel bowls can flash freeze
a nose and tongue. At this dogs tend to paw and tip their
bowls. All the effort to re-hydrate them is then lost."
Padi Paws feature in Gary’s diary,
published articles and newspaper coverage:
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“After a day’s travel, either on featureless tundra
or sea ice, one of life’s most rewarding moments is
registering co-ordinates from my Garmin GPS to confirm I’m
exactly where I want to be.”
Garmin feature in Gary’s diary, published
articles and newspaper coverage:
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"I have reason to distrust
satellite phones. ACR Electronics, Inc. build location beacons I
consider to be the best available worldwide."
ACR feature in Gary’s media coverage:
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"Throughout perpetual winter polar dark at forty below
zero Energizer AA lithium batteries power, without weakness,
devices like my emergency strobe and GPS. The light of my
head torch enables me to find a way over good or bad ice,
check my dogs' paws, break up dogfights and feed."
Energizer feature in Gary’s diary and published media:
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“I used to go through socks at an alarmingly rate. In
the past sock manufacturers didn’t impress me much.
I began to wonder if simple things as vital as socks were
ever going to keep up with me. Horizon’s mid/heavyweight
trekking socks insulate properly. They don’t shuffle
around and the pile doesn’t flatten. I like that. This
arrangement has kept my feet warm in temperatures dipping
to minus 51ºC. Lack of detail to my footwear would be
lunacy.”
 Matt
Forward , Director “Horizon
is delighted to support Gary on his expeditions. The feed
back that we receive is invaluable and ensures that we are
always looking at ways to improve our socks. The challenging
terrain coupled with the inhospitable weather ensures that
Horizon is at the forefront of sock development at the highest
level.”
Horizon feature in Gary's diary, published
articles and media coverage:
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"In tablet form, Bayer's Drontal Plus removes tapeworms,
hookworms and whipworms from my dogs."
Bayer feature in Gary's diary:
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MSR appear in Gary's published articles:
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UKJuicers feature in Gary's media coverage:
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“Arctic summers
are short but intense. 24-hour sun hatches millions upon millions
of mosquitoes. In Canada every Province has reported cases of
West Nile Virus infected mosquitoes infecting humans. The virus
has flu-like systems and in severe cases has caused meningitis
and even death. I protect myself with Prevent insect repellent.“
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"The last job I
do inside my tent is to smear my face with Bag Balm. This antiseptic
ointment protects potentially vulnerable frostbite areas such
as my nose, cheekbones, ears lobes and finger ends from splitting.
Importantly it contains no water and doesn't freeze to body
parts. As well as protect it encourages fast healing for minor
cuts and scrapes on both the dogs and myself. Very little is
needed for it to be effective and once applied it stays on.
Anything else I'd consider as nothing more than a cosmetic." |
Bag Balm feature in Gary’s diary and published media:
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"Mumm's sprouting
seeds guarantee me fresh essential minerals and vitamins. In
the dead of winter and no sunlight the Crunchy Bean Mix or Sandwich
Booster seeds sprout ready to eat within a few days and taste
great on bread I've freshly baked. They're fun to grow too."
Mumm's feature in Gary’s published articles:
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"We all have a
pretty good idea of what’s good food for us and what isn’t,
despite trendy fad food hype. In training and throughout Arctic
journeys I eat unnaturally large amounts of food. I want to
know what’s eaten is doing me good. Some dried food sold
as ‘expedition food’ is bearable. Most isn’t.
It lacks taste and nutrition. That’s where Just Tomatoes
Etc. come in. Their dried fruits and veggies are perfect for
creative cooking ingredients. The fruits make excellent snacks.
Everything tastes great because it’s natural and nutritious,
without nasty health-tampering additives."
Just Tomatoes, etc. feature in Gary’s diary
and published articles:
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"Clamcleat
guy rope adjusters are one of those attentions to detail that
help make Arctic life run smoothly. Setting up camp alone in
horrid winds at forty below zero warrants survival mode. Simple
to use with big mittens on Clamcleat guy rope adjusters enable
me to secure my tent to anchor points, fast. Arctic storms can
keep me tent bound for days. Guy ropes fitted with Clamcleats
don’t buckle or budge." |
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“I’m
never complacent, learn fast and latch on to anything I know
will raise the gear efficiency bar. Woodland Organics Distribution
Ltd. is a dynamic and passionate company responsible for bringing
new and exciting outdoor adventure products to the UK and European
marketplace; kit like Ultimate Survival’s fire starters
and signalling devices. I’ve faced near death and survived
because of the gear I’ve selected. If Woodland Organics
say they’ve found a piece of kit for me to look at, I
listen. I can’t be anything but honest with you.”
Woodland Organics Distribution Ltd. feature in Gary’s diary
and published articles:
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Harcostar feature in Gary’s published articles:
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"I’m
always making repairs or altering to improve my tents and clothing.
Textile Outfitters provide a rich source of hard to find materials
for the outdoor enthusiast looking to prolong life to favourite
gear or for starting from scratch projects."
Textile Outfitters feature in Gary’s published articles:
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"I
rely on a tent for shelter and a fire can spoil my day. I don’t
carry spare tents. Always at hand is an Ocean Safety fire blanket
ready to extinguish misbehaving stoves." |
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"I'm away from civilisation sometimes for months on end.
I do like to know what's new in the gear world and Action
Outdoors are the right people to talk to." |
| [<<
more] |
Other Useful Links |
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Asthma UK
Asthma UK is the charity dedicated to improving the
health and well-being of the 5.1 million people in the UK
whose lives are affected by asthma. We work together with
people with asthma, health professionals and researchers to
develop and share expertise to help people increase their
understanding and reduce the effect of asthma on their lives.
"As a 5 year-old kid I was diagnosed as asthmatic. I
can still remember how frightened I was when I couldn’t
breathe but once prescribed with an inhaler my condition stabilised.
I try to do what I can to raise awareness for Asthma UK by
helping others with asthma recognise their own potential.
You shouldn’t be afraid to go out there and live the
life you want. Don’t ever let anyone tell you your dream
it too big. Just plan and get your shoes on.”
Asthma UK feature in Gary’s diary,
published articles and newspaper coverage:
To read more about Gary click
here.
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Pet Travel Scheme
The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) enables dogs travelling
from certain countries to enter or re-enter the UK without quarantine
provided they meet the requirements. |
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All
photographs copyright © Gary Rolfe