Expeditions

Over the years, Dr Apps has been fortunate enough to work and travel in many remote parts of the world, usually involving snow and ice! I am happy to advise on proposed trips and if I haven’t been to the area you are going to, I will know someone who has!

I have outlined some of the more memorable experiences below.

Labrador coast, Canada

I spent a year working on the air ambulance service in this very remote part of Canada. The International Grenfell Association provides medical services to the native Inuit and Naskapi Indians as well as to the more recent Caucasian settlers. Spectacular displays of the Northern Lights and various epic journeys on snowmobiles are memories I will treasure forever!

On Thin Ice !!

Svalbard (Spitsbergen) 1992 [TOP]

The British Schools Exploring Society (www.bses.org.uk/) organizes expeditions for young adults to various remote parts of the globe. I spent 3 happy months ski-touring with them around Svalbard, living in tents, climbing mountains and looking out for polar bears.

Seal hole bathing in The Arctic Ocean

Ice Berg climbing off the East coast of Svalbard

Snowhole living conditions

Mera Peak, Nepal 1995 [TOP]

This is the only commercial trip I have been on and thoroughly enjoyed it. Seven of us (out of sixteen starters) reached the summit of Mera Peak which is nearly 22,000ft high.

Mera Peak summit with fantastic vista of the Himalayan giants behind

Kilimanjaro 1999 [TOP]

Raising funds for the Butterwick Childrens Hospice was a good excuse for this trip! An amazing 43 out of 45 reached the summit which is a tribute to their dedication and the skills of the guides. The usual success rate on Kilimanjaro is very much lower with some routes not achieving 50%.

Kilimanjaro from Shira plateau

Mawenzi at dawn taken from the summit of Kilimanjaro

Icefields near summit of Kilimanjaro

Mont Blanc 2003 [TOP]

Training with the Territorial Army, I spent 2 weeks in the Alps climbing various routes whilst acclimatizing for Mont Blanc itself. Sadly, the weather broke and we were not able to attempt the summit; there’s always next year!

Tackling the Cosmiques arrete

Domes de Miage

Tricky bit on Mont Blanc de Tacul; almost standing on thin air!

Summit Mont Blanc de Tacul

Antarctica and the South Pole 2003/4 [TOP]

Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions (ALE) (http://www.antarctic-logistics.com/) recruited me for the second part of their 2003/4 season at Patriot Hills. ALE took over from Adventure Network International and provide the only means of access to Antarctica for climbers and skiers heading for the South Pole. This year saw records broken, especially by the Brits, with Fiona Thornewill (fastest person ever to the South Pole) closely followed by Rosie Stancer. I was privileged to accompany Michael McGrath who has muscular dystrophy, to the South Pole; what a character!! This has to be one of the most remote medical practices in the world; the nearest hospital is 2000 miles away and weather often delays flying!

Dr John Apps at the South Pole

Camping at the South Pole

Dr John Apps on a minor summit in Antarctica

Patriot Hills showing the blue ice runway to the right of the picture

The IL76 transport plane which flies from Punta Arenas in Chile to Patriot Hills Antarctica. This huge plane lands on a bare ice runway.

Labrador coast, Canada
Svalbard (Spitsbergen) 1992
Mera Peak, Nepal 1995
Kilimanjaro 1999
Mont Blanc 2003
Antarctica & South Pole 2003/4