Elham Al-Qasimi: North Pole expedition

We woke up to overcast skies, snow and winds around 10mph blowing in from the north. The winds overnight left us a lot of powdery dunes to navigate and I was never more grateful for all the uphill work my trainers put me through.

By afternoon, the wind calmed down but had blown countless open leads in our path. I lost count along the way as we skied through slush, crossed ice islands and trusted our guides to help us across the floating bits.

Saw my first sundog which is somewhere between the northern lights and a rainbow. Listened to the ice groan as it moved underneath us.

We skied around ten miles over nine hours and netted eight miles north ground. I am very tired and about to tend to my blisters before crawling into bed.

Everyone is in great spirits and somehow we have all picked up an Italian accent from Andrea, who is normally either singing or throwing his hands up speaking to the One upstairs about his sled flipping sideways for the hundredth time.

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