Normally, the route is impassable by road, but in the winter, fortunately, for our chaps, the ice makes it possible to navigate successfully via treacherous ice roads, known as “zimniks”. As these shift from year to year, there is no set route and, instead, the team is relying on compass, GPS and other navigation techniques. Evidently, this means it’s possible to make several wrong turns or to follow a road to nowhere. The team is prepared for wilderness camping in temperatures that can plunge to -30° and below. It’s a long way from the romantic image of the motorcyclist, with the wind whistling through his hair.

Of course, the real point of the exercise is to raise funds for charity – and, it seems, to drink a bit of vodka too. The charity in question is Operation Smile - an international charity providing safe reconstructive surgery for children, whose lives would otherwise be blighted by facial deformities. Frequently leaving them unable to eat, speak or smile.

We’ve made a donation and our proudly sponsoring the expedition, along with our friends from Wireless Innovation who have kindly lent the team a satellite phone for emergency use. If you would like to make an individual donation then please go to:

http://www.justgiving.com/IceRun2013

Andy and his brother seem to be enjoying themselves so far, but have a long way to go. Hopefully, they will be back to enable Andy to come to MWC.

You can follow their progress here and learn more about the trip here:

http://www.therealarcticmonkeys.com/