Cold Weather Training in Sweden
Preparing for the Pole and Back Expedition with Pole to Pole Challenges
Northern Sweden offers the perfect testing ground for everything that defines a polar expedition: extreme cold, long days of physical endurance, and the constant need for calm precision. For me, this is where Pole to Pole Challenges begins to take shape, not on the ice of Antarctica, but here, in the forests and frozen lakes of Västerbotten.
Why Sweden?
Cold weather training in Sweden is about more than exposure to sub-zero temperatures. It is about refining systems and discipline in a controllable environment that mirrors the conditions of the Antarctic plateau. The terrain around the Pole to Pole Academy in Västerbotten allows for realistic, repeatable training blocks where every piece of equipment, routine, and mindset can be tested and improved.
Training Objectives
Each phase of cold weather training focuses on preparation, endurance, and mindset: the three cornerstones of polar performance. Every drill is designed to build confidence and control when faced with uncertainty.
Key components include:
Equipment testing: skis, bindings, pulk sleds, and stove systems trialled in extreme cold.
Endurance and conditioning: daily sled hauls of up to 10 hours to simulate Antarctic workloads.
Navigation and decision-making: maintaining accuracy and pace in whiteout or low-light conditions.
Camp routines: refining tent systems, snow melting, and field cooking for efficiency and safety.
The Swedish environment provides enough challenge to expose weaknesses without the risks of full isolation. Each day in the field sharpens the systems and mindset required for the 2,700 km solo unsupported Pole and Back 2027 expedition.
From Sweden to the South Pole
Training with Pole to Pole Challenges in Sweden bridges the gap between concept and execution. Every frozen mile here prepares me for Antarctica, testing not just equipment and endurance but decision-making and self-reliance. The same lessons that define success in cold weather training apply equally to leadership and performance in any high-pressure environment: preparation, adaptability, and discipline.
Lessons in Resilience and Leadership
Operating in severe cold teaches simplicity and focus. The smallest task becomes meaningful when mistakes carry real cost. Over time, the process reinforces the habits that underpin resilience:
Clarity before action – slow down to make the right decision.
Consistency before intensity – sustainable effort outperforms short bursts.
Preparation before pressure – control the variables you can, then adapt to the rest.
These same principles form the foundation of Pole to Pole Challenges training programmes and expedition projects. Whether in business, sport, or exploration, the mindset of preparation and composure applies universally.
Looking Ahead
This period of Swedish cold weather training marks a critical stage in the preparation for Pole and Back: The Return Antarctic Journey 2027. The systems, routines, and endurance developed here will carry directly onto the ice, proving that resilience is built long before the challenge begins.