1 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:07,440 There are still parts of our planet... 2 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:10,880 ..yet to be explored. 3 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:18,840 Descending! 4 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:22,240 These are remote and unforgiving places... 5 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:24,640 I'm in. 6 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:26,760 ..and the journey to reach them... 7 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:29,720 There's a very real danger of getting trapped here. 8 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:32,360 ..will push me and a team of explorers... 9 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:34,440 THEY SHOUT 10 00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:35,760 ..to the limit. 11 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:37,400 It's really tight. 12 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:40,120 MUFFLED SCREAM 13 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:44,200 The reward? 14 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:46,400 Amazing! 15 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:48,720 Breathtaking new discoveries. 16 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:51,320 The thought that we're the first people ever to see them 17 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:53,040 is almost beyond belief. 18 00:00:55,440 --> 00:00:57,760 This time we're in the Arctic... 19 00:00:57,760 --> 00:00:59,520 Agh! 20 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:01,880 ..travelling through a remote wilderness 21 00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:04,120 that's living on borrowed time. 22 00:01:05,320 --> 00:01:07,360 The ground that we're standing on right now 23 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:11,000 hasn't been exposed to the open world for thousands of years. 24 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:16,320 We want to reach the summit of a vast unclimbed mountain... 25 00:01:16,320 --> 00:01:18,520 It's just horrible. 26 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:22,360 We are, from here on in, looking for possible bailouts. 27 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:25,800 ..in one of the most hazardous 28 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:28,680 and hostile environments on the planet. 29 00:01:32,320 --> 00:01:33,840 Watch. Watch out. 30 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:57,320 So, we're heading for that valley over there. 31 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:02,720 We're in Greenland, deep in the Arctic Circle. 32 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:08,480 It's the most northerly country on the planet 33 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:11,880 and on the front line of climate change. 34 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:14,760 10k to the campsite. 35 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:19,880 We've spent two weeks kayaking up the largest fjord in the world, 36 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:23,520 to see how the rapidly shrinking sea ice is affecting the wildlife. 37 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:27,200 Can we go a little bit higher? 38 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:32,040 That is stunning! 39 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:33,080 Oh! 40 00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:35,520 Wow! 41 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:39,080 Now we're heading inland 42 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:44,680 to Greenland's globally important mountains and glaciers. 43 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:47,680 Is that the highest point? That one there to our left? Yeah. 44 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:55,200 The route up looks incredible! 45 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:08,600 There we are. Nice one. 46 00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:32,760 This uninhabited part of Greenland is called the Stauning Alps. 47 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:40,320 These 400 million-year-old mountains 48 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:43,960 have been sculpted by great rivers of ice. 49 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:45,760 Glaciers... 50 00:03:45,760 --> 00:03:49,600 ..carving through the peaks to create these valleys. 51 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:05,880 I've never made camp anywhere before where there are musk ox 52 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:10,320 just strolling around on the edge of camp. 53 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:12,600 They could not be less interested in us. 54 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:17,680 This is all down to the fact that we are so remote. 55 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:19,800 They've got no reason to fear human beings. 56 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:27,760 What do you think about that, Aldo? 57 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:30,880 It looks like, from here, a Shetland pony. Bigger. 58 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:36,760 It does look like a rhino also from here. 59 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:39,800 Somewhere between a rhino and a Shetland pony. 60 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:41,240 THEY LAUGH 61 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:42,840 It's a rhony. 62 00:04:42,840 --> 00:04:44,440 STEVE LAUGHS 63 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:51,560 Aldo Kane is an ex-Royal Marine 64 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:54,440 and is in charge of safety on this expedition. 65 00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:04,720 Our goal is sitting at the top of a vast glacier 66 00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:06,640 20km away. 67 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:12,720 It's a mountain with no name. 68 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:20,360 We want to climb it and stand on its summit 69 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:22,680 where no human has ever stood... 70 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:29,400 ..to look over one of the fastest changing landscapes on the planet. 71 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:37,520 The Arctic is warming more than twice as fast 72 00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:39,240 as the rest of the world. 73 00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:45,400 And the changes taking place here will have a profound impact 74 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:46,440 on us all. 75 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:52,560 Probably come around here and then down this 76 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:54,960 and exit out just over there. 77 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:56,840 Getting to the top of this mountain... 78 00:05:56,840 --> 00:05:57,960 2,080. 79 00:05:57,960 --> 00:05:59,840 ..will be one of the most difficult challenges 80 00:05:59,840 --> 00:06:01,080 we've taken on so far. 81 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:06,360 We need to find two campsites, basically. 82 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:08,920 I brought along two world-class mountaineers... 83 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:10,200 How much extra stuff is good? 84 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:12,200 ..Libby Peter... 85 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:14,280 ..and Tamsin Gay. 86 00:06:14,280 --> 00:06:18,320 So that would make sense that there is what we can see curving round. 87 00:06:18,320 --> 00:06:21,600 Tamsin has climbed over 100 mountains worldwide 88 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:25,040 and specialises in remote and hostile ascents. 89 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:29,920 The idea of doing something where nobody's ever set foot before 90 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:31,320 is utterly thrilling. 91 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:33,600 THEY LAUGH 92 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:35,520 I love the idea of just not knowing 93 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:38,840 and thinking, "Well, I'll just have to manage somehow." 94 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:44,360 Even getting to the foot of the mountain will be hard. 95 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:48,200 It could take several days 96 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:50,760 and we'll face formidable natural barriers 97 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:55,080 that will each need specialist equipment to cross. 98 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:57,720 Yeah, all right. See you later, guys. Have a good one. 99 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:08,040 The helicopter's now taking skis and climbing equipment... 100 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:10,720 ..further up the mountain, 101 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:14,000 which we're only going to need at a later stage of the journey. 102 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:27,600 The first barrier we have to get across is this valley 103 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:32,680 which drains meltwater from eight glaciers down to the sea. 104 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:36,200 We're here to climb an unclimbed peak... 105 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:38,360 ..on the other side of this valley. 106 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:41,080 And to get there, we need to get over that. 107 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:44,240 Ohhh. 108 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:46,280 I've not been looking forward to this bit. 109 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:50,320 This water is freezing cold, 110 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:53,760 and the last thing we need at this stage of the expedition 111 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:55,400 is wet clothes. 112 00:07:57,240 --> 00:08:00,280 Completely preposterously, we're standing in our pants 113 00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:01,920 in the middle of Greenland. 114 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:11,280 And we're crossing a 3k wide river in our underpants... 115 00:08:11,280 --> 00:08:13,280 ..in order to go skiing. 116 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:15,080 Just all completely makes sense. 117 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:19,200 It's definitely a first, yeah. 118 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:22,480 Right, let's just get it over with. 119 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:29,880 Oh. That's starting to get painful on the feet. 120 00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:30,960 That's cold. 121 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:36,080 THEY SCREAM 122 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:37,880 God, I'm short. 123 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:41,520 I am pretty short. 124 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:46,600 That's right up to where no man ever wants cold water. Ugh! 125 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:49,200 Ow. Ow. 126 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:51,480 Ow. Ish-ha. 127 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:55,160 Ugh. Bleugh-gi-bleugh-bleugh. 128 00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:58,760 Just don't fall over now, Backshall. 129 00:08:58,760 --> 00:08:59,800 Wait! 130 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:00,960 Ugh! 131 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:01,960 Ah! 132 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:07,400 Oh, that was really close. 133 00:09:07,400 --> 00:09:09,520 I'm going up. I'm ascending. 134 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:13,800 Back in shallow water. Holy Moley! 135 00:09:14,840 --> 00:09:16,080 Ahhh! 136 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:20,720 I think that's the worst of it done. 137 00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:27,560 But freezing water isn't the only threat we face in this valley. 138 00:09:27,560 --> 00:09:28,880 ALDO GASPS 139 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:29,880 Whoa! 140 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:31,720 LIBBY GASPS 141 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:33,120 Quicksand. 142 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:38,000 As glaciers move, they grind rocks into dust... 143 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:40,280 ..and mixed with water... 144 00:09:40,280 --> 00:09:43,080 ..this makes quicksand. 145 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:45,320 That's deep mud there. 146 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:48,160 It's pretty alarming. 147 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:50,280 Come hard right. 148 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:53,040 We're going right up past the knee. 149 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:57,120 Crikey. That's, um...quite scary when you go in. 150 00:09:57,120 --> 00:09:58,800 Yeah. It's horrible, isn't it? 151 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:03,200 It's complete... Properly anxiety inducing. 152 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:05,640 Yeah, you definitely think that's the end. Yeah. 153 00:10:13,560 --> 00:10:15,560 We're through the meltwater 154 00:10:15,560 --> 00:10:17,400 and back on firmer ground. 155 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:22,880 Whoa! 156 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:26,360 These are fresh polar bear tracks. 157 00:10:26,360 --> 00:10:29,920 That's the size of the footprint. 158 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:31,880 You see all the way there. 159 00:10:31,880 --> 00:10:34,280 There are the toes. The claws at the front. 160 00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:37,920 That is a big, big animal. 161 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:42,920 This is a bit of a surprise to me. 162 00:10:42,920 --> 00:10:45,440 I honestly didn't think they would be here right now 163 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:48,840 and a very timely reminder that wherever you are up here, 164 00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:50,680 there could always be a bear around. 165 00:11:01,560 --> 00:11:04,760 Beyond the mudflats, vegetation can take hold. 166 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:10,640 We're now walking across tundra... 167 00:11:10,640 --> 00:11:15,560 ..a treeless habitat that springs to life in the short Arctic summer. 168 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:27,280 It only exists where there's a permanent underground layer of ice 169 00:11:27,280 --> 00:11:28,920 called permafrost. 170 00:11:28,920 --> 00:11:32,760 And it's home to a unique group of animals and plants. 171 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:35,280 Check that out! 172 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:40,480 So this is a musk oxen skull. 173 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:43,960 All around we have tundra 174 00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:47,200 just beginning to start coming into flower... 175 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:51,280 ..and then this bit around the head is alive. 176 00:11:55,120 --> 00:11:58,560 What's happened is that all of the minerals, the phosphates, 177 00:11:58,560 --> 00:12:02,240 the nitrates have leached out of the skull 178 00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:04,440 and they've fertilised the soil. 179 00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:10,200 That's a creeping cinquefoil. 180 00:12:11,560 --> 00:12:13,480 These are purple saxifrage. 181 00:12:16,240 --> 00:12:17,880 And these are Arctic buttercups. 182 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:22,320 In the death of this animal, 183 00:12:22,320 --> 00:12:25,400 the whole tundra has just burst into life. 184 00:12:28,240 --> 00:12:31,120 The warming trends seen all across the Arctic 185 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:34,760 are melting the permafrost that holds the tundra together. 186 00:12:37,080 --> 00:12:41,240 The future of this entire habitat is bleak. 187 00:12:50,560 --> 00:12:53,280 Our goal today is to reach our heli-drop 188 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:57,480 containing supplies for the next stage of our expedition. 189 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:01,160 It's been dropped near the glacier 190 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:03,440 which leads to the base of our mountain. 191 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:12,920 That is the entrance to our glacier there and... 192 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:17,000 ..we're probably about 7km away now from where we want to set up camp. 193 00:13:19,560 --> 00:13:21,840 The beginning of the valley is littered 194 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:24,040 with piles of loose, shattered rock. 195 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:39,920 We've come to... 196 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:45,520 ..all of the stuff that's been dumped at the end of the glacier... 197 00:13:45,520 --> 00:13:47,360 ..which is up above us. 198 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:55,800 These rocky banks mark the points our glacier used to reach. 199 00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:04,320 Covering this loose ground will be treacherous. 200 00:14:08,640 --> 00:14:10,800 The extreme temperatures in the Arctic 201 00:14:10,800 --> 00:14:13,720 have a significant and, for us, potentially lethal effect 202 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:15,480 on the rocks. 203 00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:21,400 So we get a lot of snowfall and then that snow freezes, 204 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:24,440 forces its way in between cracks in the rock, expands, 205 00:14:24,440 --> 00:14:28,280 splits rock open and then melts and then that rock becomes loose, 206 00:14:28,280 --> 00:14:31,040 so it's not actually held together by anything any more. 207 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:36,080 It means that rock falls are common, 208 00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:39,040 a hazard we'll be living with from here on in. 209 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:43,080 Come on, then, let's crack this last bit. 210 00:14:57,120 --> 00:14:59,640 This ground is just killer. 211 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:05,240 On a big day like today... 212 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:09,320 ..it's distracting your mind, I think is the key. 213 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:16,840 Running through films in your head, thinking about plans for the future 214 00:15:16,840 --> 00:15:20,040 and just doing things to take your mind to a different place 215 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:24,040 for a little while and ignore the pain in your shoulders. 216 00:15:26,080 --> 00:15:29,440 Despite the exhaustion, we need to stay alert. 217 00:15:29,440 --> 00:15:31,840 ROCKS CLATTER 218 00:15:35,280 --> 00:15:38,560 Well, that's a good reason not to go any closer to the walls. 219 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:42,640 A couple of big old boulders just bounced down. 220 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:47,280 It's so unstable, all of these rocks here are completely loose. 221 00:15:47,280 --> 00:15:49,320 They're coming down all the time 222 00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:51,960 and it's really quite a dangerous spot to be... 223 00:15:53,320 --> 00:15:54,600 ..walking through. 224 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:10,840 Best thing to do is just keep on moving. 225 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:30,000 I'd kind of like it to be about five minutes. 226 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:31,360 Struggling, if I'm honest. 227 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:35,440 After 11 hours of walking, 228 00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:38,480 we've reached the kit for the next stage of our expedition. 229 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:41,520 Woohoo! Look at that for a pile of stuff. 230 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:47,640 Good job. 231 00:16:49,920 --> 00:16:51,240 Awesome. 232 00:16:52,880 --> 00:16:54,320 The whole bit through the valley 233 00:16:54,320 --> 00:16:58,040 was actually really unpleasant, wasn't it? Yeah. 234 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:03,080 Honestly, I could just go to sleep right here... 235 00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:04,680 ..down on these rocks. 236 00:17:16,120 --> 00:17:18,000 It's been an exhausting day 237 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:20,920 and we've only gained 400 metres in height. 238 00:17:27,160 --> 00:17:28,920 We'll camp here for the night 239 00:17:28,920 --> 00:17:30,760 before the next stage of our journey. 240 00:17:33,320 --> 00:17:35,640 Another big day tomorrow. 241 00:17:35,640 --> 00:17:38,200 Got a lot more height to make up. 242 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:39,880 A lot more ground to cover. 243 00:17:42,440 --> 00:17:44,280 We're heading up into the high stuff. 244 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:57,360 At this time of year, the sun doesn't set. 245 00:17:57,360 --> 00:18:00,560 But as it skirts the horizon, we sleep... 246 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:03,120 ..trying to regain some strength 247 00:18:03,120 --> 00:18:06,000 for our assault on the glacier tomorrow. 248 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:23,040 It's 6am and time to prepare for the day ahead. 249 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:28,600 Once we get up on the glacier, it'll be another week at least 250 00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:32,920 before I have a chance to clean off all the crust and sweat. 251 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:37,720 So I've decided to be courageous and take the plunge. 252 00:18:39,560 --> 00:18:41,560 Oh, my God! 253 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:47,560 HE SCREAMS 254 00:18:47,560 --> 00:18:50,320 So this was all ice 20 minutes ago. 255 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:54,160 HE SCREAMS 256 00:18:57,840 --> 00:18:59,440 That's so painful. 257 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:02,080 Oh, it's so painful! 258 00:19:02,080 --> 00:19:03,680 Oh. 259 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:05,360 But I'm clean. Hurrah! 260 00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:10,840 Today, we plan to get onto the glacier 261 00:19:10,840 --> 00:19:13,440 that leads to the base of our mountain. 262 00:19:15,920 --> 00:19:18,160 We'll have to carry everything we need 263 00:19:18,160 --> 00:19:20,560 for the rest of the expedition. 264 00:19:20,560 --> 00:19:22,960 There's two first-aid kits. 265 00:19:22,960 --> 00:19:24,400 Flint. 266 00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:29,520 A splint for femur, neck brace, another first-aid kit. 267 00:19:31,560 --> 00:19:33,680 We're fully self-sufficient. 268 00:19:33,680 --> 00:19:36,600 We need to have enough for contingencies. 269 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:41,720 Everything that we're taking up there has to do with glaciers, 270 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:44,280 crevasse rescue, avalanche, rock fall. 271 00:19:45,400 --> 00:19:48,800 We'll be crossing new terrain of snow covered rocks... 272 00:19:48,800 --> 00:19:51,280 ..before moving up onto glacial ice. 273 00:19:53,080 --> 00:19:57,160 To cover this ground, we have a whole new set of equipment. 274 00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:02,960 From here on in we're going to be travelling on skis... 275 00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:06,280 ..and in order to be able to ski uphill, 276 00:20:06,280 --> 00:20:09,120 we're using these. They're called skins. 277 00:20:09,120 --> 00:20:10,960 And the way it works is, 278 00:20:10,960 --> 00:20:14,720 it slides in one direction and grips in the other. 279 00:20:14,720 --> 00:20:17,920 So, using these, you can go uphill. 280 00:20:17,920 --> 00:20:20,680 And we'll be dragging big sleds behind us 281 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:22,640 that have all our gear in them. 282 00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:32,520 I was being optimistic thinking they'd be about 50 kilos. 283 00:20:32,520 --> 00:20:35,440 Think they may be a little bit more than that. 284 00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:38,160 We're each dragging about 90 kilos, 285 00:20:38,160 --> 00:20:41,520 the equivalent of my body weight. 286 00:20:41,520 --> 00:20:44,240 All right, then. Let's see if I can even move this thing. 287 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:08,040 We have a vertical kilometre... 288 00:21:08,040 --> 00:21:13,000 ..of ascent to do before we can even think about making a base camp. 289 00:21:13,000 --> 00:21:14,320 So... 290 00:21:15,560 --> 00:21:17,960 ..just put our backs into it... 291 00:21:17,960 --> 00:21:19,560 ..and get stuck in. 292 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:35,880 You've got to keep the momentum up. 293 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:39,720 If you go too fast, it kind of gets all jerky. 294 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:41,720 Got to stay sort of smooth and slow. 295 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:44,800 Definitely quite hard work. 296 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:48,440 And we're not even going up anything particularly steep at the moment. 297 00:21:49,880 --> 00:21:52,520 I think I'm basically a husky. 298 00:21:55,360 --> 00:21:57,120 Cross-country skiing's supposed to be 299 00:21:57,120 --> 00:21:59,320 the most perfect exercise in the world. 300 00:21:59,320 --> 00:22:05,040 You're using more muscles than any other kind of activity. 301 00:22:05,040 --> 00:22:08,960 And you feel it. There are little muscles that I just don't use 302 00:22:08,960 --> 00:22:11,200 that are already screaming. 303 00:22:15,280 --> 00:22:17,320 The beauty of this landscape 304 00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:20,240 can lull you into a false sense of security. 305 00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:26,160 But the dangers are never far away. 306 00:22:27,160 --> 00:22:29,280 Aldo? 307 00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:31,920 There's a rock fall here. 308 00:22:31,920 --> 00:22:34,280 Yeah, mate. We're coming. 309 00:22:35,600 --> 00:22:39,560 We've got a big rock slide that's come down in front of us 310 00:22:39,560 --> 00:22:41,640 so we can't carry on skiing up this side. 311 00:22:41,640 --> 00:22:43,920 We're going to have to cross back over to the other side. 312 00:22:43,920 --> 00:22:45,880 Watch, you're right on a big hump. 313 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:47,400 Hang on just a sec. 314 00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:50,400 Yeah, just give us a little lifty. Thanks, dear. 315 00:22:52,120 --> 00:22:53,360 Amazing, amazing. 316 00:22:53,360 --> 00:22:57,160 Our heavily laden sleds can only travel on snow or ice. 317 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:05,720 Cheers. 318 00:23:05,720 --> 00:23:07,080 Nice work. 319 00:23:07,080 --> 00:23:09,360 OK, I'll come back down and give you a push. 320 00:23:09,360 --> 00:23:11,400 It's all right, I think Tamsin's got me. 321 00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:17,640 Oh, that's much easier. 322 00:23:19,640 --> 00:23:21,280 Thank you very much. 323 00:23:21,280 --> 00:23:23,000 Are you all up? Yeah. 324 00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:25,560 Clear. 325 00:23:31,640 --> 00:23:34,080 This year Greenland has experienced 326 00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:35,720 two of the most extreme 327 00:23:35,720 --> 00:23:37,920 temperature spikes on record. 328 00:23:40,640 --> 00:23:43,640 These mountains are held together by ice... 329 00:23:45,680 --> 00:23:47,080 Fresh avalanche. 330 00:23:49,000 --> 00:23:52,960 ..but as Arctic temperatures continue to increase, it melts. 331 00:23:58,240 --> 00:24:00,280 Look at all this avalanche debris. 332 00:24:09,040 --> 00:24:12,840 After three hours of skiing through this unpredictable landscape, 333 00:24:12,840 --> 00:24:14,520 we've reached another obstacle. 334 00:24:18,160 --> 00:24:20,400 This is the end of the glacier. 335 00:24:25,080 --> 00:24:27,240 This huge wall of compacted ice, 336 00:24:27,240 --> 00:24:32,160 spanning from one side of the valley to the other, is on the move. 337 00:24:35,040 --> 00:24:40,080 Each year it melts and recedes about 20 metres further up the valley... 338 00:24:41,320 --> 00:24:45,600 ..leaving behind rocks and revealing the earth beneath. 339 00:24:45,600 --> 00:24:48,040 It's amazing to think that the ground that we're standing on 340 00:24:48,040 --> 00:24:53,360 right now hasn't been exposed to the open world for thousands of years. 341 00:24:56,960 --> 00:25:00,960 The glacier we're heading up to you now is stunning and huge 342 00:25:00,960 --> 00:25:03,880 and impressive, but its days are numbered. 343 00:25:10,680 --> 00:25:15,000 To get onto the glacier, we must drag our sleds up a snow-covered 344 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:18,280 slope steeper than anything we've faced so far. 345 00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:22,400 Only thing is, is that underneath that blanket of snow 346 00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:28,240 are great crevasses, trenches, that drop down 30, 40 metres 347 00:25:28,240 --> 00:25:31,680 into the glacier and they are probably the most dangerous thing 348 00:25:31,680 --> 00:25:33,200 for any mountaineer. 349 00:25:38,800 --> 00:25:43,480 Even small cracks can open up into vast caverns. 350 00:25:44,680 --> 00:25:46,520 Ooh, a little crevasse. 351 00:25:47,720 --> 00:25:50,600 Our skis offer some protection with crevasses... 352 00:25:50,600 --> 00:25:52,880 STEVE GASPS WITH EFFORT 353 00:25:52,880 --> 00:25:57,480 ..spreading our weight and allowing us to span any breaks in the ice. 354 00:25:57,480 --> 00:25:59,320 Ah. 355 00:25:59,320 --> 00:26:01,560 Thighs...burning. 356 00:26:01,560 --> 00:26:07,240 With the harsh Arctic sun beating down, the snow is starting to melt. 357 00:26:11,120 --> 00:26:14,960 The snow is so slushy, skins aren't even working now. 358 00:26:19,840 --> 00:26:21,880 Keep going, John, just a little bit more. 359 00:26:24,400 --> 00:26:27,280 As...the day's getting warmer, 360 00:26:27,280 --> 00:26:30,080 the snow's getting heavier and slidier. 361 00:26:30,080 --> 00:26:32,400 We just hit our steepest patch, 362 00:26:32,400 --> 00:26:36,280 and the film crew really struggling to get up with... 363 00:26:36,280 --> 00:26:38,520 ..all the equipment. 364 00:26:38,520 --> 00:26:42,000 VOICEOVER: Our crew hope to come with us to the foot of the mountain 365 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:45,640 to film our ascent, but the going is tough. 366 00:26:47,080 --> 00:26:49,480 It's just this friction underfoot that's the problem. 367 00:26:53,560 --> 00:26:55,400 Stick with it. 368 00:26:55,400 --> 00:26:57,880 It's bloody hard work, isn't it? 369 00:26:57,880 --> 00:26:59,320 Ah! 370 00:26:59,320 --> 00:27:01,000 Man down. 371 00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:02,680 Could you help me up, please? 372 00:27:02,680 --> 00:27:05,760 ALDO PANTS HEAVILY 373 00:27:09,000 --> 00:27:11,000 I caught an edge. 374 00:27:12,120 --> 00:27:13,880 Thank you, mate. 375 00:27:13,880 --> 00:27:15,280 You all right? 376 00:27:16,520 --> 00:27:19,360 That was four hours to get here. 377 00:27:19,360 --> 00:27:21,400 Mate, you've got a sweat on. 378 00:27:21,400 --> 00:27:24,440 Did anyone tell you we're in the Arctic Circle? 379 00:27:25,440 --> 00:27:27,480 That's going to freeze on your face. 380 00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:28,920 Er... 381 00:27:28,920 --> 00:27:31,640 That was a good bit of graft, wasn't it? Yeah. 382 00:27:32,960 --> 00:27:34,400 But we're up. 383 00:27:41,280 --> 00:27:43,920 We've finally made it onto the glacier... 384 00:27:45,320 --> 00:27:47,600 ..a vast river of compacted ice 385 00:27:47,600 --> 00:27:50,840 that fell as snow thousands of years ago. 386 00:28:00,040 --> 00:28:04,600 Glacial ice like this covers 10% of all land on Earth. 387 00:28:08,440 --> 00:28:11,640 It reflects the sun's rays back into space, 388 00:28:11,640 --> 00:28:15,800 acting as a giant cooling system and shaping the climate 389 00:28:15,800 --> 00:28:18,920 and weather patterns for the entire planet. 390 00:28:27,840 --> 00:28:30,440 We've been skiing for nine hours. 391 00:28:30,440 --> 00:28:36,520 And we can now finally see the end of our glacier and what lies beyond. 392 00:28:41,560 --> 00:28:46,320 Just now, starting to come for the first time into view... 393 00:28:46,320 --> 00:28:48,200 ..of the mountain. 394 00:29:01,320 --> 00:29:04,120 There it is, our mountain. 395 00:29:04,120 --> 00:29:06,600 Classic triangular shape. 396 00:29:06,600 --> 00:29:10,240 The summit just screams out wanting to be climbed. 397 00:29:12,480 --> 00:29:15,960 I kind of feel it's very human to stand at the bottom of a mountain 398 00:29:15,960 --> 00:29:18,600 and think, "What would be like to be on top of that? 399 00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:20,960 "What would it look like? What would the view be like?" 400 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:26,440 It's a powerful, powerful thought. 401 00:29:32,640 --> 00:29:34,640 It quite gets to you, really. 402 00:29:36,480 --> 00:29:37,880 Yeah. 403 00:29:45,200 --> 00:29:48,640 This is a perfect location for base camp. 404 00:29:50,080 --> 00:29:51,680 Do we need to, like, probe and...? Yeah. 405 00:29:51,680 --> 00:29:53,360 Let's have a bit of a probe about. 406 00:30:00,440 --> 00:30:03,480 It's important to just go round and have a bit of a probe 407 00:30:03,480 --> 00:30:04,520 at the snow, 408 00:30:04,520 --> 00:30:08,160 just to check that we're not camping on top of any big holes, 409 00:30:08,160 --> 00:30:11,640 cos even something small could give us a real problem, you know. 410 00:30:11,640 --> 00:30:14,840 If somebody just went down something tiny 411 00:30:14,840 --> 00:30:16,880 and strained their ankle or something, 412 00:30:16,880 --> 00:30:20,440 we're so far away from help that that would be a real problem for us. 413 00:30:20,440 --> 00:30:23,400 But ultimately, also, we don't want to have any major disasters 414 00:30:23,400 --> 00:30:27,440 where somebody's entire tent disappears into a big crevasse. 415 00:30:29,440 --> 00:30:32,120 Having established that the ice here is solid, 416 00:30:32,120 --> 00:30:34,000 we set about making camp for the night. 417 00:30:38,200 --> 00:30:41,440 Making our bed, make sure it's nice and flat. 418 00:30:43,320 --> 00:30:47,360 So tempting when you're tired to just whack the tent up 419 00:30:47,360 --> 00:30:51,400 and not worry too much about it, but every second you spend 420 00:30:51,400 --> 00:30:54,400 flattening out the snow pays dividends in the long run. 421 00:30:56,280 --> 00:30:58,640 Get the tents up, get the stoves on. 422 00:30:58,640 --> 00:31:02,400 Everyone needs plenty to drink and plenty of rest, 423 00:31:02,400 --> 00:31:05,880 before the next adventures. 424 00:31:20,360 --> 00:31:22,520 Did you find the hot chocolate? Yes, it's in. 425 00:31:22,520 --> 00:31:24,280 Ah, thank you. 426 00:31:24,280 --> 00:31:25,240 We have a bin. 427 00:31:26,240 --> 00:31:29,640 Bin bag. Bin for the bowl there. 428 00:31:29,640 --> 00:31:32,920 We have communal seating all the way round, on four sides. 429 00:31:35,320 --> 00:31:38,160 And then, we have the cooking area here. 430 00:31:38,160 --> 00:31:41,800 This was done hastily, not exactly the way I would set it up, 431 00:31:41,800 --> 00:31:43,000 but it's kind of working. 432 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:46,080 Here's the bar. Things are a bit out of place. 433 00:31:46,080 --> 00:31:48,560 But this is where we keep the spoons. 434 00:31:48,560 --> 00:31:52,160 Generally, everything in its place. A safe kitchen is a clean kitchen. 435 00:31:52,160 --> 00:31:54,400 LAUGHTER 436 00:31:58,840 --> 00:32:01,040 We'll attempt the summit tomorrow night. 437 00:32:04,360 --> 00:32:08,600 Night will be the safest time for us to climb, when the sun dips behind 438 00:32:08,600 --> 00:32:11,640 the mountains and temperatures drop well below freezing. 439 00:32:15,520 --> 00:32:17,400 The snow will be firmer... 440 00:32:18,480 --> 00:32:20,800 ..easier to travel on... 441 00:32:20,800 --> 00:32:22,760 ..and there's less risk of avalanche. 442 00:32:27,480 --> 00:32:28,520 Morning. 443 00:32:30,080 --> 00:32:31,960 How you doing? 444 00:32:31,960 --> 00:32:33,720 I'm battered! 445 00:32:34,920 --> 00:32:37,080 My legs, particularly, 446 00:32:37,080 --> 00:32:38,720 are really tired. 447 00:32:39,880 --> 00:32:42,920 Um, taken a bit of a kicking over the last couple of days. 448 00:32:44,640 --> 00:32:45,760 And... 449 00:32:46,800 --> 00:32:48,040 Look up there! 450 00:32:49,160 --> 00:32:50,880 Do you know what? That is amazing! 451 00:32:53,920 --> 00:32:56,360 I think it's one of the most amazing things about this - 452 00:32:56,360 --> 00:32:59,360 we've not seen any signs of the outside world, 453 00:32:59,360 --> 00:33:01,000 there's total silence, 454 00:33:01,000 --> 00:33:03,440 you don't see any other people, 455 00:33:03,440 --> 00:33:05,000 you're just so isolated. 456 00:33:08,560 --> 00:33:11,920 It's not until you see something like that that all of a sudden, 457 00:33:11,920 --> 00:33:14,200 you're reminded that there is an outside world, 458 00:33:14,200 --> 00:33:16,240 beyond this little team. 459 00:33:26,000 --> 00:33:28,440 Remote though this place may be, 460 00:33:28,440 --> 00:33:30,280 it's far from immune to what's 461 00:33:30,280 --> 00:33:32,520 happening on the rest of the planet. 462 00:33:37,160 --> 00:33:38,760 This glacier that we're on now 463 00:33:38,760 --> 00:33:39,800 is on borrowed time. 464 00:33:41,440 --> 00:33:45,000 This will be gone within, if not my lifetime, 465 00:33:45,000 --> 00:33:47,520 then the lifetime of my grandchildren. 466 00:33:50,360 --> 00:33:53,640 The rapid changes seen here are a sign of what's 467 00:33:53,640 --> 00:33:56,280 eventually to come for the whole of the country. 468 00:34:02,160 --> 00:34:06,680 These glaciers border a massive ice sheet that covers 80% of Greenland. 469 00:34:11,080 --> 00:34:17,400 It's seven times the size of the UK and in some places, over 3km thick. 470 00:34:22,320 --> 00:34:24,280 It's called the Greenland Ice Sheet 471 00:34:24,280 --> 00:34:27,520 and it's shrinking at an alarming rate. 472 00:34:32,480 --> 00:34:37,520 The Greenland ice cap is melting and when it goes, 473 00:34:37,520 --> 00:34:41,560 it'll lead to global sea level rises of six metres, 474 00:34:41,560 --> 00:34:45,000 which means that a billion people are going to be out of a home. 475 00:34:49,600 --> 00:34:52,280 Over the next 80 years, 476 00:34:52,280 --> 00:34:55,520 sea levels are predicted to rise by over half a metre. 477 00:34:57,720 --> 00:35:02,680 And unless we curb our addiction to fossil fuels, the ice sheet, 478 00:35:02,680 --> 00:35:06,600 like these glaciers, will melt away altogether. 479 00:35:06,600 --> 00:35:10,000 This environment is changing over decades. 480 00:35:11,120 --> 00:35:13,680 All the more reason to savour it while we can 481 00:35:13,680 --> 00:35:16,080 because it's not going to be like this for long. 482 00:35:26,920 --> 00:35:28,880 Have you got a knife in your pocket, anyone? 483 00:35:31,120 --> 00:35:33,360 We're now facing the hardest 484 00:35:33,360 --> 00:35:35,600 and most dangerous stage of the expedition. 485 00:35:37,200 --> 00:35:39,520 Sleeping here at night, you can 486 00:35:39,520 --> 00:35:43,520 hear rock fall coming down all round us in this amphitheatre. 487 00:35:43,520 --> 00:35:45,400 I guess we just have to be careful 488 00:35:45,400 --> 00:35:49,000 and these guys are super-experienced at that side of things. 489 00:35:52,240 --> 00:35:53,800 I make that 39 and a half. 490 00:35:53,800 --> 00:35:54,760 Whoa-ho! 491 00:35:57,520 --> 00:35:59,840 Today, we all need to rest, 492 00:35:59,840 --> 00:36:04,880 refuel and pack as lightly as possible for the climb tonight. 493 00:36:04,880 --> 00:36:07,080 Operation Hydration! 494 00:36:07,080 --> 00:36:10,000 That's all the water that I can carry with me 495 00:36:10,000 --> 00:36:12,760 for the entire climb. 496 00:36:12,760 --> 00:36:16,440 Supposed to be packing fairly lightly. 497 00:36:16,440 --> 00:36:18,600 It's really easy cos you think, "Oh, I might need that, 498 00:36:18,600 --> 00:36:22,000 "I might need that." You just have to think about it. 499 00:36:22,000 --> 00:36:25,440 And then decide, "No, I'm not going to take it," and be brutal. 500 00:36:25,440 --> 00:36:29,840 Deciding if you can afford to take two teabags or just one. 501 00:36:29,840 --> 00:36:32,480 No toothbrush. No toothbrush, yeah. No toothpaste. 502 00:36:33,840 --> 00:36:38,960 Every tiny extra gram you take, you'll feel it. 503 00:36:40,400 --> 00:36:44,880 We're not taking camping equipment, so until we get back down, 504 00:36:44,880 --> 00:36:46,280 we won't be able to sleep. 505 00:36:49,160 --> 00:36:51,720 Given the difficulties we've already faced, 506 00:36:51,720 --> 00:36:53,600 even Libby and Tamsin are concerned. 507 00:36:55,000 --> 00:36:58,280 We really don't know what the conditions are going to be like, 508 00:36:58,280 --> 00:37:01,320 so we just don't know how fast we're going to be able to move, 509 00:37:01,320 --> 00:37:02,800 even on the simple terrain. 510 00:37:04,160 --> 00:37:07,960 We're going, "Is it going to be two hours to that point, 511 00:37:07,960 --> 00:37:09,920 "or is it going to be five?" 512 00:37:09,920 --> 00:37:13,560 And often, you'll have a guide book description of a route you're doing, 513 00:37:13,560 --> 00:37:16,320 so you know exactly what you need to take, what conditions you need. 514 00:37:16,320 --> 00:37:17,480 We don't have that. 515 00:37:17,480 --> 00:37:19,560 Looks like there's quite a drop down. 516 00:37:19,560 --> 00:37:24,280 If anything happens, a broken finger isn't great cos it might prevent 517 00:37:24,280 --> 00:37:28,120 you climbing, so any tiny thing, we're just miles from any help. 518 00:37:31,960 --> 00:37:34,800 The whole team's safety is everyone's responsibility. 519 00:37:36,640 --> 00:37:38,640 We're all totally reliant on each other. 520 00:37:44,440 --> 00:37:47,480 It's 5pm and temperatures are dropping. 521 00:37:47,480 --> 00:37:51,080 We're leaving base camp and most of the film crew behind. 522 00:38:11,240 --> 00:38:15,200 Specialist cameraman Keith Partridge is the only crew member who 523 00:38:15,200 --> 00:38:16,480 will join us on the climb. 524 00:38:20,480 --> 00:38:24,000 Once we get moving, it's going to feel like hard work, actually. 525 00:38:24,000 --> 00:38:26,680 Got the camera kit, rucksack. 526 00:38:30,720 --> 00:38:33,560 This mountain towers over the glacier below. 527 00:38:35,360 --> 00:38:37,520 We'll need crampons and ice axes to climb it. 528 00:38:54,640 --> 00:38:56,920 Our first 200m of ascent 529 00:38:56,920 --> 00:39:00,440 is on this sheer slope, covered with hard snow. 530 00:39:04,800 --> 00:39:06,880 So, we're on our way. 531 00:39:15,720 --> 00:39:18,640 Oh, yuck! 532 00:39:18,640 --> 00:39:20,600 It's just horrible snow! 533 00:39:23,520 --> 00:39:27,240 Just like a top layer of crust. 534 00:39:27,240 --> 00:39:31,240 Foot goes through it and then you go down well above your knees. 535 00:39:31,240 --> 00:39:36,920 You can spread your weight a little bit, I'm not sinking quite so badly. 536 00:39:40,760 --> 00:39:44,320 The snow slope has melted in the sun, then refrozen... 537 00:39:47,240 --> 00:39:50,480 ..leaving a crust of fragile ice, with loose powder beneath. 538 00:39:53,760 --> 00:39:55,880 Momentum is your friend 539 00:39:55,880 --> 00:39:57,840 on this kind of terrain. 540 00:39:57,840 --> 00:39:59,720 Stop for a second 541 00:39:59,720 --> 00:40:01,840 and you sink. 542 00:40:01,840 --> 00:40:05,520 Keep moving and you might just get away with it. 543 00:40:10,040 --> 00:40:12,040 It's impossible to get any traction. 544 00:40:17,560 --> 00:40:20,280 Urgh! Talk about one step forward... 545 00:40:22,400 --> 00:40:24,120 ..and two steps back! 546 00:40:27,280 --> 00:40:29,320 This is hard work! 547 00:40:29,320 --> 00:40:30,960 Haven't even started yet! 548 00:40:33,880 --> 00:40:36,600 We're certainly not racing up it like we hoped. 549 00:40:36,600 --> 00:40:39,760 In fact, we're moving at a snail's pace. 550 00:40:46,480 --> 00:40:50,240 We need to reach the top of this snow slope before we can get 551 00:40:50,240 --> 00:40:53,000 a look at the route ahead and the summit we're aiming for. 552 00:40:58,360 --> 00:41:00,600 The scale of the challenge is daunting. 553 00:41:04,680 --> 00:41:06,280 Hard work! 554 00:41:13,840 --> 00:41:16,680 You've always got to check yourself every second, 555 00:41:16,680 --> 00:41:19,680 make sure you don't kick anything down on the guys below you. 556 00:41:23,560 --> 00:41:25,600 Watch out! 557 00:41:25,600 --> 00:41:27,000 Bit of sliding snow. 558 00:41:27,000 --> 00:41:29,040 Goddamn it! 559 00:41:34,520 --> 00:41:36,400 Watch out! 560 00:41:41,000 --> 00:41:43,680 Nearly there. 561 00:41:43,680 --> 00:41:46,080 Amazing! 562 00:41:46,080 --> 00:41:48,120 Yes! 563 00:41:52,400 --> 00:41:57,080 For the first time, I can see what we're taking on 564 00:41:57,080 --> 00:41:59,800 and it's actually flippin' massive! 565 00:42:03,360 --> 00:42:05,200 Oh! 566 00:42:06,440 --> 00:42:10,880 We have a vertical kilometre to climb, on a knife edge ridge, 567 00:42:10,880 --> 00:42:12,320 if we're to reach the summit. 568 00:42:14,760 --> 00:42:17,600 It's quarter to ten at night on the longest day of the year. 569 00:42:20,240 --> 00:42:21,720 Pretty cool! 570 00:42:24,400 --> 00:42:26,800 It's the first day of the Arctic summer 571 00:42:26,800 --> 00:42:29,360 and the sun won't set for another month. 572 00:42:34,240 --> 00:42:38,040 The snow now gives way to more technically demanding climbing. 573 00:42:54,720 --> 00:42:57,000 OK, chocks away, tally ho, 574 00:42:57,000 --> 00:42:59,200 toodle-pip, and all that. 575 00:43:03,840 --> 00:43:06,880 Tamsin steps up to take over the lead. 576 00:43:09,040 --> 00:43:11,200 OK, Steve. Coming. 577 00:43:12,960 --> 00:43:16,080 Shall I let this run out, Tamsin? Yeah, that's a good idea, Aldo. 578 00:43:20,480 --> 00:43:25,240 We're climbing in a buddy system. Aldo, Tamsin and I in one group... 579 00:43:27,840 --> 00:43:29,920 ..and Libby with cameraman Keith. 580 00:43:36,400 --> 00:43:38,000 We're roped together. 581 00:43:38,000 --> 00:43:41,120 If one of us falls, the others must use their strength 582 00:43:41,120 --> 00:43:42,320 and weight to save them. 583 00:43:43,480 --> 00:43:46,680 But if you take a big fall, you could drag your friends with you. 584 00:43:47,800 --> 00:43:49,680 OK, so watch out, Aldo. Yeah. 585 00:43:50,880 --> 00:43:54,760 I'm struggling to find anything to push or pull on. 586 00:43:54,760 --> 00:43:59,240 Every single rock you're standing on is coming away. 587 00:43:59,240 --> 00:44:01,160 I'm just picking my way very carefully. 588 00:44:04,360 --> 00:44:07,280 Normally with climbing, rock is your friend, 589 00:44:07,280 --> 00:44:09,720 giving you solid hand and foot holds, 590 00:44:09,720 --> 00:44:11,680 and something to anchor to for safety. 591 00:44:14,320 --> 00:44:18,040 But it's pretty clear this isn't going to be that sort of climb. 592 00:44:19,480 --> 00:44:21,760 Nice one, Steve. 593 00:44:24,960 --> 00:44:28,400 Right now, this is less like climbing 594 00:44:28,400 --> 00:44:34,680 and more like tiptoeing along a wire. 595 00:44:38,560 --> 00:44:41,800 Just watching every single footfall, 596 00:44:41,800 --> 00:44:44,520 trying not to dislodge anything. 597 00:44:46,080 --> 00:44:50,960 And that's not easy because everything is ready to go. 598 00:44:55,040 --> 00:44:58,040 Ridge lines are a magnet to mountaineers, 599 00:44:58,040 --> 00:45:01,520 often offering the safest route to the summit. 600 00:45:01,520 --> 00:45:04,680 OK, I'm having to start to climb. Shout if anything comes back. 601 00:45:07,200 --> 00:45:10,080 But there's nothing safe about this. 602 00:45:12,080 --> 00:45:13,280 Ever so gently. 603 00:45:17,440 --> 00:45:21,640 That's perfect, just there, if you don't mind stopping there. Yeah. 604 00:45:21,640 --> 00:45:25,520 This whole thing is just a pile of rubble. 605 00:45:25,520 --> 00:45:29,280 There is nothing that you can trust with your hands or your feet. 606 00:45:29,280 --> 00:45:32,800 Every single move that we make for however long we're climbing 607 00:45:32,800 --> 00:45:34,720 here is going to have to be precise. 608 00:45:43,360 --> 00:45:45,200 We're not even a quarter of the way up. 609 00:45:48,240 --> 00:45:51,680 Faced with sheer loose rock, the only thing that will keep us 610 00:45:51,680 --> 00:45:54,640 safe is total concentration. 611 00:45:58,600 --> 00:46:00,760 There's no prospect of sleep. 612 00:46:00,760 --> 00:46:03,880 We need to strike a balance between caution, 613 00:46:03,880 --> 00:46:05,400 which will take time... 614 00:46:06,360 --> 00:46:08,120 Whoop! 615 00:46:08,120 --> 00:46:09,800 Running out of water already. 616 00:46:09,800 --> 00:46:12,920 ..and rapid progress, which could lead to exhaustion. 617 00:46:19,160 --> 00:46:21,040 The intensity of the climb, 618 00:46:21,040 --> 00:46:23,360 hour after hour, is exhausting... 619 00:46:25,400 --> 00:46:27,840 I'd be lying if I said 620 00:46:27,840 --> 00:46:30,680 I wasn't quite tired. 621 00:46:30,680 --> 00:46:32,760 Need some water. 622 00:46:32,760 --> 00:46:35,520 ..but it looks like worse is yet to come. 623 00:46:38,680 --> 00:46:42,000 We could now be facing the most dangerous section of the climb. 624 00:46:45,080 --> 00:46:48,560 Got quite a lot of weaving to do between these rock towers. 625 00:46:50,080 --> 00:46:52,400 Potentially be a struggle up there. 626 00:46:56,480 --> 00:46:58,520 Ahead are three rock pinnacles... 627 00:46:59,640 --> 00:47:02,120 ..steeper than anything we've faced so far 628 00:47:02,120 --> 00:47:04,000 and overhanging in places. 629 00:47:09,080 --> 00:47:12,720 We're about four hours now up on the main ridge. 630 00:47:12,720 --> 00:47:15,200 Steve's just reached a bit of a step, 631 00:47:15,200 --> 00:47:18,400 which has taken him quite a bit of time to get round. 632 00:47:20,520 --> 00:47:22,680 Even that doesn't feel particularly secure. 633 00:47:23,920 --> 00:47:26,440 Tapping the rock is one way to check if it's solid. 634 00:47:28,160 --> 00:47:31,840 If it sounds hollow, this could mean there's air behind 635 00:47:31,840 --> 00:47:33,840 and any weight on it might cause it to fall. 636 00:47:36,080 --> 00:47:37,920 Careful of that block, mate. 637 00:47:37,920 --> 00:47:42,200 Unprecedented warming is releasing the rock from the ice that usually 638 00:47:42,200 --> 00:47:44,760 binds it together like glue. 639 00:47:44,760 --> 00:47:48,040 Landslides and rock fall here in Greenland 640 00:47:48,040 --> 00:47:51,120 will get worse as temperatures increase. 641 00:47:51,120 --> 00:47:54,800 Almost every bit that he put his hands on or his boots or his 642 00:47:54,800 --> 00:47:58,440 crampons on was giving way and tumbling down the hill. 643 00:48:10,640 --> 00:48:12,040 You OK? 644 00:48:15,480 --> 00:48:17,080 Rock! Rock! 645 00:48:17,080 --> 00:48:19,520 INDISTINCT 646 00:48:19,520 --> 00:48:21,320 You OK, Steve? 647 00:48:25,040 --> 00:48:26,000 Yeah. 648 00:48:28,920 --> 00:48:30,960 After a while, 649 00:48:30,960 --> 00:48:33,480 the sound of rock fall starts to wear on your nerves. 650 00:48:36,320 --> 00:48:38,520 In usual climbing, 651 00:48:38,520 --> 00:48:42,720 you hear it once in a blue moon and it's a bad, bad sign. 652 00:48:42,720 --> 00:48:44,760 On ground like this... 653 00:48:46,560 --> 00:48:48,800 ..it becomes almost constant. 654 00:48:51,840 --> 00:48:53,840 I've reached a place I can stop 655 00:48:53,840 --> 00:48:55,920 and it's Aldo's turn to climb. 656 00:48:59,200 --> 00:49:01,880 Steady as she goes, mate. 657 00:49:01,880 --> 00:49:05,480 Some huge big bits of air in-between those rocks. 658 00:49:05,480 --> 00:49:07,680 Just have to be super... 659 00:49:09,360 --> 00:49:10,720 ..light on my feet. 660 00:49:22,520 --> 00:49:24,360 It's hard. 661 00:49:24,360 --> 00:49:27,240 It's tenuous. It's really quite serious. 662 00:49:27,240 --> 00:49:29,880 We're going to push on a little bit further, 663 00:49:29,880 --> 00:49:33,720 but I think in the back of our minds we know we have to rationalise 664 00:49:33,720 --> 00:49:35,720 our expectations somewhat. 665 00:49:37,120 --> 00:49:38,800 What does that mean? 666 00:49:38,800 --> 00:49:41,240 Er... Well... 667 00:49:43,320 --> 00:49:46,920 It means that we are going to be from here on in 668 00:49:46,920 --> 00:49:49,800 looking for possible bailouts, 669 00:49:49,800 --> 00:49:51,480 keeping them in the back of our mind, 670 00:49:51,480 --> 00:49:53,520 knowing that we might have to use them. 671 00:49:53,520 --> 00:49:56,040 We certainly don't want to be going back down that lot. 672 00:50:04,480 --> 00:50:06,400 I'm going to drop a rock here. Yeah. 673 00:50:06,400 --> 00:50:08,720 That's not a euphemism for anything. 674 00:50:09,920 --> 00:50:11,080 Oh, yuck. 675 00:50:12,320 --> 00:50:16,040 It looks like we have about 400 metres to go, 676 00:50:16,040 --> 00:50:18,800 but right now our dreams of standing 677 00:50:18,800 --> 00:50:21,440 on the summit feel a lifetime away. 678 00:50:24,000 --> 00:50:26,200 What's it like, that section, Tamsin? 679 00:50:26,200 --> 00:50:28,440 I mean, it's not a barrel of laughs but it's doable. 680 00:50:32,200 --> 00:50:34,480 When you go through that section there, Aldo, 681 00:50:34,480 --> 00:50:36,040 both loose on either side. 682 00:50:37,840 --> 00:50:39,120 Like everything else. 683 00:50:45,400 --> 00:50:48,400 We're being forced into dangerous climbing positions... 684 00:50:49,480 --> 00:50:52,640 ..with a chance of knocking rocks off onto each other 685 00:50:52,640 --> 00:50:54,080 more acute than ever. 686 00:50:59,920 --> 00:51:01,320 Steve. Yeah, mate? 687 00:51:01,320 --> 00:51:04,360 Once you get up top, you'll be a bit of an anchor for both of us. 688 00:51:04,360 --> 00:51:05,920 Mate, I'm all over it. 689 00:51:07,240 --> 00:51:11,480 We're taking it in turns to lead the climb while the others belay, 690 00:51:11,480 --> 00:51:12,880 acting as an anchor. 691 00:51:14,080 --> 00:51:15,880 OK, mate, I'm underneath you. 692 00:51:19,560 --> 00:51:22,160 Tamsin has reached the top of the last pinnacle. 693 00:51:25,640 --> 00:51:27,960 She has nowhere to secure the rope, 694 00:51:27,960 --> 00:51:31,720 so we'll have to rely on her body weight to stop me if I should fall. 695 00:51:34,560 --> 00:51:36,600 OK? Yes. 696 00:51:36,600 --> 00:51:41,680 I've got a couple of choices of footholds and they're all... 697 00:51:43,520 --> 00:51:44,920 ..rubbish 698 00:51:44,920 --> 00:51:48,840 I'm in danger of knocking something big down. 699 00:51:50,480 --> 00:51:51,960 Whoa! 700 00:51:53,440 --> 00:51:55,080 Sorry, mate. 701 00:51:55,080 --> 00:51:57,120 I've still got quite a bit of slack in there. 702 00:51:58,360 --> 00:51:59,800 There you go. 703 00:52:03,440 --> 00:52:06,400 I've made it up to Tamsin's precarious position. 704 00:52:11,120 --> 00:52:14,240 Sometimes you think you see a spike, you put a rope over that, 705 00:52:14,240 --> 00:52:16,400 so it will kind of counterbalance it, 706 00:52:16,400 --> 00:52:19,480 but when you get there it isn't a spike or you can lift it off 707 00:52:19,480 --> 00:52:22,000 and chuck it off the hill, so that is quite tricky. 708 00:52:22,000 --> 00:52:24,240 Is that you on the rope yet, Aldo? 709 00:52:24,240 --> 00:52:25,960 Now it's time for Aldo... 710 00:52:27,120 --> 00:52:29,480 Let me know when you're taking it in. 711 00:52:29,480 --> 00:52:32,200 ..and it's my turn to act as a counterbalance. 712 00:52:33,760 --> 00:52:35,280 OK, I'm climbing. 713 00:52:35,280 --> 00:52:36,920 OK, mate, go ahead. 714 00:52:40,880 --> 00:52:42,640 Are you taking in? 715 00:52:42,640 --> 00:52:46,480 Hang on, let me get the rope out of this little pile of pebbles. 716 00:52:47,640 --> 00:52:49,200 This is horrible. 717 00:53:01,160 --> 00:53:02,480 ROCKS FALLING Whoa! 718 00:53:02,480 --> 00:53:03,840 Oh, I hate that sound. 719 00:53:07,080 --> 00:53:08,440 Everything... 720 00:53:08,440 --> 00:53:09,880 ..is just bloody loose. 721 00:53:12,880 --> 00:53:15,800 Aldo, when you get there, just sit astride that. Yep. 722 00:53:18,360 --> 00:53:20,080 Don't come over... 723 00:53:22,840 --> 00:53:24,120 Perfect, great. 724 00:53:24,120 --> 00:53:25,680 Lovely. 725 00:53:29,360 --> 00:53:32,600 Finally, we've reached the end of the pinnacles, 726 00:53:32,600 --> 00:53:34,800 but we still have a long way to go. 727 00:53:37,480 --> 00:53:38,960 If anyone's interested, it's... 728 00:53:40,720 --> 00:53:42,120 ..2:30 in the morning. 729 00:53:42,120 --> 00:53:43,560 TAMSIN LAUGHS 730 00:53:47,280 --> 00:53:49,640 It's been ten hours since we left base camp. 731 00:53:50,760 --> 00:53:53,840 It plays with your nerves, just always... 732 00:53:53,840 --> 00:53:55,280 ..tiptoeing. 733 00:53:56,160 --> 00:53:57,760 Half past three... 734 00:53:59,720 --> 00:54:01,240 ..AM. 735 00:54:01,240 --> 00:54:04,120 I think you feel it so much more, as well, 736 00:54:04,120 --> 00:54:06,520 when you're tired and hungry and thirsty. 737 00:54:09,160 --> 00:54:11,000 We've been awake for 20 hours... 738 00:54:11,000 --> 00:54:12,760 Ugh! 739 00:54:12,760 --> 00:54:15,840 ..and it's becoming harder and harder to concentrate. 740 00:54:15,840 --> 00:54:17,640 That is stunning over there. 741 00:54:19,320 --> 00:54:20,600 Beautiful. 742 00:54:27,840 --> 00:54:31,880 I think we're about 50 metres from the top, from the summit now, 743 00:54:31,880 --> 00:54:34,640 and that's quite satisfying. 744 00:54:37,400 --> 00:54:41,040 Even more satisfying if we get to the top. 745 00:54:41,040 --> 00:54:43,880 It's not about getting to the top, it's about taking part, Steve. 746 00:54:43,880 --> 00:54:47,120 STEVE LAUGHS 747 00:54:58,320 --> 00:54:59,720 Last push. 748 00:55:04,200 --> 00:55:05,600 Is that the summit? 749 00:55:06,560 --> 00:55:08,040 Yep. 750 00:55:09,000 --> 00:55:10,120 Nearly at the top. 751 00:55:21,280 --> 00:55:22,880 SHOUTING: Yes! 752 00:55:30,400 --> 00:55:31,720 It's pretty special, huh? 753 00:55:35,240 --> 00:55:36,720 Pretty cool. 754 00:55:38,720 --> 00:55:40,080 Wow. 755 00:55:41,920 --> 00:55:43,800 Great job, buddy. 756 00:55:43,800 --> 00:55:45,360 Been a journey and a half. 757 00:55:45,360 --> 00:55:47,160 Yeah, you could say that again. 758 00:55:47,160 --> 00:55:48,880 Well done, thank you. Thank you. 759 00:55:48,880 --> 00:55:50,080 That was amazing. 760 00:55:52,520 --> 00:55:54,360 What a perfect summit. 761 00:55:59,680 --> 00:56:00,880 Yep. 762 00:56:00,880 --> 00:56:03,520 360-degree view in every direction. 763 00:56:04,840 --> 00:56:06,240 Not a single person. 764 00:56:07,560 --> 00:56:10,720 It's just miles and miles and miles of mountains. 765 00:56:16,920 --> 00:56:18,880 You can't conquer a mountain. 766 00:56:20,160 --> 00:56:23,000 They're far bigger than we will ever be. 767 00:56:24,440 --> 00:56:26,240 They tolerate us at best. 768 00:56:28,360 --> 00:56:31,960 But to be given a moment like this, 769 00:56:31,960 --> 00:56:33,600 as the sun's coming up behind us... 770 00:56:36,040 --> 00:56:37,640 Yeah, won't forget this in a hurry. 771 00:56:54,920 --> 00:56:59,120 You do still, traditionally, get the chance to name a peak, 772 00:56:59,120 --> 00:57:00,680 the first people that climb it. 773 00:57:03,440 --> 00:57:05,440 It's quite a special time for me at the moment. 774 00:57:05,440 --> 00:57:08,320 My wife's pregnant with our first son. 775 00:57:10,120 --> 00:57:11,960 So... 776 00:57:11,960 --> 00:57:15,560 ..I'm going to call it after the Inuit name for first-born son... 777 00:57:17,240 --> 00:57:18,880 HE SPEAKS INUIT 778 00:57:24,160 --> 00:57:27,600 Standing at the end of a shrinking glacier, 779 00:57:27,600 --> 00:57:30,640 and in the heart of one of the fastest-changing habitats 780 00:57:30,640 --> 00:57:32,080 on the planet... 781 00:57:37,360 --> 00:57:41,840 ..if we don't act now, it's our children who will shoulder 782 00:57:41,840 --> 00:57:44,160 the burden of what's happening here. 783 00:57:50,840 --> 00:57:55,240 The rate of sea level rise has doubled in the last two decades. 784 00:58:03,560 --> 00:58:05,800 This magnificent, 785 00:58:05,800 --> 00:58:08,240 remote and hard-won summit... 786 00:58:10,760 --> 00:58:14,600 ..has allowed us the chance to look over a landscape 787 00:58:14,600 --> 00:58:16,160 that will shape our future. 788 00:58:22,720 --> 00:58:25,520 It is almost six o'clock in the morning. 789 00:58:25,520 --> 00:58:27,720 It's breakfast time. Let's put the kettle on. 790 00:58:29,360 --> 00:58:31,440 We've got to get down this thing first.