Arctic Fox Rachel Pearson and her colleagues have endured a tough couple of days at the start of their attempt on the world speed record for crossing the greenland ice-cap. Miss Pearson, from Ashcombe and a former Teignmouth Community College student, and three other women are aiming to become the first British all-female team to cross the frozen wastes. To boost their bid, they will be using power kites as they try to beat the current record, which stands at six days 23 hours. At the start of their Greenland Quest, the team was unable to find the Ice Road – originaly built a few years ago by a car company to test their vehicles – so had to make its own way up the ice sheet. Two days of slogging through rough ice took its toll on equipment. A pulk (sledge) broke, and lines were also constantly snapping, the Arctic Foxes website log said. But the women fixed things and finally reached the actual ice sheet itself. Miss Pearson has completed the first podcast, which is due for broadcast later this week. At the end of their attempt, she and the others are planning a series of talks about their experience.
