A Monifieth girl is preparing for the adventure of the lifetime to the Arctic Circle this summer.
Katie Lumsdaine (16) is the youngest person selected for the British Exploring Society expedition to Finnmark in northern Norway and the only one of the 30-strong group from Scotland.
The annual trip will see the group of 16 to 20-year-olds trek across glaciers and face temperatures that can drop as low as -25C.
The biggest danger comes in the form of polar bears. Two years ago the trip ended in tragedy when 17-year-old schoolboy Horatio Chapple, from Wiltshire, was mauled to death.
That has not deterred Katie, though, who was inspired to apply after hearing a talk by Sir David Attenborough’s cameraman Doug Allan at the Dundee Science Festival last year.
Katie said: “Doug Allan told great stories about life in the Arctic and his work filming all these amazing animals. I am very interested in geography and after the lecture I spoke to him and we exchanged a few emails.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=ERES1HGCFOs%3Frel%3D0
“He said the best thing to do would be to experience an expedition for myself.”
Katie asked her geography teacher at the Dundee High School about opportunities and he suggested she apply.
The team will study climate change and glaciers on the three-week expedition, which begins on July 25.
“It is going to be a very challenging environment. There will be quite harsh conditions as well as the threat from polar bears. I am training to get fit and will complete winter skills courses.”
“I’m going to try to climb a few Munros before July. It’s a bit of a balancing act doing all the preparation and fundraising as well as doing my Highers.”
“It will also be the first time I’ve been away from home for any length of time. I expect it will push me to my limits.”
Katie has to raise around £4,000 by July to make the trip possible and has been busy organising various fundraising events.
She ran a Christmas concert at Dobbies in Monifieth in December and asked for donations instead of presents for Christmas.