The team
Our team is united by a love of the outdoors and cold weather adventures. We have regular everyday lives. Beyond that, we are four very different individuals with various strengths and perspectives. In these preparation stages, we’re working with a ‘flat structure’. But on the ice, we’ll be led by our redoubtable guide, Morten Rostille. Morten is a respected field guide who has led numerous ski expeditions across Svalbard, mainland Norway, Greenland and Antarctica.
Morten Rostille
Ellen, 40, is a Masters graduate in forestry and she is self-employed as a farmer in Norway. She’s married, with two children, a dog, and a station wagon.
Ellen was an aspiring ski racer as a child in Norway, peaking with second place in the youth Homenkollen ski-race at 13. After failed negotiations with her mother for a horse, fate led Ellen to pursue skydiving full-time from 17. She won a spot in the national team and finished third at the World Championships for women in formation skydiving. In 2001, she was the youngest in a team of 151 women who set a world record: the most women skydiving in formation. This endeavour raised money for breast cancer research.
Ellen has always had an interest in mountains, adventure, the cold and tent life, which might stem from her ancestor, the so-called “horror of Jotunheim” who did first ascents in Jotunheimen, Norway. Burchard’s tind is named after him and not only was he born with the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth, he literally insisted on eating with a silver spoon wherever he went. Ellen is a much more laidback tent buddy! Ellen has extensive climbing experience, and she’s traversed both Svalbard and Greenland on skis.
Ellen passionately hopes we can all find time to disconnect from the scrollbars and pressures of daily life, by stepping outdoors. The friluftsliv is the happy life. And nature gives us both peace and the nourishment of challenge.
Ellen Burchardt
Ali, 41, lives in London. He’s had a mixed career, including men’s tailoring and charity work. He spent ten years working with and for people who either lack a home or who are vulnerably housed. He is currently supporting a social change campaign, and he is studying towards a degree. Ali has mixed heritage, and he grew up partly on the equator. It was there that he first learnt about the polar regions, and he felt a pull towards the cold. What does snow feel like? Taste like? Sound like underfoot? Ali was lucky to be able to follow his curiosity, and he has skied in Antarctica, across Greenland and Svalbard as well as in polar Canada. This project will be the fulfilment of a lifelong dream. Ali likes every aspect of this, from the preparation and training to racking up the daily miles and “tent life”.
Ali Negyal
Ingeborg, 34, lives on the west coast of Norway, where steep mountains meet the ocean at majestic fjords. Ingeborg is often doing outdoor pursuits. She also spends many hours the local hospital, where she works as an orthopaedic surgeon. As the middle of five siblings, Ingeborg says she is “used to making compromises”, and she’s also very good company.
Winter is her favorite season. Cross-country and backcountry skiing and mountaineering have brought her joy since childhood. What she enjoys on long expeditions is “the simple life”: escaping the stresses of everyday life, social media and work has been restorative of her physical and mental health.
Having completed some longer skiing expeditions in Norway, Greenland and Svalbard she is now motivated to stretch herself by skiing to the South Pole. She says it will be a challenge, and she’ll pack her favourite candy, Harry Potter audiobook and embroidery in her sled.