It was an Arctic blast!

THUMBS up . . . Steve Hill sets out into the white wilderness

ADVENTURER Steve Hill has returned to the classroom after a thrilling expedition saw him drive a team of huskies through 300 miles of Arctic terrain.

The week-long expedition saw Steve and the sog team negotiate obstacles in a white world of frozen lakes, forest and tundra.

He battled sub-zero temperatures as he threw himself into the challenges of caring for his team of dogs and driving them for seven hours a day.

Recovering from the experience Mr Hill recalled: “Each day started around 6am. The first job was to feed the huskies, then to gather some fire wood and water before starting breakfast.

“We harnessed the dogs and hit the trail, stopping only briefly for lunch and to rest the dogs.

“We spent four nights in very basic log cabins and two nights in traditional Sami tents - which were chilly, to say the least.”

He said: “The whole experience - though tough and extremely cold (-40 to -25C) - was amazing and a great challenge.

“The scenery was spectacular, we saw the Northern Lights on two evenings, and the huskies were remarkable.”

The intrepid deputy head of St Joseph’s School, Shaw, undertakes an annual challenge to raise money for charity and to show his Year Six pupils what they can achieve with determination.

The youngsters help him to prepare for each challenge, then they spend the year organising and running fund-raising events. So far this school year they have raised almost £8,000 for Francis House Children’s Hospice, and to support Year 1 pupil Shane Keating, who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Readers can make a donation to the fund at www.justgiving.com/stephen-hill5.