A Scot who searched Google for 'how to become an explorer' after feeling like he'd lost his way in life is now set to take on a gruelling Arctic expedition.
Ex- soldier Kristofer Law, 28, had been feeling down and unsure about what the future held back in January 2019 when he carried out the search.
But the Greenock lad didn't expect the results to lead to a 'once in a lifetime' adventure.
Kristofer stumbled across an expedition to the North Pole planned by Ice Warrior - an organisation set up in 2001 that has trained over 400 ordinary people to become modern-day explorers.
Kristofer told the Daily Record: "I was a bit lost in life at the time and didn’t know what I wanted to do.
"I googled how to become an explorer because I was bored.
"Then I saw Ice Warriors. I emailed the organiser, Jim Neill, and he immediately got back to me telling me to phone him.
"When we spoke I poured my heart to him and then I signed up."
Kristofer was quickly chosen as one of 28 explorers to take part in the daring expedition set to take place in February 2023.
The team he will join will cover 800 miles in an attempt to reach The Northern Pole of Inaccessibility - never before seen by humans - located at the furthest point from land on the Arctic Ocean.
The project, if completed successfully, will become a 'world first'.
The explorers will also be collecting data on the sea ice for climate change research, giving scientists more accurate predictions for sea ice conditions in The Arctic.
They will also be taking atmospherics readings for the Met Office, collecting data on microplastic pollution and tracking information on wildlife.
The explorers have already undergone brutal polar training in The Arctic for 20 days during March 2020 and will return for further training in March 2022.
Kristofer, who now works as a personal trainer, said: "I was in the army for four years and left in 2014, my mum and dad have a camper van and I like hiking, but I've never really done anything like this."
During the trip, which will set off from Advanced Basecamp in Resolute Bay, Northern Canada, Kristofer, will brave freezing temperatures of up to minus 40 and even encounters with polar bears on the Arctic ice.
He will also have to cope with 24-hour darkness.
Kristofer added: "It's 24 hour darkness for several months there in the winter, but that's quite cool because you can see the Northern Lights better.
"I can’t really describe the cold to people back home, I try to explain but no one will ever get it.
"It’s twice as cold your fridge freezer - and then there's the wind. If you stand still for a second you can't feel your hands.
"I really enjoyed it, but it is hard and you really need to function as a team. Just putting up a tent can be tough, so you really need to depend on each other."
Kristofer is keeping himself fit for the challenge with 'strength training and building a solid base' so is hoping for snow in Scotland to practice on this winter.
And Kris explained how his epic adventure will change his life for the better in more ways that one as he has now started studying adventure performance in Fort William after his simple internet search helped him to discover his passion.
He added: "That search turned out to be the biggest stepping-stone. It's definitely going to be a life-changing thing to be a part of.
"But more that that, it's bringing people from doing nothing to something extraordinary."
You can donate to his fundraiser here.
