A BARRY mum is wrapping up warm for a whole new kind of cold as she gets in training for a tough trip to the icy Arctic.

And if her team is successful, she will be one of the first women to reach the Geomagnetic North Pole.

Joanne Davies, aged 39, is part of a 25-strong squad of novices, selected and trained for a research expedition with organisers Ice Warrior.

The Cwm Talwg resident said: "I saw an article in an out-of-date magazine about the leader of the expedition, explorer and Queen's Fire Officer, Jim McNeill.

"He plans to reach all four North Poles in one season. I tracked him down just in time for the recruitment."

Joanne, a teacher, suffered a tragedy in July last year when her soldier husband Julian was killed in the Gulf conflict.

She said this is a way of focusing her life again.

"I have a six-year old son, Matthew, and I had to carry on for him," she said.

"But this project has given me direction again."

Joanne has been in the Territorial Army since 1987 and was in the regular Army from 1989 to 1993 and has always liked a challenge, but knows this trip will be a real test.

The incredible journey starts in February 2006 and will be in two parts.

One team will take a new route to the Geomagnetic North Pole, covering over 250 miles of sea ice from Alert in northeast Canada to the pole situated on the Darling Peninsula of Ellesmere Island.

The other will set out on the Arctic Ocean to reach the Magnetic North Pole, 210 miles north of the Canadian coastline.

Jim will then lead a small party from this team to reach the Arctic Pole, a further 448 miles to the centre of the Arctic Ocean and the furthest point from land.