The Arctic team members have started to reflect on their time together as the end of their ice expedition grows close.

They are expected to be collected later this week because of breaking ice and the three have said one of the reasons the expedition has been so positive is their ability to work together.

Ms Daniels divided their mutual support into three areas- physical, emotional and science.

“We’re quite diverse characters, but three is definitely not a crowd” said navigator Ann Daniels. “Being the only woman, I’m conscious that I’m not as physically strong as the boys, but we’re able to support each other’s weaknesses and gain from each other’s strengths.

“We’re always helping each other out”, she said. “Often it will take all three of us to lift and drag one sledge over a difficult piece of terrain, then it’s back for the next one.

“My own sledge is less heavy than the others’, but I make up for dragging a lighter load in other ways.

She has cooked the men’s 5am breakfasts and was “chief nurse” when photographer Martin Hartley spent the first weeks in frostbite-induced agony, carefully applying dressings to ease his discomfort.

“With Martin, the physical pain of the frost bite was made worse by the fact he worried about slowing us up,” said Ms Daniels. “Pen gets upset about technology and equipment misbehaving and when I miss home, the boys help me to feel better.”

Group hugs have become a daily occurrence although Ms Daniels has to stand in the middle of the group to separate Mr Hartley and Pen Hadow because the expedition leader “doesn’t like Man Hugs.”

No final date has been set for their return but it is not expected to be before May 15, according to their London spokesman.

Email greenguardian@london.newsquest.co.uk to send a question to the team