AN INTREPID team of city explorers is aiming to take celebrations for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee to new heights.

Led by Plymouth Arctic explorer Antony Jinman, the six-man team is aiming to become only the eighth expedition in history to trek to the highest point on the Queen Elizabeth Islands.

The historic Arctic Jubilee Expedition aims to officially mark Her Majesty's 60 years on the throne.

"Barbeau Peak has only been summited eight times throughout history, and is the highest point within the British Empire Range as well as the Arctic Cordillera," said Antony who in 2010 became the 203rd person to trek to the North Pole.

"More people have summited Everest than Barbeau Peak, outlining the remoteness and the momentous impact of the project."

During the month-long expedition – which begins in May – the team will experience temperatures as low as -30C in some of the harshest conditions on the planet. And if that's not enough the team will also have to trek 250 miles on skis across glaciers, ascending a height of 2,260 metres completely unaided.

The team is made up of Antony, his teenage PR manager Oli Milroy; Plymouth University students Tom Perriment and David Buckley; city businessman Ben Shearn; and former Royal Marine Pete Royston.

For Oli, Tom, David, Ben and Pete – who are all based in Plymouth – it will be their first expeditions.

Tom, a 20-year-old third-year physical geography and geology student, said: "It is my absolute aspiration to trek to the North Pole so this will be pretty special.

"It's just such a fascinating project to be part of. I'll be very proud to be representing Britain in this way marking the Queen's diamond jubilee.

"I'm sure it will be one of the best experiences of my life."

David, a 23-year-old third-year biological sciences student, added: "It will be a fantastic opportunity to combine my academic interests with the natural world.

"I've got a few years of climbing experience under my belt but I've never done anything like this before. It's a really exciting project."

Oli, aged 18, said: "It will be nothing short of a life-changing experience and I can't wait."

Team medic Pete Royston knows a thing or two about cold climates having conducted Arctic warfare training in Norway 21 times while serving in the marines.

The 44-year-old from Plympton said: "I am massively excited to be part of this expedition. I thought my exploration days were over but when I got in touch with the team I realised I had to be part of it."

Central to the ascent of the Barbeau Peak – and as part of a lasting legacy of the expedition – will be a huge education and outreach programme.

The team, under the Education Through Expeditions banner, is aiming to present the project to 10,000 school pupils this year in both Plymouth and surrounding areas, and in Inuit (Eskimo) communities in the Arctic regions.

Team members hope it will increase Polar awareness, and that of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

To find out more about the project, and to get involved, visit: http://www.etelive.org/content/contentete.numo?id=172.