Not long after the team were airlifted back to safety, they were heavily criticised by local Icelanders for being under-prepared and overly ambitious.

People were outraged that the Brits used ICE-SAR, a volunteer run organisation that operates on donations, so many times without seemingly repaying them for the cost of the rescue. (The team are in fact donating profits from their film to ICE-SAR.)

Comments on YouTube on their expedition pilot video included the following:

Death threats were directed at the lads through social media. Even Icelandic MPs started wading into the debate.

Karl Garðarsson, an Icelandic MP for the Progressive Party, wrote on Facebook: “This is becoming an expensive joke. Isn’t it normal that the hikers in question pay for their rescue?”

In the past few years, Iceland has seen a significant increase in the number of tourists visiting the island, many venturing out into the wilderness on adventurous expeditions.

Another MP noted that trips like this were just “excessively expensive fun”.

Are there too many people wanting to be ‘adventurers’ and putting themselves in danger in some of the wildest places on earth?

We spoke to team leader Charlie Smith and team member Archie Wilson about their thoughts on the fated mission, the backlash from Icelanders online and whether it’s something they would attempt again.

Were the Coldest Crossing team properly prepared for this treacherous mission?

“Yes, 100 per cent,” says Smith. “We had been preparing as a team for almost a year and I maintain we were all up to the challenge. The rumours and incorrect statements made on social media only perpetuated the wrong story of our crossing.”

Online comments voiced concerns that the boys were too young and inexperienced to be taking on the Icelandic wilderness unsupported.

Others felt the team chose the wrong time of year to travel (when they would inevitably encounter weather problems) and chose the wrong equipment.

Wilson admits there were a few mistakes. “We wrongly calculated how long it would take. We thought a month but I think 40-45 days would of been more realistic.”

A photo posted by The Coldest Crossing (@thecoldestcrossing) on Dec 30, 2015 at 2:55pm PST

Smith insists the team had enough experience in places like Russia and Africa to take on a mission of this kind.

Looking at their backgrounds, it’s clear they are a sporty crew – collectively they have previously run the London Marathon, crossed Iceland on foot in the summer, been involved in Tough Guy runs, ski racing and backcountry touring in the Alps. But is participation in school-run CCF expeditions and running marathons enough?

Wilson admits that Smith was the only member of the team that had taken on a mission of this length and endurance before. “I have done lots of one to two week long expeditions in the UK. We all have very high standards of First Aid, but Charlie had the most experience overall as he had [crossed Iceland] before.”

No matter your age, you are capable of doing incredible things

Both agreed the media had blown the facts of the mission out of proportion. “The story of “three British boys needing saving by Iceland” was sexier than the facts,” said Smith.

ICE-SAR released a statement showing the facts of what happened on the mission. The service continue to show their support for The Coldest Crossing crew, reiterating that the boys listened and followed to their safety advice – in contrast to the media hype suggesting the boys were reckless and foolish.

“If you listened every time someone told you not to do something, nothing great would ever be accomplished”

When asked whether they would attempt a similar mission again, both students said yes with Wilson adding, “But somewhere warmer, not Iceland!”

“The entire reason behind doing The Coldest Crossing was to show people that no matter your age, you are capable of doing incredible things,” says Smith.

“We aren’t the best adventurers or explorers – but we have something we believed in and managed to make it a reality. It took months of hard work, dedication and perseverance but we managed it.”

A photo posted by The Coldest Crossing (@thecoldestcrossing) on Dec 27, 2015 at 11:10am PST

“If you listened every time someone told you not to do something, nothing great would ever be accomplished. Learning from this experience, we can go back to the drawing board. ”

Ultimately the mission did not go as planned, but Smith is not deterred from attempting another. “It doesn’t detract from our fundamental mission: to get more people outside. If the world wants young people to sit at home on their phones, so be it, but I don’t think that’s what the world wants.”

“For all the negativity around this story, we’ve received just as many comments of support. People are excited and proud about what we did. We have to listen to that.”